Betting.us Editor-in-Chief Blake Roberts skillfully uses his background in statistics and sports knowledge base to create insightful betting guides. Blake was born in Morgantown, WV, and he has a community college degree in Statistics. His stamping grounds are the live betting platforms of West Virginia.
Best Daily Fantasy Sites in Illinois for 2024
By Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief at Betting.us
Updated: December 14, 2023
Best Illinois DFS Sites in 2024
Our team of experts have handpicked the top IL DFS sites, for which we cover the pros and cons throughout this page. We're talking player experience, payments, promotions, and those all-important extras that make them stand out in a busy market. Here are the best DFS Sites in Illinois for 2024:
| IL DFS Sites | DFS Bonus | Promo Code | Highlights | Rating | Secure Link | Unavailable in | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Up to $500 Deposit Bonus | Check Here | Attractive Welcome Bonus Top Reputation in IL Impressive Choice of Sports | ★ out of 5 | Claim Bonus! | WA, OR, NV, ID, MT, HI | Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. |
| OwnersBox | 100% up to $500 Deposit Bonus | Check Here | SuperFlex DFS Daily Salary Cap Great Site Interface | ★ out of 5 | Claim Bonus! | WA, ID, MT, NV, AZ, IA, MI, IN, MS, HI, LA, CT, DE, ME | Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. |
| ParlayPlay | Up to $100 Deposit Match | Check Here | eSport Fantasy Markets Free2Play Track Picks | ★ out of 5 | Claim Bonus! | AZ, CT, DE, HI, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MI, MS, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, PA, TN, VA, WA, WV | Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. |
| Jock MKT | 100% up to $100 Deposit Match | USADFS | DFS Trading Best Trading Platform in IL Top App for Illinois | ★ out of 5 | Claim Bonus! | WA, ID, MT, NV, AZ, IA, MI, TN, IN, LA, VA, MD, CT, DE | Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. |
Regardless of whether you’re getting your fill of daily fantasy sports or staking money on matches at any one of the Illinois sports betting sites we have reviewed on our site, it’s vital that you only play with real money at legitimate operators in the Prairie State. We’re here to help you find them.
In the next sections of this guide, we are going to dive into the various Illinois daily fantasy sports options available to players. We highlight the main appeal of each site, so that you can find the operator best suited to your needs and playing style.
DraftKings IL – Leader of the DFS Pack
All hail the king! It may not have been the first to enter the market, but of all the IL fantasy sports online options out there, DraftKings is arguably the most esteemed. Founded in 2012, this DSF operator has grown exponentially, absorbing multiple competitors along the way to hog top spot in a fierce market.
So what makes DraftKings the best of the best when it comes to Illinois daily fantasy sports operators? Well, where do we start, it offers a unique choice of sports for players to indulge in – from NFL, NBA, and NHL to eSports, motor racing, and even Canadian football. There’s something for everyone.
The site is sleek and intuitive by design. Making deposits, entering teams, and joining contests are a piece of cake even for beginners. In addition, the DraftKings IL fantasy sports platform offers a plethora of competitions to join, including private leagues and guaranteed prize pools. Finally, there are attractive deposit bonuses readily available. It’s fit for a king, or just you, and it gets our full endorsement.
OwnersBox IL – Great Choice, Great Promos
OwnersBox is one of the best DFS sites Illinois residents have access to, thanks to its solid offering of sports, upstanding reputation, and awesome promotions. Players can choose from every DFS event in the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB leagues – and it’s a breeze to take part whether on desktop or the professionally designed mobile app.
OwnersBox also boasts one of the top banking systems we found while researching the market for Illinois DFS sites. Players can make deposits via a bank transfer from thousands of US banks, or they can charge their credit card. Finally, payouts are seamless and work via the same bank used for the deposit or you can request a mail check.
OwnersBox is undoubtedly a platform that values its users, giving them the opportunity to win rewards and so-called “OwnersBucks” by the truckload. We're talking refer a friend programs and ranking prizes that come thick and fast. Nice!
ParlayPlay Illinois – DFS Newcomer
Time now for one of the newest IL daily fantasy sites to hit the market – ParlayPlay, a legal DSF operator that also offers a free to play option to its users. This is a smart way of gaining experience for newbies and experimenting with alternative techniques if you’re a seasoned player. Either way, it’s a feature you don’t find across the board, so for that, this platform gets an A+.
ParlayPlay is somewhat different when compared to other daily fantasy sports in Illinois. With this operator, players compete against each other in the form of player prop contests. That means if you want to avoid putting yourself in competition with the big boys and their huge bankrolls on other platforms, you might just find the shoe fits a little better over at ParlayPlay.
In terms of sports this platform has a few surprises. In addition to classics like NBA and MLB, players can earn money via soccer leagues and tournaments in the USA and Europe, MMA bouts, and eSports. We feel this DFS site is one to watch for the future, and well worth your coin if you want to try something new.
Best IL Daily Fantasy Sports Sites by Category
| 🥇 Best DFS Site IL | DraftKings |
|---|---|
| 🎁 Best Daily Fantasy Bonus | ParlayPlay |
| 🔝 New DFS Site | Jock MKT |
| 📱 Best IL Daily Fantasy App | DraftKings |
| 💳 Best PayPal DFS Site | OwnersBox |
Playing fantasy sports in Illinois can require time and dedication, so it’s essential that you find an operator with which you feel comfortable. We understand that everyone has different expectations and requirements, which is why we divide our recommendations into handy categories that we feel cover all bases.
Some players place huge value on the welcome bonuses available at Illinois DFS sites, and with good reason: a generous signup offer can boost your bankroll and help you play for longer. Other users may wish to conduct their banking with PayPal and need an operator that supports this payment method. Or maybe you want to combine DFS gaming with conventional sports betting? Leave it to us: some of our choices here also feature on our list of the best online betting sites.
We also understand that some players manage their DSF to-dos exclusively on the go. For that, a reliable and well-designed app is imperative. Or perhaps you simply like testing your skills on the newest platforms, which is why, in addition to sites that meet all the aforementioned criteria, we also bring you a selection of the latest Illinois daily fantasy sites to enter the market.
Above all, however, we ensure that every operator we feature in guide is safe and trustworthy. We’ll never recommend a site that is blacklisted by the Illinois Gaming Board or the American Gaming Association – so stick with our picks and your money and data will always be secure.
Top Recommended Site for Fantasy Sports in IL for May 2024
DraftKings
Up to $500 Deposit Bonus
Check Here
Market Leader for DFS, Very Generous Offer
WA, OR, NV, ID, MT, HI
Get Bonus Valid only for new players over 21 years of age.
Legal Situation of Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois
The legal status of Illinois daily fantasy sites is in somewhat of a gray area. Playing this kind of game is technically illegal, as it is not expressly excluded in illegal gambling laws. That said, however, it is the providers who carry the risk when it comes to operating in the Prairie State, so you can sleep easy knowing the feds won’t be on your tail anytime soon.
This may, however, change. State lawmakers tabled a bill in 2016 to ban DFS outright as an illegal form of gambling. The bill was put on ice without a vote ever having been held – but there is nothing to suggest it won’t become a topic of discussion again in the future.
Should the bill pass, then it will force all Illinois daily fantasy sports platforms to cease operating in the state – and with that would go your chances of playing. For now, however, if you're in the Prairie State, you can still get your DFS fix with complete peace of mind, and as soon as anything changes, we’ll update this page with the correct guidance accordingly.
How to Pick the Best DFS Sites in Illinois
In order for us to consider an operator one of the best DFS sites Illinois residents have access to, it must meet a number of criteria. Our top priority when it comes to these requirements is legality. As DFS is technically illegal in IL, we strive to ensure that the operators we select are provably licenced in other US states and come with solid reputations.
Some factors might be more important for some players, which is why we create a shortlist of contenders that tick many boxes – offering great bonuses, user-friendly apps, inclusive payment methods, and above all, a secure experience for everyone.
Safety and Licensing
As Illinois DFS sites are technically illegal in the state, you won’t find any licencing information courtesy of the Prairie State listed on any of the providers we have recommended on this page. In this case, it would be the Illinois Gaming Board who is responsible for authorizing any gambling entity. This is often in conjunction with the American Gaming Association.
American Gaming Association Illinois Gaming Board
All of the Illinois daily fantasy sports providers featured on this page have been vetted by our team for trustworthiness. You yourself can also check for such signs by following our method. Simply scroll to the bottom of the homepage of your chosen operator and look for the logos of regulatory bodies – most platforms have these listed.
Best Bonuses for Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois
Illinois daily fantasy sports players will be glad to know that there are numerous generous bonus offers waiting for them at our recommended operators. We always advise our readers to carefully check the terms and conditions before opting in for any promo – you can get started now by browsing the bonuses at the best DFS sites in IL at the top of our guide.
Top Daily Fantasy Sports Apps
These days, you’d be hard pressed to find Illinois daily fantasy sites that are not available in the form of an app or on a mobile browser, such is the general reliance people have for their smartphones. All of the recommended operators featured on our page also offer a solid app experience – thanks to intuitive design and speedy platforms. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can play DFS wherever, whenever.
Available Payment Methods
Banking solutions are a vital criterion for players when searching for the best DFS sites in Illinois and they should not be overlooked. It’s important that the platform offers safe and reliable payment methods that you already use or are familiar with at least.
- PayPal
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Venmo
- Wire Transfer
Beyond this, players need to know about the deposit/withdrawal limits and times, as well as the fees that may be incurred. Ideally, of course, transactions are free of charge for players – and you can find operators that offer withdrawals at no cost to the user in our list of recommended platforms in this guide.
It’s worth noting that some deposit methods are not eligible for withdrawals. This is the case with prepaid cards, such as paysafecard, which only work for adding money to your player account. In addition, credit cards are usually deposit-only methods. It is a good idea to have an alternative in this case.
Pros and Cons of Playing Daily Fantasy Sports in Illinois
As this guide demonstrates, there is a great choice of Illinois DFS sites out there for residents of the Prairie State to take advantage of. These providers are serious about enriching the daily fantasy sports experience, thanks to their attractive bonuses, sleek platforms, and features that make playing the game more exciting and convenient.
Beyond this, playing daily fantasy sports in Illinois is a fun way to turn a passion – that is, following a particular sport – into a form of betting where you can use your knowledge to win some cash. We have listed the main pros and cons of playing DFS in the table below:
- Attractive bonuses
- Exciting for sports fans
- Excellent apps for gaming on the go
- Thrilling gaming experience
- Accessible for newbies
- Not much skill required
- Fewer markets compared to sports gambling
- Can be time consuming
Problem Gambling Help
Gambling and playing daily fantasy sports make sense only if you’re having fun. It’s damaging to yourself and your family if an enjoyable hobby becomes an addiction – but how can you tell when you’re starting to lose control of the situation? There are a few things you can look out for, such as playing with money you can’t afford to lose and lying about your habit.
The good news is there are many resources and organizations across the nation that can help. If you think that you or a loved one has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER – residents of Illinois can also text “ILGAMB” to 833234. These free resources are readily available to help with any kind of gambling-based issue.
FAQ
We’ve reached the end of our guide to the best DFS sites in Illinois. We hope you have found the information and recommendations to be useful. We’ll update this page with new operators should they meet our strict criteria – so visit us again soon! Until then, you can jump back to the most important sections of this guide using the FAQs below.
Which are the best DFS sites in Illinois?
The best DFS sites in Illinois meet a number of strict criteria set by our review team. They include offering fair bonuses , an exceptional gaming experience, reputable payment methods and added features that enrich the game. We have cherrypicked the top daily fantasy sites Illinois players have access to in this guide – check them out today!
Are daily fantasy sports platforms legal to use in Illinois?
The legality of daily fantasy sports in Illinois lies in a gray area. At the time of writing, DFS is technically illegal but players who reside in the Prairie State are at no risk of punishment for participating online. A vote on its legality was mooted for the near future – you can read more in our mini guide to the legal status of DFS in Illinois here.
Can I claim a bonus at all IL daily fantasy sites?
There is no guarantee that you will be able to claim a bonus at all IL daily fantasy sites, but you can certainly enjoy great bonus offers with the DSF operators we have the ranked in our guide for the Prairie State. Always ensure to check the terms and conditions for yourself before you accept any promo.
Is it possible to win at IL fantasy sports?
Yes, it is possible to win at IL fantasy sports. With the right mix of research, smart picks, and a dash of luck, any player is capable of turning a profit playing this thrilling online game. It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into before you sign up – why not check our DFS pros and cons table to get started?
What payment methods are available using DFS sites in Illinois?
It’s important to use payment methods that you are comfortable with while making DFS deposits in Illinois. Most operators accept bank and credit cards – if you require an out-of-the-box alternative, you can always contact customer service and enquire about your preferred method. Of course, only do this at safe platforms – our mini guide to spotting safe DFS sites in Illinois will come in handy.
Conclusion – Play at the Best DFS Sites in Illinois for 2024
We hope our guide has put your mind at ease regarding the legality of playing DFS and has also inspired you to play at the best DFS sites in Illinois. As our recommended operators have demonstrated in this guide, there is a buzzing scene in the Prairie State for daily fantasy sports – just make sure to only play at safe platforms like the ones featured on this page.
Blake Roberts, a Morgantown native with a background in statistics, takes the position of Editor in Chief at Betting.us. He combines his love for sports and his knowledge of statistics to produce high-quality sports betting reviews. Blake enjoys evaluating online betting sites and believes that keeping a professional mindset in gambling is of utmost importance.
Although playing DFS is not yet legal in Illinois, it’s still possible for residents of the Prairie State to participate at online platforms – we recommend only playing at sites that are reputable and not blacklisted by the American Gaming Association, such as the providers featured in this guide.