The first online sports betting state in the United States was Delaware. The state became the first to legalize online gambling in early 2018.
However, the law did not allow people to bet on college sports. In response, the Illinois Gaming Board passed a law that allowed sports bettors to place wagers on professional sports teams.
In June 2020, Rush Street Interactive was the first sports betting app to launch in the state. This move was made possible by Executive Order 2020-41 from Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
While in-person registration was required, online registration will be introduced after the first retail bets have been placed. Regulators will issue three stand-alone mobile sports betting licenses.
For the first year of retail sports betting, residents of the state can only bet on sports at casinos, tribal casinos, or sportsbooks. In the second year, a limited amount of online and mobile betting will be permitted.
Sportsbooks in Illinois must purchase data from professional leagues or other designees to offer betting markets. The state also approved a “college carve-out”. That means that bettors can place bets on in-state college teams only through licensed retail locations.
Online sports betting was legalized in Illinois in March 2020, but the law did not permit bettors to place bets on in-state college sports. Lawmakers changed the rule in 2021 to allow bettors to bet on in-state college sports at retail locations.
The Goodlatte and Kyl bills would have restricted online gambling activities, except for horse races. The Senate and House bills both failed, however, due to opposition from gaming and casino operators.