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DraftKings is one of Illinois's top-rated sportsbooks, operating under a license from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). Illinois legalized mobile sports betting in June 2020 through the Sports Wagering Act, and DraftKings has been among the leading operators since launch. This review covers the DraftKings Illinois sportsbook, welcome bonus, betting markets, and app experience.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| License | Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) |
| Sports Betting | ✅ Yes — comprehensive |
| Casino | ✅ Yes (DraftKings Casino) |
| Daily Fantasy (DFS) | ✅ Yes |
| Welcome Offer | Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets (typical) |
| Min Deposit | $5 |
| App | iOS + Android |
| Support | 24/7 live chat + email |
Is DraftKings Legal in Illinois?
Yes. DraftKings holds an IGB license under the Illinois Sports Wagering Act (2019, effective 2020). DraftKings operates in Illinois through a partnership with Casino Queen (East St. Louis), which holds the Illinois casino license, with DraftKings as the mobile skin.
Illinois's online sports betting market is one of the largest in the US by handle.
DraftKings Illinois Welcome Offer
DraftKings typically offers new Illinois players "Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets" — one of the most common promotional formats in the regulated US sports betting market.
How it works:
- Register and make a qualifying first deposit
- Place a $5+ bet on any sport
- Receive $150 in bonus bets (6 × $25 bet credits)
- Bonus bets expire within 7 days
Check the DraftKings promotions page for the current offer — these change periodically.
Sports Betting Markets — What's Available in Illinois
| Sport | DraftKings Coverage |
|---|---|
| NFL | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full — best same-game parlays |
| NBA | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full coverage, live |
| MLB | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full — F5, alternate totals |
| NHL | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full — puck line, player props |
| College Football | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full — Illinois Fighting Illini, Northwestern |
| College Basketball | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full — Big Ten coverage |
| Soccer (EPL/MLS) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full |
| Tennis | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ATP/WTA/Slams |
| Golf | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ PGA Tour + majors |
| UFC/MMA | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Main card + prelims |
| NASCAR | ⭐⭐⭐ Available |
| Esports | ⭐⭐⭐ Select markets |
Same-Game Parlays — DraftKings Strength
DraftKings pioneered the same-game parlay (SGP) format in the US regulated market. Illinois players can combine multiple outcomes from the same game:
Example SGP (NFL):
- Bears moneyline (win)
- Justin Fields over 250.5 passing yards
- DJ Moore over 75.5 receiving yards
- Under 45.5 total points
SGPs up to 12+ legs are available on major games. The SGP builder is one of DraftKings' most popular features among Illinois bettors.
DraftKings Casino — Illinois
DraftKings also offers a casino product in Illinois with:
- 800+ slots from major providers (IGT, Aristocrat, Everi, Scientific Games)
- Live dealer — Evolution Gaming (Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Crazy Time)
- Table games (RNG) — Multiple blackjack and roulette variants
- Video poker — Jacks or Better, Double Double Bonus
The casino is available through the same DraftKings account as sports betting.
DraftKings Illinois App — iOS & Android
DraftKings has one of the highest-rated sportsbook apps in the Illinois market:
- iOS: 4.8/5 (App Store — among the highest in US sports betting)
- Android: 4.5/5 (Google Play)
Features:
- Live in-game betting with real-time odds refresh
- SGP builder with instant payout updates
- Parlay maker with 12+ leg support
- DraftKings Casino access within the same app
- Daily fantasy sports (DFS) integration
- 24/7 live chat support within app
Banking — Deposits and Withdrawals
Deposits
| Method | Speed | Min |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card | Instant | $5 |
| PayPal | Instant | $5 |
| Online banking | Same day | $5 |
| VIP Preferred e-check | Same day | $5 |
| DraftKings prepaid | Instant | $5 |
Withdrawals
| Method | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | 1-3 business days | Fastest option |
| Online banking | 3-5 business days | Standard |
| Debit card | 3-5 business days | Visa available |
Note on SB1705: If Illinois SB1705 (sweepstakes casino felony bill) passes, it would not affect DraftKings — DraftKings is an IGB-licensed real-money sportsbook, not a sweepstakes casino. The two are completely different legal categories.
DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) — Illinois
DraftKings was founded as a daily fantasy sports platform (2012) and DFS remains a core product in Illinois:
- Available sports: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, Golf, MMA, soccer
- Contest types: Head-to-head, 50/50, GPP (guaranteed prize pools), leagues
- Minimum entry: $0 (free contests available) to $10,000+
- Illinois-specific: DFS was legal in Illinois before sports betting launched — DraftKings has been serving IL DFS players since 2014
DraftKings vs. FanDuel Illinois
| Feature | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Bet $5, Get $150 | Bet $5, Get $150 (typical) |
| SGP | ✅ Pioneer of SGP | ✅ Strong SGP |
| Live betting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Casino | ✅ 800+ games | ✅ 800+ games |
| DFS | ✅ Flagship product | ✅ Strong product |
| App rating (iOS) | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Parlay builder | ✅ Up to 12+ legs | ✅ Up to 12+ legs |
DraftKings and FanDuel are the two dominant Illinois sportsbooks — both are excellent choices with similar features.
Responsible Gambling at DraftKings Illinois
DraftKings offers robust responsible gambling tools under IGB license requirements:
- Deposit limits — Daily, weekly, monthly caps
- Bet limits — Per-bet or daily bet size limits
- Session limits — Time-based auto-logout
- Self-exclusion — From 3 months to permanent
- Reality checks — Session duration pop-ups
- Illinois Helpline — Available through app settings
How to Sign Up at DraftKings Illinois
- Download the DraftKings app (iOS or Android)
- Select Illinois as your state
- Register — name, email, date of birth, SSN last 4 (for KYC)
- Verify location — DraftKings uses device location to confirm you're in Illinois
- Make first deposit — $5 minimum via debit card, PayPal, or online banking
- Place qualifying bet — $5+ on any sports market
- Collect bonus bets — $150 in bonus credits added to account
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- ✅ IGB-licensed — regulated, safe in Illinois
- ✅ Best-in-class same-game parlay builder
- ✅ 800+ casino games including Evolution live dealer
- ✅ 4.8/5 iOS app rating — top UI in IL market
- ✅ Daily fantasy sports (DFS) integration
- ✅ PayPal deposits and withdrawals
- ✅ 24/7 live chat support
Cons:
- ⚠️ Casino game library smaller than dedicated online casino operators in PA/NJ
- ⚠️ Welcome offer structure varies — check current terms
- ⚠️ College sports betting had IL-specific restriction on IL school games (check current rules)
FAQ: DraftKings Illinois
Is DraftKings legal in Illinois? Yes. DraftKings holds an IGB license under the Illinois Sports Wagering Act. It's one of the original licensed operators that launched when Illinois mobile sports betting went live in 2020.
What is DraftKings' welcome bonus in Illinois? The typical offer is "Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets." This changes periodically — check the app or DraftKings.com for the current promotion.
Does DraftKings have a casino in Illinois? Yes — DraftKings Casino is available to Illinois players alongside the sportsbook, with 800+ slots and Evolution Gaming live dealer.
Can I bet on Illinois college sports at DraftKings? Check current IGB rules — Illinois historically had a restriction on in-state college sports betting. Verify at time of play whether U of I and Northwestern games are available at DraftKings.
Is DraftKings DFS available in Illinois? Yes — daily fantasy sports has been available in Illinois since 2014. DraftKings offers NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and other sport DFS contests.
How fast are DraftKings withdrawals in Illinois? PayPal withdrawals process in 1-3 business days. Online banking and debit card take 3-5 business days.
Related: Best Sweepstakes Casinos Illinois | Illinois SB1705 Sweepstakes Bill Status | How Sweepstakes Casinos Work