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Gamble-Illinois

The best Illinois sportsbook promos & betting offers

Looking to join a new IL sportsbook and get a free bet or a welcome offer? Well, the below sportsbooks all offer a new player free bet to customers joining the book

The Illinois sports betting industry is on the rise, especially with the recent launch of mobile sports betting. The Illinois market now has a stable of betting sites that can stand up to other states, such as New Jersey. There are seven online sports betting operators in the state, and that has created some terrific competition.

The Illinois Gaming Board oversees the legal gambling industry in the state, so all of the sportsbooks we have listed on this page are safe.

Seven of the biggest names in the sports betting industry have already launched mobile sportsbook apps, and there are more on the way. One of the best ways for these operators to stand out is by offering free bets or other bonus opportunities.

Best Illinois Sportsbook Promotions

Up To $500 2nd Chance Bet
  • Excellent welcome bonus
  • Easy to use site & app
T&Cs apply | 21+
10 x $100 Second Chance Bets
  • Massive welcome offer
  • Awesome rewards program
T&Cs apply | 21+
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
  • Awesome mobile app
  • Huge range of bet types & markets
T&Cs apply | 21+
New Player $1,000 Sign Up Bonus
  • Huge welcome bonus
  • Bet on all sports
T&Cs apply | 21+
No Sweat First Bet Up To $1,000
  • Great banking options
  • Extensive bet types
T&Cs apply | 21+

Want to know which Illinois sportsbooks offer a free bet bonus for new customers? Well, the best free bet deals come from these operators:

All the above betting offers can be claimed on an operator’s desktop site, or one of the several IL sports betting apps now available in the state.

These bonuses continue to change throughout the industry, but all five of the operators offer something. Here is a quick breakdown of bonus and promotion offers from each operator with a special emphasis on Illinois Sportsbook free bets.

Free sportsbook bets

BetRivers IL Free Bonus Offer

BetRivers was the first online sportsbook app to launch in the state of Illinois, and it still features one of the best welcome bonuses in the industry. There aren’t any free bets involved with the initial welcome bonus, but customers can use the extra bonus money to make it feel like a free betting opportunity. BetRivers also runs its Rivers Casino platform, so knows how to appeal to new customers. 

The welcome bonus offer from BetRivers Illinois is a 100 percent deposit match up to $250. That means that new customers can have a free $250 in their account just for signing up at this operator. It’s one of the best sports betting offers available for new customers.

The BetRivers betting app is offering a number of daily and weekly promotions, but there aren’t any free bets included in any of them. Profit boosts are common at BetRivers, but there is no option to earn a free bet each day or every week. There is no sportsbook promo code needed to claim the welcome offer.

Up To $500 2nd Chance Bet
  • Excellent welcome bonus
  • Easy to use site & app
T&Cs apply | 21+

DraftKings Sportsbook IL Free Bet

DraftKings Sportsbook has partnered with the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, and the operator also provides online sports betting in the state. DraftKings continues to have the top welcome offer for new customers, but this operator also knows how to take care of its current customers. After securing market access, the Casino Queen sportsbook is now up and running.

The initial welcome offer at DraftKings Illinois can earn a customer up to $1,000 in risk-free bets or site credits. This depends on the amount of money that is initially deposited, but a higher deposit means more free bets. As far as betting promotions go, it’s one of the standout new player offers going.

A risk-free bet means that if a bet is lost, DraftKings sportsbook Illinois will automatically reload that customer’s account and offer a site credit. It really is a win-win for the customer.

DraftKings Sportsbook is also giving away a free bet to any customer that refers a friend to the site. The referral must be for a completely new player to DraftKings and not just someone that is new to the sportsbook.

DraftKings has been known to be extremely aggressive when offering bonuses or promotions at the start of new seasons, and that same thing will likely happen with college basketball. Customers at DraftKings should expect some free bet opportunities soon.

New Player $1,000 Sign Up Bonus
  • Huge welcome bonus
  • Bet on all sports
T&Cs apply | 21+

PointsBet New Player Bonus

PointsBet is an Australian-based operator that is well-known for its bonuses and promotions. This operator is routinely changing promotions that it offers, including the initial welcome bonus. They are one of the new sportsbook operators to launch in the US and so far have gone down a storm with punters in other states.

The amount of money offered from PointsBet continues to change, and there are a number of bonus codes available. The most common bonus code that you can find features up to $1,000 in risk-free bets at PointsBet Sportsbook. Using a sportsbook deposit bonus is one of the best ways to sign up and start betting with a new book.

This is broken down into two different individual offers, and one of them is unique only to PointsBet. New customers can earn a risk-free bet to a certain amount on their first fixed odds bet as well as their first points betting bet.

Not only does PointsBet Illinois feature a number of free bet opportunities with its initial bonus offer, but there are ways to rack up these opportunities throughout the week as well. Most of the promotions offered by PointsBet come with a risk-free bet, and it’s not uncommon to have a large stash of free bets built up.

10 x $100 Second Chance Bets
  • Massive welcome offer
  • Awesome rewards program
T&Cs apply | 21+

FanDuel Sportsbook free bet

FanDuel Sportsbook is arguably the top competitor to DraftKings in the entire sports betting industry, and these two are set to go head-to-head in Illinois. DraftKings might have the better welcome offer, but FanDuel is extremely competitive in the type and amount of promos that they offer.

FanDuel Illinois offers a risk-free bet up to $1,000 for new customers, and there aren’t any catches or surprises with that offer. New customers can simply bet all of the money that they initially deposit up to $1,000, and that money will be refunded if the bet loses.

There are several other promotions that are offered at FanDuel Sportsbook, and these provide different opportunities to earn more free bets. Most of these come in the form of parlay insurance or risk-free betting opportunities. If you are looking for one of the best bookmaker new customer offers, then look no further than FanDuel IL.

Each day customers are able to make a same-game parlay on any college or NFL football, and that bet will be refunded if only one leg of the parlay loses, up to $25. FanDuel Sportsbook also runs a number of daily and weekly contests, and free bets are given away as prizes.

You won’t see a number of free bet opportunities listed when taking a quick glance at the FanDuel Sportsbook site, but they are there and available.

No Sweat First Bet Up To $1,000
  • Great banking options
  • Extensive bet types
T&Cs apply | 21+

BetMGM Illinois Risk-Free Bet

BetMGM is one of the most rewarding sportsbooks for new users. Users can expect a polished in clean betting experience, adding to the already-impressive lineup of Illinois sports betting apps.

BetMGM offers a sportsbook bonus consisting of a risk-free first bet up to $1,000, similar to the FanDuel sportsbook Illinois. A risk free bet is one of the most beneficial offers you can get your hands on, as essentially you get a second chance should your first bet lose.

As more operators offer sports betting in Illinois, we will add their bonus offers to our guide. Although sites such as Barstool sports may not be as widely recognized as as others such as the BetRivers sportsbook, they still offer excellent wagering options for Illinois bettors. The Barstool sportsbook Illinois recently launched in the state thanks to a partnership with Hollywood Casino St Louis.

Types of Bonuses/Promotions

Finding the top bonuses and promotions from Illinois operators is important, but it is also important to know what these bonuses mean. There are four different types of bonuses/promotions that you will see offered from sportsbooks in Illinois.

Risk-Free Bet

As you can see above, a number of Illinois sportsbook operators offer a risk-free bet to new customers. This is a great bonus offer, and it’s important to read through the bonus requirements so that you know how much you are eligible to get back.

With a risk-free bet, you will simply be refunded for the amount that you bet if your first bet loses at the sportsbook. There is no risk with this bonus, but there can be a nice reward.

Match Bet

Other online sportsbooks will offer what is called a first bet match, although that has yet to be offered in Illinois. This is similar to a risk-free bet, but you won’t be receiving any money back if your first wager loses.

A match bet means that the sportsbook will give you site credits for the amount you placed on your first wager.

Money-Back Free Bet

A money-back free bet is similar to insurance, and these are common promotions that you will find at Illinois sportsbooks. With this type of promotion, sportsbooks will give you site credit if a certain bet loses based on a promotion.

Be sure to read all of the requirements with this type of bet so that you know what bets will entitle you to money back.

Deposit Bonus

A deposit bonus is one of the most common offerings in the sports betting industry, although it’s not very common in Illinois. Sportsbooks will commonly offer a first deposit match up to a certain dollar amount, and it is a great way to build up your account before you even begin placing bets.

New Player $1,000 Sign Up Bonus

New Player $1,000 Sign Up Bonus

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