Last Updated Sep 27, 2022, 08:26 AM ET
Illinois sports betting comprises fully online registration to seven of the best legal sports betting sites. Sign-up, claim Illinois sportsbook welcome bonuses up to a $1,250 free bet, gain insight into local betting markets and learn educational tips to gamble responsibly.
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BetSmart™ Rating: 4.7/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.7/5Deposits & withdrawals
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BetSmart™ Rating: 4.4/5Deposits & withdrawals
BetSmart™ Rating: 4.4/5Deposits & withdrawals
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In the spring of 2019, the Illinois state legislature passed a bill that permitted sports betting at riverboat casinos, horse racetracks, and select sports facilities. Online sports betting arrived in June 2020 with the launch of the BetRivers sportsbook.
This timeline provides a snapshot of Illinois' sports gambling history:
Sept. 26, 2022: Hard Rock Sportsbook applies for both retail and mobile sports wagering licenses in Illinois.
Sept 12, 2022: Bally's applies for a Management Services Provider license in Illinois. If the application is approved, Bally Bet will launch in IL.
May 31, 2022: It is revealed that WynnBET has applied for a mobile sports betting license in Illinois. It is not yet known which casino the operator will be tied to.
May 25, 2022: The Chicago City Council officially approves Bally's casino by a vote of 41-7. The casino is scheduled to open its doors in 2026 and projects to bring in $200 million a year in tax revenue.
May 9, 2022: Circa Sports partners with Full House Resorts, announcing plans to operate an online sportsbook and retail sportsbook at the new American Place casino in Waukegan. While America Place is under construction, Circa will house its retail location in "The Temporary" — a temporary casino facility projected to open in Fall 2022.
May 5, 2022: Bally’s was tapped as the preferred bidder for a $1.7B casino project by the City of Chicago. Plans for Bally’s Chicago include a 500-room hotel and sprawling entertainment center.
May 5, 2022: Caesars Sportsbook and the Chicago White Sox agree to a sports betting partnership.
April 28, 2022: Caliente Interactive is awarded an online-only sports betting license by the Illinois Gaming Board. Should the Mexico-based operator receive final licensure, "Caliplay" will launch in Illinois.
April 6, 2022: Construction begins on the new FanDuel Sportsbook Lounge at Chicago's United Center. The 13,000-square-foot venue is expected to be completed by August 2022.
March 10, 2022: Illinois sets a new monthly high for sports betting handle in January, posting a total of $876.5 million.
March 9, 2022: Caesars Sportsbook's new welcome offer goes live in Illinois. New sports bettors are able to claim up to $1,100 in first bet insurance without visiting a retail sportsbook.
March 5, 2022: Illinois sports bettors are once again permitted to create an online sportsbook account from anywhere in the state. Remote registration returns after nearly a one-year hiatus.
Feb. 15, 2022: FanDuel is first to launch a pre-registration offer ahead of Illinois' move to remote registration on Mar. 5, offering new bettors $100 in site credits.
Jan. 31, 2022: FanDuel, a partner of the Bulls and Blackhawks, announces plans to open a two-story FanDuel Sportsbook lounge in the United Center.
Jan. 27, 2022: The Illinois Gaming Board unanimously approves rewarding BetMGM with a license to operate in the state.
Jan. 19, 2022: BetMGM confirms its plans to launch online operations in Illinois in Q1 of 2022.
Dec. 21, 2021: Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs legislation that lifts the ban on in-state collegiate betting. However, bets on Illinois-based teams can only be placed in person.
Dec. 20, 2021: Illinois' in-person registration requirement for online sportsbooks will end March 5 or sooner. Currently, bettors must register in person at a brick-and-mortar location before getting online.
Dec. 13, 2021: Aldermen backed an ordinance to permit Chicago’s pro sports teams to open sportsbooks within their stadiums and venues. Wrigley Field could be home to the state's first stadium sportsbook, via its partnership with DraftKings.
October 2021: Illinois sportsbooks witnessed a surge in September betting thanks to football, recording nearly $600 million in bets.
April 2021: Illinois Governor Pritzker did not renew an executive order that temporarily suspended the requirement to register in=person for online sports betting.
March 11, 2021: The Barstool Sportsbook debuts in Illinois, becoming the state's sixth mobile operator.
December 2020: Illinois registers $491 million from sports betting, its highest handle of the year.
October 2020: Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued Executive Orders 2020-60 and 2020-61, limiting casinos and retail sports betting venues to 25% capacity.
June 2020: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker temporarily waived the state's in-person registration requirement, thus allowing individuals to set up sports betting accounts remotely.
June 2020: BetRivers launches the first online sportsbook in Illinois.
March 2020: Rivers Casino opens the first retail sportsbook in the state’s history.
June 2019: Governor J.B. Pritzker passes Bill SB 690, legalizing sports gambling in Illinois. The bill prohibits out-of-state providers from entering the market for an additional 18 months.
March 2019: Rivers Casino owner Neil Bluhm pushes to keep heavy-hitters DraftKings and FanDuel out of the state as punishment for their questionable DFS operations.
Aug. 2018: Illinois lawmakers introduce five bills with the hope of legalizing sports betting.
There are several fantastic betting sites operating in the Prairie State, but Covers has crowned DraftKings the best sportsbook in Illinois in 2022. DraftKings IL has the best mobile sports betting app, a steady flow of intriguing promos, and a robust live betting platform, giving Illinois bettors the ultimate online sports betting experience.
DraftKings Illinois’ mobile app checks all of the boxes. From its intuitive layout and aesthetically pleasing design to its stable of exciting features — including same-game parlays — DraftKings serves as the go-to app for many IL sports bettors.
Despite its disappointing sign-up offer — a restrictive $1,000 deposit match bonus — DraftKings rewards existing users with parlay boosts, early wins, a referral program, and free-to-play daily pools offering real cash prizes
Few sportsbooks can match DraftKings’ increasingly popular live betting section. Betting options are aplenty, and odds are constantly updating in real time. If you want to place an in-game wager, DraftKings is the sportsbook for you.
Check out our detailed DraftKings review to learn more about the best sportsbook in Illinois.
With the return of remote registration, sports bettors can claim the best Illinois sportsbook bonuses from anywhere in the state.
Here is our ranking of the best introductory offers currently available to Illinoisans in 2022:
Caesars - Up to $1,250 on Caesars: New Caesars customers can claim a free bet of up to $1,250 should their initial wager lose by using promo code COVERSFULL at sign-up. Doing so will also trigger 1,000 Caesars Rewards® Tier Credits and 1,000 Caesars Rewards Reward Credits, a huge win for new Illinois customers.
FanDuel - $1,000 No Sweat First Bet: FanDuel's new evergreen sign-up promo provides you with a no sweat first bet. If your first-time wager registers as a loss, the sportsbook will refund the amount wagered to your account, up to $1,000.
BetMGM - $1,000 Risk-Free Bet: BetMGM IL is also welcoming new Prairie State bettors with a lucrative risk-free offer of up to $1,000. No BetMGM promo code is required to claim this welcome bonus.
PointsBet - Up to $800 in Risk-Free Bets: PointsBet's Illinois sign-up bonus gives new customers the ability to place their first four bets of up to $200 risk-free. When you use the current PointsBet promo code — MC4X200 — PointsBet will send you $200 in free bets for every bet that falls short during your first four days with the sportsbook.
BetRivers - Up to $500 in free bets: New BetRivers Illinois customers can receive up to $500 in free bets. Simply make a single deposit of $10 or more and if your wager loses, you will receive a free bet equal to your stake up to $500. Use promo code 'SPORTS' to get started.
Terms and conditions apply to all bonuses and promotional offers.
Deposit match up to $1,000
No code required
Purveyor of the best sports betting apps in the U.S., DraftKings is also Illinois's top overall sports betting platform. From its extensive collection of betting markets and ongoing promotions to its clean user interface and stress-free banking, the sports betting partner of the Chicago Cubs is the sportsbook of choice for many Illinois gamblers.
For more information, read our DraftKings Review.
$1,000 no sweat first bet
No code required
The sports betting partner of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, FanDuel is also aligned with its Illinois users' best interests. The sportsbook has one of the most straightforward bonuses in the state — a $1,000 no sweat first bet — and top-notch live betting and live streaming sections. The FanDuel IL app is incredibly smooth and feature-rich, including unique bet types like same-game parlays and boosted odds.
Check out our FanDuel Review to learn more.
Up to $800 in risk-free bets
Code: MC4X200
Illinois sports bettors seeking a unique sports wagering experience can turn to PointsBet, an Australia-based sportsbook now available in 11 states. The operator has several one-of-a-kind features in Illinois, including its "Karma Kommittee," boosted parlays, and proprietary Points Betting system — a bet type that rewards (or punishes bettors) based on the accuracy of their wagers.
For an expert breakdown, check out our PointsBet Review.
Up to $1,250 on Caesars
Code: COVERSFULL
Caesars IL rolled out a brand new offer for new Illinois sports bettors, offering a free bet of up to $1,250 and a collection of Tier Credits and Reward Credits from its revered Caesars Rewards® program. Beyond the sign-up perks, Caesars keeps sports gamblers engaged with a great mobile app and unrivaled customer support.
Read our Caesars Sportsbook Review to learn more about the best sportsbook in Illinois.
Up to $500 in free bets
Code: SPORTS
The first online sportsbook to launch in the Prairie State, BetRivers has impressed with its ability to set competitive odds and provide Illinois bettors with a responsive and user-friendly mobile app. While BetRivers IL doesn't offer the best sign-up bonus, the operator's steady flow of sports betting promotions makes it a superior option to other Illinois betting sites.
Check out our expert BetRivers Review to learn more.
Bettors in the Prairie State can now open an online sports betting account from anywhere in Illinois via legal mobile sports betting apps.
Choose the sportsbook that best suits your betting needs. Check out some reviews and consider betting opportunities, customer service, current promotions, and the ease of financial transactions.
The registration process is once again both convenient and straightforward in Illinois. After entering your personal information, you can confirm your identity and location from anywhere within state borders.
New players in Illinois can benefit from a number of different promotions when opening up a new account with an online sportsbook. Although online options may be relatively limited in Illinois, bettors can still benefit from some nice bonus offers. Here are the most popular types of offers in Illinois:
The most popular bets in Illinois include the point spread, moneyline, Over/Under (totals), parlays, and futures. Live betting is also an option since sports betting sites have access to real-time data and can offer updated odds and new betting opportunities for Illinois sports bettors.
Common deposit methods in Illinois include PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, and online banking. Be sure to watch for unexpected fees before confirming your transaction.
Sports bettors should research the types of wagers that best fit their needs and goals. It’s important to understand the risk associated with each bet.
Different sportsbooks may offer slightly better odds than others, so line shopping definitely has its benefits as well.
Withdrawals typically take a bit longer to process, so keep this in mind when planning to access your winnings. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the terms and conditions of each sportsbook, as some methods may include higher fees for gambling transactions.
American odds are the default option for most sportsbooks. Favorites are accompanied by a minus (-) sign and indicate the amount you have to wager to win $100. For example, -150 odds indicate you’d need to bet $150 to take home a $100 profit.
Underdogs are accompanied by a plus (+) sign and indicate the amount you’ll win if you bet $100. For example, +200 odds suggest you’d take home $200 in profit when placing a wager of $100. Underdogs are less likely to win, and the larger payout reflects this.
Moneyline odds are displayed for futures odds and props as well. Players who are accustomed to decimal odds may be able to view odds this way with some Illinois sportsbooks. Use our odds converter to adjust from American to decimal or fractions easily.
Illinois sports bettors may place wagers on sportsbooks’ mobile apps or betting sites. In-person betting can be done at retail sportsbooks at a riverboat casino, a racetrack, or an off-track betting site (OTB).
With the arrival of BetMGM on March 5, 2022, Illinois stands at seven legal and licensed online sportsbooks.
| Online sportsbook | Mobile app | Odds provider | Online casino | Retail partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Barstool  | Yes | Kambi | No | Hollywood Casino Joliet |
| BetMGM | Yes | BetMGM | No | Par-A-Dice Casino |
| BetRivers | Yes | Kambi | No | Rivers Casino |
| Caesars | Yes | Caesars | No | Harrah's Joliet and Harrah's Metropolis |
| DraftKings | Yes | SBTech | No | DraftKings at Casino Queen |
| FanDuel | Yes | Flutter | No | FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing |
| PointsBet | Yes | PointsBet | No | Hawthorne Race Course |
| Sportsbook | Venue | Address | Phone number | Odds provider |
| Joliet Sportsbook (Barstool) | Hollywood Casino Joliet | 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436 | (888) 436-7737 | Kambi |
| The Sportsbook (Barstool) | Argosy Casino Alton | 1 Piasa St., Alton, IL 62002 | (800) 711-4263 | Kambi |
| The Sportsbook (Barstool) | Hollywood Casino Aurora | 1 W. New York St. Bridge, Aurora, IL 60506 | (630) 801-1234 | Kambi |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Rivers Casino | 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018 | (847) 795-0777 | Kambi |
| DraftKings at Casino Queen | Casino Queen | 200 S Front St., East St. Louis, IL 62201 | (800) 777-0777 | SBTech |
| FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook | Par-A-Dice Casino | 21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria, IL 61611 | (309) 699-7711 | Flutter |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing (Fairmount Park) | 9301 Collinsville Rd., Collinsville, IL 62234 | (618) 345-4300 | Flutter |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Hawthorne Race Course | 3501 S Laramie Ave, Stickney, IL 60804 | (708) 780-3700 | PointsBet |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Prospect Heights Off Track Betting | 1250 S. River Rd., Prospect Heights, IL 60080 | (847) 537-3043 | PointsBet |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Crestwood Off Track Betting | 13148 Rivercrest Dr., Crestwood, IL 60445 | (708) 489-4700 | PointsBet |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Grand Victoria Casino | 250 S Grove Ave., Elgin, IL 60210 | (847) 468-7000 | Caesars |
| Caesars Sportsbook (coming) | Harrah's Joliet | 151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432 | (815) 740-7800 | Caesars |
| Caesars Sportsbook (coming) | Harrah's Metropolis | 100 E Front St, Metropolis, IL 62960 | (618) 524-2628 | Caesars |
Yes, sports betting is legal in Illinois. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed bill SB 690 — an enormous gaming expansion and capital bill — on June 28, 2019, and sports betting was deemed legal as a part of the 816-page document.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines accepted Illinois’ first legal retail sports bet on March 9, 2020, while BetRivers launched the state’s first online sportsbook on June 18, 2020.
Check our USA legal tracker to monitor each state's sports betting progress.
All bettors, 21-years of age and older, can create a sportsbook account online or by visiting a casino, racetrack, or off-track betting facility. Remote registration returned to Illinois on March 5, 2022.
Here are some key considerations and features that will help you to navigate Illinois' sports betting landscape:
Legal ageYou must be at least 21-years old to bet on sports in Illinois, whether you are placing a wager online or in person at one of Illinois’ casinos or racetracks.
Mobile bettingLegal online sports betting can take place on a mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates all online and casino gambling in the state of Illinois.
Remote registrationMarch 5, 2022, marked the end of in-person registration in Illinois, meaning bettors no longer have to visit a retail sportsbook to complete the sign-up process.
From April 3, 2021, to March 5, 2022, sports bettors were unable to register remotely. A 2020 executive order by Gov. Pritzker that had allowed bettors to register without visiting a sportsbook in person was not renewed during this time.
Within state bordersAll sports gamblers must be physically present in the state of Illinois when placing a wager. While bettors are not required to be residents of Illinois, online sportsbooks are required to use geotagging software to verify users’ locations.
Retail sportsbooksSeven of Illinois’ 10 casinos currently operate retail sportsbooks. FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing — formerly Fairmount Park — and Hawthorne Race Course are now licensed to offer live betting as well. Hawthorne also operates an off-track betting site in Crestwood, IL.
Taxable winningsSports bet winnings over $600 are subject to a 15% tax rate in Illinois. It’s also standard procedure for casinos in Illinois to withhold 25% of winnings for federal tax purposes.
Players are able to deduct amounts wagered and lost — but may not deduct wagers on winning bets.
Illinois is now up to seven online sportsbooks, and the sports betting market is expected to continue to grow in the Prairie State. The return or remote registration is a huge win for sports bettors.
On the flip side, college sports fanatics may also be less inclined to get in on the betting action as wagers on Illinois college teams are still restricted to in-person only.
Bets on Illinois college teams placed only in person at a casino or racetrack sportsbookHigh barrier-to-entry means fewer choices for bettorsIllinois set a monthly record with its $840 million October handle and surpassed $7 billion in total handle in 2021.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Illinois sports gambling operations were suspended on March 16, 2020 — one week after it had become legal in the state. Online and in-person wagering resumed on July 1, 2020.
The Illinois Gaming Board reported that the Illinois sports betting handle for June fell 17.8% from May. Despite the dip, retail and online sportsbooks handled approximately $628.5 million in bets for June — up 32% from June of 2021.
We compiled the financial figures to illustrate the breakdown of sports betting revenues in Illinois:
| Year | Total handle | Revenue | Hold percentage | Tax revenue |
| 2022 | - | - | - | - |
| 2021 | $7.02B | $527.6M | 7.5% | $83.8M |
| 2020 | $1.88B | $125M | 6.1% | $20M |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
| 2022 | $867.5M | $679.4M | $971M | $840M | $764.6M | $628.5M | $516.4M | - | - | - | - | - | $5.26B |
| 2021 | $581M | $509M | $633M | $537M | $507M | $476M | $369M | $400M | $596.5M | $840.4M | $780M | $789M | $7.02B |
| 2020 | N/A | N/A | 997K | N/A | N/A | $8M | $52M | $140M | $305M | $434M | $449M | $491M | $1.88B |
In-state college betting received a big boost on Dec. 21, 2021. Gov. Pritzker signed a law that lifted the betting ban on in-state schools.
However, despite the return of remote registration, wagers on Illinois teams can only be placed in person at one of Illinois' retail casinos or racetrack sportsbooks.
The Illinois Gaming Board, similar to other U.S. states, does not permit betting on political events including Presidential elections.
The Illinois Gaming Board has not yet authorized esports betting to be available in Illinois. Esports are neither banned nor included in the state’s sports betting law, so the door has been left open for the future.
The marquee offseason event has steadily increased in popularity and that applies to betting markets, too. Illinois is one of only a handful of states to permit betting on the NFL Draft, meaning you can cash in on all seven rounds.
If you’re betting on your favorite Illinois player or team, be sure to do your research and never let your emotions get the best of you.
Brush up on the basics of sports betting with our how to bet guides.
Illinois boasts nearly a dozen casinos, three racetracks, and a number of live and online poker rooms. Daily fantasy sports were also legalized with the Lawful Internet Gaming Act of 2019.
CasinoThere are currently ten casinos in Illinois: seven riverboat casinos and three that are land-based. There are no real money online casinos in Illinois yet, but the state expects to take another kick at the can in 2023.
On May 5, 2022, the City of Chicago chose Bally’s as the preferred bidder for its $1.7B casino project. Plans for Bally’s Chicago include a 500-room hotel, sprawling entertainment center, and a casino with 3,400 slot machines and 170 table games.
For now, Illinois gamblers can enjoy a multitude of table games and a variety of slot machines at one of the state’s riverboat locations. Reel slots, progressive slots, and video poker are available at each of Illinois’ ten casinos.
PokerPoker can be played in person at many of Illinois’ major casinos. Online poker was not included in Bill SB 690, but you can visit Global Poker — the only legal online option available in Illinois — and gamble using virtual cash.
Horse racingIllinois is home to three racetracks — Arlington International Racecourse, FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, and Hawthorne Race Course.
Currently, Hawthorne Race Course and FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing (formerly Fairmount Park) are licensed to offer sports betting in Illinois. You can also bet on horse races online with the best horse racing betting sites in the U.S.
Daily fantasy sportsMajor DFS sites FanDuel and DraftKings are currently operating in Illinois despite a lack of clarity concerning the legality of their presence in the state. While the Attorney General continues to insist it is illegal in Illinois, there have been several recent attempts to license and regulate DFS in the state.
Illinois has become a sports betting powerhouse with astounding total handle numbers to match their rabid fandom.
For all the IL sports betting facts, refer to the table below:
| Launch date | March 2020 |
| Legal age for betting | 21 |
| Online sports betting | Yes ✅ |
| Number of betting licenses | 7 active |
| Number of betting sites | 7 |
| Remote registration | Yes ✅ |
| Retail sportsbooks | Yes ✅ |
| Online casino sites | No ❌ |
| Online poker | Yes ✅ |
| Retail casinos | Yes ✅ |
| Betting on college sports | Yes ✅ |
| Betting on esports | No ❌ |
| State population | 12.785 million |
| Total handle (2021) | $7.02 billion |
| Tax rate | 15% |
| State regulator | The Illinois Gaming Board |
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) created a self-exclusion policy for problem gamblers in 2002, and this is now a part of Illinois’ gambling law. This includes the Statewide Casino Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (SEP) and the Problem Gambling Registry.
Those with gambling problems may voluntarily enroll in both or either of these programs at an IGB office in any Illinois casino.
Similarly, the Responsible Gambling Database houses a list of individuals who voluntarily prohibit themselves from betting online in Illinois.
Visit the Illinois Gaming Board
Illinois' first-ever gambling assessment revealed that more than 11% of adults either have a gambling problem or are at risk of developing one.
Sports betting legislation at the state level has already produced a number of additional legal betting markets. These states now offer legal sports gambling:
States moving toward legal sports betting that could potentially provide bettors the opportunity to gamble legitimately in the near future include:
Illinois sports bettors can wager with confidence with as many as seven regulated sports betting sites. Given the size of Illinois' population, nearing 13 million, we would have expected more online sportsbooks to set up shop. However, the $20 million licensing fee has caused some operators to rethink the investment.
The return of fully remote registration was a significant boost to bettors and Illinois sportsbooks. Illinois nixed the in-person registration requirement in March 2022. Limitations on college sports betting could prove costly, though: Wagering on in-state college teams is limited to pregame wagers made in-person at an Illinois casino or racetrack.
Illegal offshore betting sites offer sports gambling in Illinois, but you should avoid them because of unsavory business practices. Do not risk losing your money to these sportsbooks. Illinois offers plenty of legal, regulated options for bettors to safely place wagers.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Illinois for adults 21 and older.
No, but you must be physically present in the state of Illinois to place a wager online.
You can create a sports betting account and start wagering from anywhere in Illinois. If you prefer the in-person experience, you can visit one of the state’s casinos or racetracks.
Yes, you can bet on professional and college teams based in Illinois. However, you must visit a retail sportsbook to bet on Illinois college sports.
Illinois generated over $527 million in gross revenue in 2021.
Chicago is home to nine of Illinois’ 10 casinos, while St. Louis residents regularly make the trek to Illinois to register and bet at retail locations on the Illinois/Missouri border.
Yes, DraftKings is operating in Illinois after striking a deal with Casino Queen in July, 2020. The partnership allowed DraftKings to work around a government-imposed 18-month wait to obtain a sports betting license in the state.
Yes, FanDuel is partnered with Par-A-Dice Casino and recently opened FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing — formerly known as Fairmount Park.
On June 18, 2020, BetRivers became the first online sportsbook to accept mobile wagers. Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive owns BetRivers.
Illinois’ first legal in-person sports bet was placed on March 9, 2020, at Rivers Casino Des Plaines.
Jeff Watters is a content editor at Covers. Before pivoting to sports betting in 2021, the well-traveled Nova Scotian and Atlanta Braves fanatic spent time writing about education, software, and NHL prospects.
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