• Online Sports Gambling Sites Reviews
• Best Legal Sports Betting Apps
• Best Mobile Sports Betting App

• When you look at the best sports gambling apps, they definitely don’t have the bells and whistles that you’ll see at online casinos or poker sites, but that isn’t that important to bettors. They want a real money gambling app that displays odds in real-time as well as a secure knowledge that when they tap the BET button their bets will.
• FanDuel Sportsbook. As one of the biggest daily fantasy sports providers in the U.S., FanDuel.

Elite Sportsbook (Web App) Sports Betting Apps Launching Soon Bet365. One of the largest online sportsbooks, boasting more than 45 million global customers, UK-based Bet365 is poised to enter the CO sports betting market through a partnership with Century Casinos, Inc., owners of Century Casino in Cripple Creek and Central City.

If you want to know more about how to get started with a quality mobile gambling app and what’s available for real money gambling via mobile in general, then keep reading through this page. If you just want to get going with using the best gambling apps available right now, click on one of our recommendations below.

The mobile sector of the online gambling world has grown over time to the point that it has overtaken computer play as the most popular way to gamble. This mirrors a similar growth of mobile usage in other areas, which has primarily come thanks to the proliferation of mobile-friendly content.

Now people from all over the world use mobile gambling sites and real money gambling apps for betting and gaming on the go.

The list above or below of the best sites with mobile gambling apps is kept regularly updated by our online betting and gaming experts. Our team regularly bet on sports and play casino games from their mobile devices, so they know exactly how to identify the best real money gambling apps to use.

These mobile gambling apps have been extensively vetted by our team to ensure that they are safe to use for all customers that sign up. Each one offers a unique gambling experience on your mobile device and we truly believe that you won’t be disappointed in any one of these that you choose to play at.

If you’re wondering about our vetting process, our rankings are based on a variety of factors, which is the next thing we address on this page.

• Safety and security – Vital for real money gambling apps
• Compatibility – Apps should work on multiple mobile devices
• Ease of use – Online apps should be easy to use
• Banking – Gambling apps need different options for depositing and withdrawing
• Bonuses and promotions – The best apps are generous to new and existing customers
• Payout speed – Withdrawals from gambling apps should be as quick as possible

The above list is not exhaustive by any means. It shows the most important criteria, but there are many more factors that need to be assessed when ranking gambling apps. Rest assured that we are extremely thorough in our evaluations, and only the very best apps make it onto our list.

In addition to ranking the best real money gambling apps overall, we’ve also ranked the top apps in a variety of different categories. Let’s look at those before moving on.

In what follows, we’re going to break down everything you might want to know about playing on mobile online gambling apps. We’ll walk you through how to get started, the available types of mobile gambling apps, compatibility issues, safety and security, and more.

Because there are so many different popular devices and mobile operating systems, there are a variety of ways to get started playing via mobile, and they largely depend on what type of smartphone or tablet you’re using.

Each individual type of device or OS can have multiple ways to get started gambling, and the method you use can be dependent on the site itself. We’re going to walk you through each of the major possibilities so that you know what’s available when you start gambling with mobile apps.

Most of the major operating systems like iOS and Android have some variation of an app store (or multiple app stores) where you can download various applications directly to your phone from an organized interface.

If you’re looking to play with a specific casino or betting site, they will often give you a link that will direct you straight to the download page from your respective app store. Alternatively, you can look for that gambling site’s name specifically using your app store’s search function.

It’s worth noting that searching for something very general like “mobile slots” in an app store is not ideal because you can turn up a lot of low-quality results, even if they’re free apps, which we’ll cover more below.

Aside from that, these app store download options make it easy for you to add everything to your phone or tablet that you need to play all from one place, and that makes them perfect even for players who may not be confident dealing with technology.

One method that was made popular before most devices had web browsers was to simply allow you to put in your phone number so that you could receive an SMS/text message with a download link for the gambling app in question. Even though most browsers have the ability to open download links directly these days, some sites will still use this type of option.

It’s another good choice if you aren’t confident with technology or if you just like convenience since it’s hard to get lost or confused with this straightforward process.

• Put in your phone number and request a download link
• The link will come to your phone via an SMS/text message
• Tap on the link to open it
• Confirm that you want to download the app

It will be downloaded and installed on your device automatically. All you have to do then is open the online gambling app and get started.

In comparison to using an app store, we actually prefer the SMS/text link option because it makes it harder to get sidetracked or accidentally download the wrong thing.

Sometimes you will have the option to use a QR code to open a download link for the app software. This is a bit more of an advanced approach, and it takes about the same amount of time as either of the above options, so there’s not really any significant advantage.

If you see something that looks like a square barcode with a bunch of tiny black and white squares on it, then that’s probably a QR code. You scan it with a special mode on your phone, and it acts like a link that can open up a website or download for a mobile gambling site.

In essence, it’s a fancy version of sending you a link to get the app. There’s no major advantage to using a QR code to download a mobile gambling app, so if you’re not comfortable with it, then just use either of the above methods if they’re offered.

Once you’ve used one of the above three methods to download the betting or gaming app to your smartphone or tablet, all you need to do is create an account to start gambling.

We have a number of tips down below to help keep yourself and your funds safe and secure when you’re creating this gambling account, but it’s a pretty straightforward process otherwise, and it’s just like creating an account at any other website.

Online Sports Gambling Sites Reviews

With that having been said, it’s critical that you include your real information like your name, address, and so on.

This is not a time to put in fake information for the sake of privacy. The sites are required to use the information you put in to verify your identity to satisfy the requirements of their gambling license, and this helps to avoid situations of fraud, money laundering, and other issues.

Types of Online Gambling Apps

There is a lot to choose from when it comes to picking out the best gambling apps to play on, and there are even other apps that are used as tools or utilities to help you while you play.

It can feel like you’re being thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool when you try to navigate all of this for the first time, so we want to show you exactly what to expect from the different kinds of apps for mobile gambling.

If you were to search for a mobile online casino in an app store, you’d find a whole lot of play money-only options for just about every type of game or way to gamble that you can think of. However, there are some real disadvantages to downloading these gambling apps.

• You never have the option to play for real money on the same games
• The games are typically low quality and are made just well enough to pass the app store’s software standards
• The companies that run these games often focus primarily on marketing, so you’ll have to deal with a lot of ads or having your information used to market to you

Some play money apps are free, while others require you to pay for them. If you’re wondering what’s in it for the developers with the free options, the free apps almost always generate funds by forcing you to view advertisements on a regular basis before you can enjoy your play money mobile games.

To avoid these disadvantages, we strongly suggest sticking with the real money gambling app options we gave on our list of recommended sites at the top.

Many have play money options or similar features where you can enjoy the action with play chips until you’re ready to get in the mix for real funds.

As we mentioned above, the best real money mobile gambling apps will have free play options where you can enjoy the games and betting without having to actually wager money. Instead, they’ll keep a score or balance of virtual chips to let you keep up with how you’re doing.

However, you can have opportunities to win real money prizes without making monetary wagers. No-deposit bonus opportunities are one way to do this with sports betting apps and casino apps. You can also play in online poker freeroll tournaments, which have no entry fee but allow you to win real money payouts if you place high enough.

For most players most of the time, this is a lot more fun than straightforward play money games since you have an actual chance to win something of value without having to risk your own funds.

Additionally, there are a variety of mobile apps that act as tools or utilities to assist you while gambling. What’s available depends on how you’re gambling, but you can check out resources like the following.

• Sports betting tips
• Online poker starting hand charts
• Blackjack strategy tables
• Video poker hand calculators

These aren’t for everyone, and you don’t have to use them, but they’re worth mentioning for players who enjoy focusing on strategy when wagering.

One potential problem that mobile gamblers can run into is the fact that not all software or apps are compatible with all mobile devices. This means that you can find yourself in a situation where you want to play with a site that doesn’t have a viable mobile software option that works for your smartphone or tablet.

In what follows, we’re going to break down how compatibility issues can happen, how they can be avoided, and why our recommended online gambling apps keep you from having to worry about this in virtually all cases.

Some online gambling apps have been designed to work with one specific mobile operating system only, and that will almost always be either iOS or Android since those are the two most popular operating systems. These are called native OS apps, and while this approach is popular for a lot of other types of mobile software, it’s actually the least popular option in the online gambling world.

Virtually all of our top recommended suggestions are based around mobile web options instead. This is because all operating systems for mobile have web browser apps, and that helps ensure that players from all types of devices and operating systems are able to get in on the action.

In essence, since the sites become full screen anyway, it gives you an experience that’s just as good while keeping the compatibility issue from holding you back.

Adobe Flash was the platform used for most of the early mobile gambling options, but it fell to the side with HTML5 taking its place. HTML5 is better in virtually every aspect of the experience compared to Flash, particularly regarding giving players a better overall performance on the same hardware.

However, not all types of gambling will use HTML5 to create graphical displays and so on like what you see in online slots. Instead, you’ll often see regular responsive web pages used with mobile sports betting apps because it makes it easier for the operator to keep the betting odds fresh and updated regularly.

HTML5 is great because it offers a super-strong performance while being compatible with nearly every modern mobile device. However, we don’t want you to think that there’s something wrong with a site if HTML5 is not used, particularly if you’re betting on sports via mobile.

Tablets, Smartphones, and Screen Sizes

One of the things we check for when making our recommendations is that they work on all different types of screens, including large tablets, mid-sized tablets, and a variety of smartphone screen sizes.

With HTML5, screen size is largely irrelevant because the scaling is great and everything is designed to be high-quality and easy to view regardless of whether its scaled to a small or large size.

It’s a bit different with apps, though. They don’t always scale the same way, and even the top real money gambling apps are sometimes optimized for tablets or smartphones but not both.

We’ve done the research on all of our recommended mobile gambling apps so that you don’t have to, and you can check out which screen sizes are available.

However, there is a caveat to this. Smartwatches are not compatible with very many mobile online gambling apps at all. The screens are simply too small to allow the kind of intricate interaction that most types of real money gambling require.

Safety and Security With Real Money Online Gambling Apps

A significant number of players hesitate to gamble via mobile because they aren’t sure about the potential security risks. If you check out the sites that we have recommended, you can see from our reviews that we have checked them out to make sure that their mobile gambling software is fully secured and safe to play with.

With that said, there are still a few security things that are beyond the reach of the mobile apps themselves, so we recommend you follow the steps below to keep your account information and financial details safe.

For the sake of convenience, many mobile gambling applications will allow you to save your username and/or password for future sessions. We highly recommend against this.

If your phone or tablet is lost or stolen, you’ll have enough problems on your hands without having to worry about someone logging into your real money gambling app and cleaning out your balance. If you keep things set up to automatically log in, then they can do this in just a few taps on your screen.

This is why it’s so critical to not use the automatic log-in features that some software providers put into their apps.

Again, if your phone is lost or stolen, it gives a person access to all of your email accounts and other types of accounts that are logged in on your device. If the email you used for your mobile gambling account is automatically logged in on your smartphone or tablet, then it’s really easy for someone to reset your password to get into your account.

Likewise, they can use similar information from other accounts that you’re logged into to gain information to log in and cause havoc on your gambling accounts.

A solution to this is fairly straightforward: Use a new email address for your mobile gambling account, do not use it for anything else, and do not have it automatically logged in on your phone. While you’re at it, use a username and password unique to that site so that if someone figures out your username and/or password, that will not give them access to everything else.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mobile Gambling Apps

We know that players will have questions about gambling via mobile, especially if it’s their first time. Here, we have compiled some of the most asked questions so that you can get most of your answers first and know exactly what you’re looking at.

This depends on the type of gambling you’re doing and what kind of graphics, video, and sound have to be loaded. Here are a few examples.

• Mobile Slots – Expect these to use a lot of data because of the high level of graphics, sounds, and sometimes video clips
• Mobile Poker – This doesn’t use much data at all because the graphics are downloaded once and saved on your phone
• Mobile Sports Betting – Again, not much data is used here because almost all of the information transferred is in text just like most of what you see on regular websites

For most sites most of the time, including virtually all of our suggested mobile gambling apps, you’ll have no problem using the same account to play on both the mobile and desktop platforms.

This includes sharing an account balance, playing many of the same games, and taking advantage of several of the same promotions. It’s essentially the same account, but you have multiple ways to play from it.

This will depend on where you’re playing, but a large percentage of sites will have mobile casino bonuses, mobile poker bonuses, and special mobile sports betting promotions. You will also be able to take advantage of the regular desktop bonuses and special offers, which means tons of ways to get value while gambling on the go.

If you stick to legitimate gambling apps with a quality license and a solid reputation, the answer is yes. They use proper SSL technologies and trusted payment providers to protect their customers. All of our recommended apps do it.

Yes, you can actually have more of them. A lot of gambling companies offer not only their standard options for mobile users, but some exclusive promotions that are only available on the go.

Most of the time, the quality is identical. It can be slightly better on desktop on rare occasions, but that’s not the case with most gambling apps.

The mobile gambling apps are no different than betting, playing casino games or poker on the internet. In other words, there are off-shore gambling platforms that accept US customers and it’s technically not illegal to use them. To learn more about this topic, feel free to visit our US gambling laws and regulations page.

It depends on the particular app you want to use. Many gambling sites nowadays are mobile-responsive, so they work on almost every mainstream device such as iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, and even BlackBerry.

As for the native apps, they are usually available on iOS and Android only.

If you want to play with virtual cash, you can usually enjoy Texas Hold’em Poker, slots, and classic card and table games like blackjack and roulette.

The real money casinos and poker rooms usually support even more options like video poker, scratch cards, Omaha, and others. And of course, you can also bet on sports.

With most bookmakers, you only need one account to bet on mobile and on desktop. Simply use the same credentials to log into your account.

You can use the same options that are usually available on desktop, such as credit and debit cards, e-wallets, crypto, and more. Some of the best gambling apps have even implemented pay-by-phone services. If you decide to use pay-by-phone, your money will be added to your phone bill at the end of the month.

Most gambling apps are secured well, so you should have no issues betting via Wi-Fi. However, we recommend you avoid unknown networks and public options that require no password.

We’ve researched and reviewed all of the mobile gambling apps from all of the biggest names out there, and we’ve put this information together in our list of recommendations to save you the trouble. While there’s a lot to learn about gambling with apps if you’re just getting started, the software is set up to make the learning curve as smooth and accessible as possible.

If you’re ready to get started, pick out a gambling site from our list, and follow our instructions for how to sign up and start playing.

Alternatively, you can read the following reviews for more information on some our top-ranked gambling apps.

Illinois sports betting apps are live. The Prairie State saw its first sports gambling app in June 2020 when BetRivers started taking bets. Since then, DraftKings launched in partnership with Casino Queen. FanDuel followed in late August of 2020 with an online sportsbook, which it launched with Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois. PointsBet and William Hill launched the state’s fourth and fifth sportsbooks apps in September.

To access sports betting apps, Illinois players just need an internet connection and a desktop or mobile device. The process to access an online sportsbook in the Land of Lincoln is simple and convenient, giving you full access to a bevy of bets and offers after just a few minutes.

Getting started with mobile and desktop sportsbook apps requires you to create an account using the information you’d typically give to an online shopping or social media site. It’s a similar process to those employed by the apps we use every day, so most bettors will have no trouble kicking off their sports betting experience in Illinois.

The only added step is mandatory geolocation to confirm you’re within state borders when you place a bet. As of August 20, 2020, there is no requirement to complete registration in person, but that could change. The order lifting the requirement will stay in effect until December 12, 2020. After that, in-person registration could return. Moreover, the state temporarily closed Illinois casinos and retail sportsbooks on November 19, 2020, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. This means that the only way to bet on sports in Illinois is through a sportsbook app.

Here’s a closer look at online sports betting apps in Illinois.

Best Mobile Online Sports Betting Apps In Illinois

BetRivers Illinois

BetRivers provides a polished and streamlined sportsbook experience for Illinois bettors.

BetRivers is the official online sportsbook of Illinois’ Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. Playing with BetRivers offers some great advantages to players. The site will match your first deposit up to $250, allowing you to double your account value when you first deposit funds. The bonus is a great way to get started with sports betting. The interface is sleek and intuitive. Sports and featured bets appear on a bar at the top of the screen, so you can easily navigate the site to find your favorite bets.

BteRivers launched its full iOS app in September. That means Illinois bettors can access BetRivers on a desktop or mobile browser and through both iOS and Android apps.

See our full Review Of BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook.

Best Legal Sports Betting Apps

DraftKings at Casino Queen

DraftKings penned a deal with Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois, to provide technology for the property’s sportsbooks. This includes online sports betting, which allows DraftKings to access the Illinois market as one of the first online sports betting apps.

DraftKings is an undeniable leader in the sports betting industry and is the first Illinois sportsbook to offer a native iOS and Android app along with a robust website. In addition, a DraftKings-branded sportsbook will eventually open at Wrigley Field.

New bettors at DraftKings Illinois can get up to $1,000 as part of a 20% first deposit match bonus.

Best Mobile Sports Betting App

See our complete Review Of DraftKings Illinois.

FanDuel Illinois

FanDuel launched its online sportsbook in Illinois on August 28, 2020. This made it the third online sports betting site to go live in the Prairie State.

After weeks of rumored deals, FanDuel finally launched in partnership with Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois. The property is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming. Boyd also owns a 5% stake in FanDuel, so the partnership makes sense. Previous rumors hinted at a possible purchase of Fairmount Racetrack in Collinsville, but no new information about that deal has come to light. It could still happen, but for now, FanDuel offers an online book using the Par-A-Dice license.

Bettors can get up to $1,000 in risk-free bets when they sign up for FanDuel’s sportsbook.

See our complete FanDuel Illinois Review.

PointsBet Illinois

PointsBet launched Illinois’ fourth online sportsbook. The company inked a deal with Hawthorne Racecourse in Cicero, Illinois, just a few miles outside of Chicago. PointsBet also plans to open a few off-track betting facilities in the Chicagoland area in addition to its retail sportsbook at Hawthorne Racecourse. This makes it the closest sportsbook to downtown Chicago.

The sportsbook from PointsBet went live on September 12, just in time for the first slate of Sunday football games for the 2020-2021 NFL season. PointsBet offers both an android and iOS app. It works seamlessly, and there’s the added bonus of PointsBetting, the company’s unique bet type for high-risk, high-reward betting.

William Hill Illinois

William Hill joined the Land of Lincoln’s online sports betting scene on September 15, 2020. It became the state’s fifth online sportsbook not long after it launched a retail book at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.

William Hill’s sportsbook is accessible on both iOS and Android, though our initial research showed no signs of a desktop betting platform. It’s possible that could come into play later. For now, eager bettors should stick to mobile devices and tablets.

New players at William Hill are treated to a risk-free bet up to $300.

Full List of Live Illinois Sports Betting Apps

There are currently five sports betting apps available to download in Illinois:

• BetRivers Illinois App >> Sign up to claim a 100% deposit match bonus up to $250
• DraftKings Illinois App >> Sign up to claim a 20% deposit match bonus up to $1000
• FanDuel Sportsbook Illinois >> Sign up to claim up to $1000 in risk-free bets
• PointsBet Illinois >> Use bonus code BIGBONUS to claim up to $1500 in two risk-free bets
• William Hill

Illinois Sportsbooks At A Glance

In-Person Registration Requirements In Illinois

One wrinkle when it comes to taking full advantage of online sportsbooks in Illinois is the government’s ever-changing stance toward in-person registration requirements. It’s possible to download an app and start registration, but before making the first bet bettors need to visit a retail sportsbook location or casino partner to complete the process. This was the initial requirement under the Illinois sports betting law.

During 2020, Governor J.B. Pritzker has lifted and reinstated the requirement for in-person registration so many times it’s starting to get confusing.

For a brief time, Governor Pritzer lifted this requirement due to COVID-19 related concerns. In July 2020, he reinstated the restriction. Then, he lifted the restriction once again on August 20, 2020. This can seem a bit onerous, particularly before the first bet, but once registration is complete all bets can be placed online using the chosen app. At least through December 12, 2020, you can register completely online without a visit to a retail property.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Illinois?

Betting on a legal online sportsbook app has distinct perks.

First and foremost, the convenience of playing on your mobile device is hard to beat. As long as you’re within Illinois and have an internet connection or cell signal, you can sign on and place a wager once you’re registered. If a game is happening live and you want to place an in-play wager, you can quickly sign-on using your phone or tablet to make the bet. The ease of use is one of legal mobile bettings’ primary advantages.

Of course, safety and fairness play a huge role in making the online betting experience top-notch in Illinois. Sportsbook apps are operated by companies that must adhere to the state’s regulations and offer a fair selection of bets using official data. That’s a requirement that offshore providers don’t have to worry about. Legal betting ensures you’re playing in a safe and secure environment.

How To Install Online Sports Betting Apps On An Apple iOS Device

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how you can install a sportsbook app on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Choose your preferred sports betting app and download it from the iOS App Store.
2. Register for an account. You’ll need to provide some personal information: name, email, address, phone number, etc. You also may need to submit a driver’s license number or social security number to confirm your age.
3. Download a Geolocation app. Your preferred sports betting site will give you instructions on how to do this. It’s required so you can verify your location when placing a bet.
   1. Note: some sites just use your phone’s GPS and don’t require a separate download.
4. Make a deposit and start betting!

How To Install Online Sportsbook Apps On An Android Device

Google prohibits all gambling apps from its Google Play marketplace, but you can still install sportsbook apps on your Android device. Here’s how:

1. Pick your favorite sportsbook and visit its website on your mobile browser. You can also search “[Sportsbook] Illinois Android app” and you should get helpful results.
2. Scroll down and you should find an icon that has the Android logo and says “Get it for Android” or something similar. Click on that icon.
3. The link will take you to a page with instructions to guide you through the installation process. Follow the steps on the page to download the sports betting app onto your Android device.
4. Open the app and sign up for an account using your name, email, etc.
5. If necessary/prompted, download a geolocation app. In some cases, the app will ask for your location instead of making you download a separate service. Either way, this confirms you are within the state where you plan to bet.
6. Connect a payment method, deposit, and place your wager.

Are More Sportsbooks Apps Coming To Illinois?

With only five sportsbooks live, Illinois is at a very early stage with regard to its sports betting industry. The state will undoubtedly see many more sportsbook launches, almost all of which will include sports betting apps.

BetRivers, DraftKings, PointsBet, William Hill, and FanDuel are live. But the Prairie State will soon see many more providers enter the sports betting market. Illinois is sandwiched between Iowa and Indiana, two states that had a headstart in legalizing and launching online sports betting. Nearby Michigan recently legalized sports betting and online casino gaming, though it has yet to launch. Illinois sits in the center of the growing midwestern online gambling market, and we’ll soon see industry leaders flock to the state to provide betting apps to an enthusiastic audience.

Plus, 18-months following the launch of sports betting in the state, Illinois will grant three online-only sports betting licenses, further expanding the market. Before that happens, though, expect a number of providers to throw their hats into the ring by partnering with land-based Illinois casinos.

Barstool Sportsbook

Penn National Gaming and Barstool teamed up to provide sports betting, and it’s likely the partnership will bring an app to the Illinois market. Both companies have been relatively hush-hush about Illinois plans, but it’s safe to expect a launch in the near- to mid-future.

Golden Nugget Sportsbook

In November 2020, Golden Nugget announced an intention to enter the Illinois market. They plan to open a retail casino in Danville, Illinois, as well as launch its sports betting app in Illinois. One of the most respected names in casino gaming in the US, Golden Nugget is making a name for itself by launching a sports betting app in several states, including nearby Michigan.

FOX Bet

FOX Bet is another big contender that’s likely to launch a sports betting app in Illinois. The Stars Group, which owns FOX Bet, is also partnered with Caesars. Like William Hill, the company could use that partnership to gain a foothold in the Illinois landscape.

Whether it’s with Caesars, another partner, or an online-only license, FOX Bet will almost certainly launch a sportsbook app in Illinois.

What Makes For A Good Mobile Sports Betting App?

Navigation

When you play on a sportsbook app, you should be able to quickly and easily find your desired bet. Or, if you’re just browsing, you should never be lost. A good sportsbook app will have simple but intuitive navigation tools, a clear way to place a bet, and helpful tips for beginners.

Access To Promotions

From the minute you sign up, sports betting should be rewarding (even if you don’t always win!). Sign up bonuses like deposit matches show that a sports betting app cares about gaining customers. Loyalty programs and benefits show that they want to keep existing players engaged. Promotions and bonuses make for a better sportsbook experience.

Seamless Deposits

After you connect your preferred payment method, whether it’s PayPal, your debit card, or online banking, how many clicks or taps does it take to make a new deposit? A top-notch sportsbook app makes this process incredibly easy. Just a few taps of the screen will get you to the deposit page, and you can seamlessly add funds to your account.

Speed

In any given sporting event, seconds matter. They can make a world of difference and determine the outcome of a match. When you place a bet, especially live bets/in-play wagers, the same is true of sportsbook apps. They must process your transactions quickly so you can log your bet and continue watching the game. Speed is a top priority when selecting a solid sportsbook app.

How Can Players Deposit Money In Online Sports Betting Apps In Illinois?

Sportsbook apps make deposits simple and seamless. There are a number of methods available, so you just have to choose the one you prefer and fund your account.

Methods To Deposit Money Using An Online Sportsbook App

Deposit methods can vary by sportsbook, but most apps allow similar options.

Online wallet services such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are fairly popular with sports bettors. Among them, PayPal is the most commonly accepted. BetRivers, DraftKings, PointsBet, William Hill, and FanDuel all accept PayPal and allow you to quickly connect your account.

Credit and debit cards are another ubiquitous option for depositing funds. Almost every sportsbook will accept them. Just type in your card information to make your deposit. If you’d rather not use your personal card, sportsbook apps typically accept prepaid cards, too.

Online banking options such as wire transfer, ACH, and direct deposit are all common in the sports betting world as well. You can connect your bank account and make easy deposits right from your mobile device.

Apple iOS Users

All of the options above are accessible to anyone using an iOS device. Apple users can connect a payment method and deposit at a sportsbook using a variety of accounts.

You may wonder if you can use Apple Pay or an App Store Gift Card on an Apple device to fund your sportsbook app account. At this time, it doesn’t look like Illinois sportsbooks apps will accept these methods of payment. Instead, you’ll have to stick to the options above.

Android Users

Payment options for Android users are the same: PayPal and other e-wallets, credit and debit cards, online banking, prepaid cards, and bank transfers.

Is Using A Legal Online Sports Betting App In Illinois Safe?

Illinois has many safeguards in place, both on the legal and technological front, to protect users. Regulated sportsbook providers use world-class security practices to keep your information safe, too.

Are Legal Sportsbooks Okay To Install On My Phone?

Yes. Legal and regulated sportsbook apps are safe to install on your phone. Note that the process to install an Android app may include a notification about installing apps from the web onto your phone. This is required because Google doesn’t allow gambling apps in its official app marketplace.

As long as you’re using a sportsbook app provided by a company with a license, it’s safe. The Illinois Gaming Board governs sports wagering. The organization’s website has a list of licensees that you can use to confirm the safety of any given sportsbook app.

How Do Legal Sportsbook Apps Protect My Personal Information?

Sports betting providers are legally required to adhere to the Illinois Gaming Board’s rigorous regulations and rules. On top of that, they simply want to keep you as a customer. For both reasons, they’re well-incentivized to keep your information safe.

Sportsbooks use the same high-level encryption tools that protect your data at online shopping websites or online banking institutions.

How Can I Secure My Mobile Sports Betting Account?

You can secure your sportsbook account in a number of ways. The best path to protecting your data is enabling two-factor authentication (sometimes called multi-factor or strong authentication). With two-factor authentication turned on, you will enter your username and password to login as usual. But you’ll have an added step. You’ll be required to confirm your login by entering a code sent to your phone (via text) or email address. Two-factor authentication adds another layer of protection to your account.

When you use your account regularly, log out after each session to protect your information as well.

Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Illinois: Common Questions

21. The legal gambling age in Illinois is 21, and that applies to online betting. When you sign up for a sportsbook account, you’ll use a government-issued ID to confirm your age before you can place a bet.

The Illinois Gaming Board. The IGB is a government organization that sets regulations for sports betting providers and grants licenses to companies approved to offer sportsbook apps.

For more information, including a list of licensed providers in Illinois and an overview of Illinois sports betting legislation, you can visit the IGB website.

Illinois sports bettors can wager on almost any sport. Baseball, hockey, basketball, and football are the most popular offerings. Tennis, golf, NASCAR, MMA, darts, rugby, cricket, and other options are available as well.

Illinois places some restrictions on college sports betting. You can bet on college sports in the state, but not on any matches that include an in-state school (even if the match is played elsewhere).

No. Google does not allow gambling apps in its Google Play app store, even if those apps are completely legal. Instead, Android users have to download their preferred sportsbook’s app directly from the provider’s website. Most sports betting sites have a direct link that allows you to download the app right to your phone in a few simple steps.

Yes. DraftKings partnered with Casino Queen in East St. Louis and launched Illinois’ second online sports betting site (after BetRivers).

Players can download the DraftKings app for iOS or Android. DraftKings has great beginner’s guides for sports betting newcomers as well.

Yes. DraftKings, PointsBet, BetRivers, William Hill, and FanDuel have iOS apps you can download directly from the App Store.