So you want to bet on Illinois College Football inside Illinois?  Unfortunately, that is not legal in the traditional sense.  However, you are able to take advantage of various other options such as Daily Fantasy Sports and Social / Sweepstakes betting options such as Fliff, Underdog, Pointsbet, and others.

This is a fun option for novice and experienced sports bettors in Illinois looking for a fun and new ways to enjoy watching the Illini, Northwestern, DePaul, and any other in-state teams. While Illinois has embraced sports betting in many forms, it still maintains some strict regulations due to legislation largely influenced by the major Sportsbooks in the U.S.

Below is an overview of the most common option in Illinois, that is Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). 

DFS is Fully Legal in Illinois

In 2019, Illinois legalized DFS after years of debate.  It is now a regulated industry, by the Illinois Gaming Board, and there are many platforms relying on these laws and also subject to scrutiny if they are not meeting the requirements for fair play and consumer protection. 

What makes DFS different? 

The law has determined that DFS is a game of skill rather than a game of chance. For DFS, you are building a team of real-life athletes and your lineup earns points based on the players actual performance.  Common performance measures are touchdowns, total yards, receptions, and rushing yards. 

DFS contests and laws depend on players ability to freely review stats, trends, and other game conditions to make an informed choice.  Needless to say, some players are more skilled at this than others. 

What is DFS exactly and how do I play with college sports teams?

First of all, you are not betting on teams– you will be betting on individual players. This is your best option if you are frustrated that you cannot bet on individual college teams in Illinois. This gives experienced bettors an edge since they can apply their knowledge of player stats, game conditions, and other factors to build the best roster.

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These options have in fact, been around long before 2019 and they are very popular with some of the largest brands in sports betting starting out this way.  DFS is a safe way to expand your portfolio of sports betting options and use your knowledge to win real cash and/or cash prizes. Try out one of the platforms above or any others and check out the fun games, tournaments, and prop contests available to you. Make sure to PLAY RESPONSIBLY AND HAVE FUN!