NCAAB

College Basketball Betting in Illinois

March Madness, Illini retail-only restrictions, and 350+ Division I teams.

College basketball is the second-highest handle sport in Illinois during March Madness. Illini and Northwestern are restricted online (retail only, game outcomes only), but all 350+ other Division I teams are fully available for online wagering including the entire NCAA Tournament outside of in-state team games.

Key Facts

Online Restriction
Illini, Northwestern, DePaul, Illinois State NOT online
Out-of-State Teams
All allowed online including props
Tournament Markets
Spread, ML, total, alt lines, player props
Best NCAA Tournament Promos
DraftKings (NCAA profit boost)

NCAA Tournament Markets

Every IL operator offers full bracket coverage: round-by-round odds, futures (Champion, Final Four, Elite Eight), spread/total/moneyline on every game, player props (out-of-state teams), and live in-game markets. Bracket contests run alongside cash betting at DraftKings and FanDuel.

Carve-Out Reminder

If Illinois Fighting Illini makes the tournament, online sportsbooks cannot accept wagers on their games. Rivers Casino Des Plaines and Grand Victoria Elgin accept retail bets on Illini tournament games, but only on game outcomes (no player props).

Best Sportsbook for College Hoops

DraftKings runs the March Madness profit boost promotion every year — typically 100% boost on a single bracket bet. FanDuel and BetMGM compete with similar promos.

Top Sportsbook Picks

Operators ranked for this specific use case:

  1. #1 DraftKings Market Leader 4.9/5 ★
  2. #2 FanDuel Parlay Builder 4.8/5 ★
  3. #3 BetMGM Loyalty Program 4.7/5 ★
  4. #4 Caesars Sportsbook Rewards Program 4.6/5 ★

FAQs

Can I bet on the Illini in the tournament?

Only at a retail sportsbook in Illinois, and only on game outcomes (no player props).