Despite this, the Big Ten will try to host a fall sports season. However, only college sports betting is available at legitimate sportsbooks in Illinois.
One of the main reasons why you won’t find University of Illinois or Northwest sports futures available at those publications on the restricted market is due to state laws that explicitly prohibit their inclusion.
Legal restrictions on betting on school sports in Illinois
Section 25-25.d of the Illinois code clearly outlines the state’s stance in this matter. While the sports gambling industry in Illinois has grown, it has not been met with much controversy.
According to this Act, a distributor is not allowed to take bets on a collegiate sporting event in Illinois.
This applies to all school activities, not just the Football Bowl Division.
This winter, BetRivers and DraftKings sportsbooks will not be offering odds on Bradley University or Chicago State men’s basketball games.
The reason for this limitation is to uphold integrity. Supporters of these restrictions claim that college athletes are at a higher risk of being involved in match-fixing schemes compared to their counterparts in the NBA or NFL.
Illinois is the only state with the authority to enforce such a restriction. Additionally, wagering on school teams within their respective borders is banned in New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Nonetheless, there is a clear difference between the regulations in Illinois and other regions. In those areas, sportsbooks are prohibited from accepting bets on any professional events that occur within their jurisdiction, regardless of the teams participating.
In Illinois, the legislation is more or less stringent than some.
NJ sportsbooks would not be able to take bets on an NCAA Tournament in Atlantic City, even if the teams playing are not from New Jersey schools.
However, Illinois sports betting law permits betting on intercollegiate sporting events at any location, as long as no in-state colleges are participating.
In the future, when the Big Ten holds conference tournaments in Chicago, sportsbooks like FanDuel and PointsBet will be able to offer betting options on all games excluding those involving Illinois and Northwestern, including futures markets.
While competitors may offer Big Ten sports futures, Illinois and Northwestern are not available on the market. This will also apply to the March Madness conflict later this month.
Various states have adopted a more relaxed approach to college sports betting. Iowa, for example, prohibits bets on specific athletes’ performances, while Tennessee’s only restrictions are on in-game or live betting.
Other states, such as Indiana and the NBA, do not have restrictions on betting on school sports. This is also the case in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, where online sports betting is currently taking place.
Constitutional sportsbooks do not offer markets on in-state college teams, regardless of their performance. However, most other major school sports will be included in their publications.
