As the football season wraps up with the Rams winning the Lombardi Trophy, sports bettors are now shifting their attention to basketball as March Madness approaches. Illinois sportsbooks will soon be offering betting options for the tournament.
Check out these teams with high potential to win the tournament. And remember, you can place college bets at online sportsbooks in Illinois.
Gonzaga seeks retribution and has total possibilities.
The odds for the upcoming national championship heavily favor Gonzaga as the clear favorites.
Despite their recent success in college basketball, the Bulldogs have not yet won a national championship. They made it to the final game last year but ultimately fell short, losing to the Baylor Bears by 16 points.
Gonzaga is the top contender for the championship, having already secured big wins against No. 5 Texas and No. 2 UCLA.
Drew Timme leads Gonzaga’s young frontcourt during a time when most college basketball players follow the one-and-done trend.
If the Bulldogs can have another successful March run, Timme’s years of experience will be vital.
Arizona is once again in the blend.
Under first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have achieved a level of success reminiscent of their Elite Eight appearances in 2014 and 2015.
Arizona has only experienced two defeats this season, both against teams ranked in the top 25.
Arizona is being led by junior guard Bennedict Mathurin, who averages 17 points per game.
Only time will tell if Lloyd’s magic can lead the Cats to victory in the competition.
Illinois is open to in-person wagerers
The Fighting Illini are widely recognized as one of the top 13 teams in the country and are expected to receive strong support from fans within the state during March. As a result, there will likely be a significant number of bets placed in favor of the Illini.
However, bettors can currently only place wagers on Illinois sports in person at a physical casino. Starting March 5, individuals will have the option to electronically download sports betting apps for registration, as in-person registration will no longer be required. The ban on college sports betting will not be implemented until 2025.
Betting on the Illinois school team was strictly prohibited during the March Madness tournament last year.
Kofi Cockburn, a rising star in basketball, has excelled as both the top scorer and rebounder for the team this season, showcasing his dominance in both areas. He is now in contention for the prestigious Wooden Award, which is presented to the most outstanding college basketball player.
Handle of March Madness is anticipated to increase.
Last season, Illinois sportsbooks saw tremendous success. The Illinois Gaming Board reported a betting handle of $176.8 million, with operators making $14.6 million in profit and the state collecting $2.1 million in tax revenue. These figures do not include one operator, as per the IGB.
As alumni and local support continues to pour in through bets, the numbers are expected to rise, especially with Illinois school teams like the Fighting Illini and Loyola Ramblers showing great potential to score runs in the game this year.
The Super Bowl is a major event for sportsbooks across the country. During Super Bowl LV, Illinois sportsbooks saw a total handle of $45.6 million when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Operators made a profit of $7.7 million, and the state received $1.1 million in tax revenue.
