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Today marks the start of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, with two Illinois schools competing among the 64 teams. Even more exciting, you can place bets on these teams at a sportsbook in Illinois.
Both teams are from the West Region. Let’s take a look at their opponents and the expected start times for each match.
- The No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini will face off against the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks on March 16 at 4:30 p.m. CST.
- The Northwestern Wildcats, ranked No. 7, are scheduled to play against the Boise State Broncos, ranked No. 10, on March 16th at 6:35 p.m. CST.
Illinois and Northwestern, both in the same region of the March Madness bracket, could potentially face off in the Elite Eight.
Placing bets on the hypothetical game, as well as other Fighting Illini and Wildcats games, can be done at an authorized Illinois sports betting site. However, it may take some effort to complete the process.
How to bet on Illinois and Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament
Illinois has strict regulations in place that prevent online sportsbooks from offering betting on college athletic events in the state. This means that betting on teams like the Fighting Illini, Wildcats, or any other Illinois college team using your mobile device is prohibited.
On the other hand, if you physically go to a retail sportsbook, you can choose to place bets on the schools.
In March 2020, sports betting was launched in Illinois, however, initially it did not allow betting on in-state universities. It was not until March 2021 that the Illinois General Assembly approved the authorization for retail sportsbooks to accept bets on Illinois schools.
Nevertheless, Illinois bettors are permitted to wager on college sports from other states, whether in person or via mobile applications.
Why do IL sportsbooks have betting restrictions on in-state colleges?
Lawmakers and NCAA officials are leading the charge for more stringent regulations on in-state college betting, citing several reasons for their push to restrict betting on college games.
- The absence of regulations can jeopardize the integrity of a college sports event.
- Preventing licensed sportsbooks from participating in college sports can protect athletes from the negative impact of gambling.
Another argument that has been brought up is that the absence of compensation for the majority of college athletes could increase the likelihood of them being tempted to accept bribes to manipulate game outcomes. Nonetheless, the growing prevalence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in college sports is quickly undermining the credibility of this argument.
Another important concern for those in support of more regulations on Illinois college games is the safety of the players. By limiting betting, athletes may be less likely to face harassment or cyberbullying on social media from disgruntled bettors.
Where to find retail sportsbooks at Illinois casinos
Illinois currently has 11 sportsbooks connected to casinos where you can go to place your bets on Illinois and Northwestern games this March.
- Hollywood Casino, Aurora (Barstool)
- The Rivers Casino in Des Plaines is now known as BetRivers.
- Grand Victoria, Elgin (Caesars)
- DraftKings is located at Casino Queen in East St. Louis.
- Par-A-Dice, East Peoria (FanDuel)
- Collinsville’s FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing offers a thrilling experience for fans.
- Stickney’s Hawthorne Race Course is home to PointsBet.
- Argosy Casino, Alton (Barstool)
- Hollywood Casino, Joliet (Barstool)
Currently, there are no physical sportsbooks in Chicago, but that is expected to change in the near future. In 2025, a DraftKings Sportsbook connected to Wrigley Field is scheduled to open. Additionally, a FanDuel Sportsbook at the United Center is also expected to start operating this year.
March Madness a joyous time for Illinois sportsbooks
Both sports bettors and gaming operators are enthusiastic supporters of the NCAA Tournament.
Illinois residents had a strong year in 2022 with the ability to register for a sportsbook using their phones or computers starting on March 5th. This was a major shift from previous requirements where they had to be physically present to set up a mobile sports betting account with their chosen operator.
Illinois sportsbooks saw a handle of $286.2 million from the 2022 men’s and women’s tournaments, thanks to the increased convenience for new users, as reported by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).
In profits from sports bets, Illinois sportsbooks earned $14.2 million. Of that amount, $2.1 million was paid in taxes to the state.
If Illinois sports bettors were allowed to place online wagers on Illinois and Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament, it could potentially surpass current totals. However, this would require occasional wins from either school, which has not been common for a while.
