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With sports betting — specifically online sports betting — getting legalized in more states across the country, the biggest sportsbooks have offered new users lucrative promotions for wagering on virtually every sport imaginable. The BetMGM sports betting app is no different.
BetMGM Sportsbook is among the biggest books in the country — and that includes Illinois. The BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois app is easy to use, has robust incentives and a wide array of markets that have drawn tons of new users to their platform.
BetMGM Sportsbook is among the best books in the country for a variety of reasons, not limited to the competitive odds on virtually every league imaginable, excellent same game parlays — which will be displayed at the bottom of each game’s tab, as well as diverse betting markets with solid prop bets and a low minimum deposit.
It’s not hard to see why BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois is one of the premier betting options for users in the Land of Lincoln.
The BetMGM bonus code will unlock a generous offer for new users and all of the existing markets on the BetMGM Sportsbook app.
The current BetMGM welcome offer is: $Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus! Use the code TRIB1600.
Additionally, new users can get $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win! This promotion is accessible with the bonus code TRIBUNEMGM. Players who sign up with that bonus code will get their first stake back in bonus bets if their initial wager goes south.
Any bonus bets earned from this offer expire within seven days. Both offers are only available for new customers and additional terms apply.
We’ll provide details about how this offer works, the nature of Illinois sports betting, and more in the paragraphs below.
Beyond just the Land of Lincoln, BetMGM now has a generous bet and get promotion for players in North Carolina, following the March 11 launch of online sports betting. You can get $150 instantly when you sign up for an account with this link and the BetMGM North Carolina bonus code TRIBUNENEWS.
More about BetMGM Illinois bonus code
Sports betting history in Illinois
Sports betting history in Illinois
The Illinois Sports Wagering Act — passed on June 28, 2019 — officially brought sports betting to the Land of Lincoln, but the first sports bet wasn’t placed until March, 9, 2020.
A provision in the act includes a 15 percent gross revenue tax on all licensed sports betting operators in the state.
In order to pass a legal gambling bill, Illinois had to repeal a previous classification of sports betting as illegal, which was passed in 1961, following a scourge of criminal activity around sports betting in the early 20th century.
Prior to legalization, the act was amended several times to include specific provisions around taxation.
Additionally, the act included a provision to help increase diversity by requiring licensees to work with companies that “serve Illinois residents to improve their supplier diversity” and allows for Illinois teams to have gambling sites in or around their arenas.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois was able to draw $200 million from sports betting licensing fees.
The Tribune also reported that in October 2020 more than $435 million in professional wagers was placed on collegiate and professional matches. In November 2022, sports bettors in Illinois wagered more than $1.03 billion, according to reports from the Illinois Gaming Board.
BetMGM Illinois bonus code
BetMGM has multiple promotions going on at once, but the current welcome offer for new customers is a “Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus” promotion that new players can claim using the bonus code TRIB1600.
In addition to that offer, BetMGM’s promotion gives new users up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win! New users can claim this offer with the bonus code TRIBUNEMGM.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements and satisfy the (10x) playthrough requirement. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.
Whether you’re a Bulls fan or a Bears fan, the BetMGM bonus code is a great way for Illinois sports bettors to bolster their bottom line.
BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook App
BetMGM was one of the sportsbooks on the ground floor in the Land of Lincoln. They’ve allowed users to bet online with one of the most dependable sportsbooks in the country.
The BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook features tons of familiar options for casual or experienced sports bettors.
The BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook app looks and functions much like the BetMGM Sportsbook app in other states, as the layout and navigation are the same. Users can place same game parlays, prop bets, moneyline bets or just a totals wager on their favorite NBA game with the BetMGM IL sportsbook.
Much like any other online sportsbook, the interface and layout of the app from state to state doesn’t change much. Nor do the markets, though some states allow for collegiate wagers and others do not.
The BetMGM bonus codes Illinois TRIB1600 and TRIBUNEMGM unlock a generous welcome offer for new players. Use the links in this article to sign up.
New users can deploy the bonus code and visit BetMGM to claim the current First Bet Insurance promotion.
BetMGM in Illinois
While Illinois sports betting was officially launched in March 2020, specific restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic left operators in a difficult position.
Despite the hiccups, BetMGM was able to gain authorization for an online sportsbook in Illinois.
The Illinois sports betting market is one of the largest in the country, with virtually every online sportsbook app looking to get a foothold in the Land of Lincoln.
The state included legislation that required new users to register in person. That regulation was put on hiatus during the pandemic and in March 2022, was entirely repealed, which opened up several different online sportsbooks for operation in the Land of Lincoln.
BEtmGM Sportsbook Acquires an Illinois license
While BetMGM first applied for a sportsbook license in September 2020, the approval took more than a year. Neither BetMGM executives nor Illinois Gaming Board officials haven’t publicly indicated what caused the delay.
One potential cause for the delay could be the partnership Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino. The initial BetMGM Sportsbook application included a note about being the mobile partner for Par-A-Dice.
However, Fanduel entered the Illinois mobile gaming landscape in August 2020 through a partnership with Par-A-Dice before eventually transferring its license to Fairmont Park in November of that year. Another potential cause for the delay could stem from the COVID-19 pandemic.
While BetMGM Sportsbook was first approved for a management service providers license in late January 2022, it didn’t launch the mobile app until March of that year when the state repealed that aforementioned registration law.
BetMGM Sportsbook has fared well in neighboring states, garnering 13.1 percent market share in Indiana — which has 13 mobile operators. In Michigan though, a state which also has more than 10 mobile operators, BetMGM garnered a market share of 22.7 percent for 2021.
According to recent reports from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), BetMGM — in partnership with Par-A-Dice — accounted for roughly 15.4 percent of all online professional sports bets from March 2022 through December of that year.
Similarly, BetMGM Sportsbook accounted for roughly 6 percent of the cash wagered during that time.
Unlike many other states in which football is the primary sport of interest, in Illinois, basketball — specifically college basketball — draws a huge crowd of bettors as college sports drew more than $700 million in bets from March to December in 2022.
Bettors can wager in person on in-state college games under a change signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzer in December 2021. Previously, the state allowed betting on college games, but not on teams from Illinois. This recent change will expire in 2023 unless lawmakers renew it. Still prohibited are bets on an individual athlete’s performance or on live action during the game. Sports betting became legal in Illinois in 2020.
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Bettors can wager in person on in-state college games under a change signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzer in December 2021. Previously, the state allowed betting on college games, but not on teams from Illinois. This recent change will expire in 2023 unless lawmakers renew it. Still prohibited are bets on an individual athlete’s performance or on live action during the game. Sports betting became legal in Illinois in 2020.
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Illinois Sports Bettors and the Illinois Sports Betting experience
Following the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Ass’n, sports betting regulations were passed down to state regulators. As such, each state was left to determine their own rules around sports gambling.
Illinois developed its regulations in the wake of the 2019 legalization of online gambling. As of 2023, there are seven legal sportsbook in the Prairie State and 11 retail sportsbooks. All of these sportsbooks are restricted to users ages 21 and up.
BetMGM Sportsbook was approved for an online sports betting license in Illinois on January 27, 2022. The app was launched in March of that year.
BetMGM has become one of the most appealing sportsbooks in the country in part because of the wide variety of markets, competitive bonuses and excellent prop betting options. Illinois users can place wagers on the mobile app or on the website. Users can claim the promotion on both the mobile app and the website.
BetMGM Sportsbook offers Illinois bettors excellent incentives on Chicago Bulls moneyline wagers, Chicago Blackhawks spread bets and wagering on any other Illinois sports team.
How to use your bonus bets on your favorite Illinois teams
The Bulls are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, sitting three games back from the eighth seed. The Blackhawks are 21-34-5 this season but have gone 5-5-0 over their past 10 games.
If you’re into player props, BetMGM has you covered as you can wager on DeMar DeRozan’s total field goals on the night, Andre Drummond’s rebounds or even Zach LaVine’s 3-point makes.
Beyond just betting on the Bulls or Blackhawks, BetMGM offers Illinois bettors excellent incentives on a wide variety of sports from professional tennis to professional fighting.
While the Bulls and Blackhawks are currently in season, the Bears and Cubs are also huge draws for sports bettors during the season.
There has been a lot of speculation about what the Bears will do the first overall pick.
While Justin Fields looked solid during the Bears struggles this season, Alabama’s Bryce Young looked great during the college football season and would potentially be a good fit in the Bears system.
However, multiple NFL mock drafts put Georgia’s Jalen Carter going number one to Chicago. Some analysts have also speculated that the Bears may try to trade their top pick but stay within the top five as there is no clear top player in this year’s draft.
In that same vein, BetMGM offers robust futures for the NFL and other sports that are in the offseason.
Currently, BetMGM puts the Bears’ chances for winning the Super Bowl at +6600 and their chances to win the NFC at +3000. Similarly, BetMGM puts Justin Fields odds of winning the MVP at +2500.
While it’s a long shot in both cases, futures are a fun bet. If you have the capital to spare, you can place a decent wager at the start of the season, and if you’re lucky you could win big in the end of the year.
How to use your BetMGM bonus code in Illinois
The current BetMGM promotion for Illinois is similar to the promotion across the country.
New users can Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus using the bonus code TRIB1600.
Additionally, BetMGM offers new users can Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win! Simply use the bonus code TRIBUNEMGM. New players will get those bonus bets regardless of how that wager settles.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, LA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Participant must complete the Wagering Requirements and satisfy the (10x) playthrough requirement. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions.
What you need to know about bonus bet credits
The vast majority of online sportsbooks, or any online casino, will include some kind of new customer promotion that will dole out bonus bets for new users.
It can be confusing to navigate what to do with those bonus bets as every online sportsbook has a different process for how to use them, how long they are valid for and what they can be wagered on.
What are bonus bets?
Essentially, bonus bets are credits that can be used for any additional wager on the platform they come from. In this instance, bonus bets earned from a welcome bonus and can be used for any additional wager on the platform.
Many different online sportsbooks will dole out some kind of welcome bonus to entice new users. Sometimes these come in the form of insurance if your first bet loses, other times it is bet and get offer where users will collect bonus bets whether or not their first bet loses.
The two general structures of welcome bonus offers are First Bet Insurance and Bet and Get.
Important Restrictions
Any bonus bet earned from any BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois bonus code promotion is only eligible for one wager a piece and thus will not be returned, even in the event of a successful wager.
Additionally, any bonus bet earned from BetMGM Sportsbook will generally be distributed within 24 hours of bet settlement and will remain valid for up to seven days after distribution.
Navigating the BetMGM Mobile App
When users login to their BetMGM Illinois account on their mobile device, or establish said BetMGM Illinois account on their desktop, they’ll see a relatively standard sportsbook app layout.
On the desktop, players will see a sliding row at the top with more than a dozen different leagues, with the most topical ones ranked furthest to the left.
Underneath that tab, players will see all of the current promotions including the current welcome bonus we’ve mentioned above, same game parlays for that day, some information about responsible gambling, the current refer a friend bonus and other potential game parlays for new or existing users.
From there, players will see a column on the lefthand side that contains the top sports, rather than the top leagues as the sliding row at the top contains. Bettors can use either the column on the left or the sliding row at the top to navigate through the BetMGM Illinois Sportsbook.
The center module, which will take up the majority of the screen on the BetMGM Sportsbook app, houses all of the games that are being played that day. Those matchups that are eligible for same game parlays will be displayed at the bottom of each game tab.
Users can also go to the Easy Parlay tab to see what game parlay is most appealing that day.
Other BetMGM Sportsbook promotions
Beyond just the evergreen offer from BetMGM Sportsbook, there are other promotional options for existing users.
Refer a Friend
A referral promotion is common at virtually every online sportsbook and BetMGM Sportsbook is no different. With the BetMGM Sportsbook referral bonus both the referred friend and the referring friend will get $100.
Notably, this promotion will exclude users from claiming any other new customer offer.
Additionally, BetMGM online sportsbook will allow users to refer up to 20 friends for an extra $2,000.
3-Ball Challenge
The 3-Ball Challenge will give you and three friends a chance at the free-to-play tournament.
You’ll pick your roster and the players with the best performing golfers will earn weekly prizes and be entered to win an end-of-season grand prize: a foursome at TPC Sawgrass and $3,000 in bonus dollars for travel or dining.
3-Wide Challenge
Users will choose from a random selection of three drivers for each week’s race and climb the leaderboards for a chance to win weekly prizes or the final grand prize: a Daytona Prize Package.
FAQ
Is the BetMGM Illinois bonus code still valid even if it’s not specific to Illinois?
Yes, the BetMGM bonus codes Illinois listed above, TRIBUNEMGM for a “Get up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn’t Win!” offer or TRIB1600 for a “Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus!” offer are valid in every legal sports betting state across the U.S.
What’s the best way to use the BetMGM bonus code?
The BetMGM bonus code allows new users to recoup their stake in the event of an unsuccessful bet, and as such gives new bettors another chance to win.
That being said, even an additional chance isn’t a guarantee of a successful bet.
If you’re looking for the bet with the lowest risk and highest potential payout, place a futures wager on your favorite team or player.
While the odds may not be great for your favorites, the payouts could be huge if you’re right and, if you place a modest wager you won’t break the bank.
The bets with the biggest immediate payout are parlays but these are increasingly risky as bettors are pairing multiple wagers together and if one doesn’t hit, the whole bet is unsuccessful.
While parlays can be a lot of fun, they’re not recommended for novice bettors. Even with BetMGM’s bonus code offer, parlays could still end up costing the bettor their stake.
What payment methods does BetMGM accept?
BetMGM accepts most major credit or debit card companies as well as prepaid cards and e-wallet and bank transfers.
For specific information about payment methods, go to the Deposit section under the Cashier tab.
What is the easiest way to verify an account?
BetMGM accepts a variety of different identity documents for account verification like a U.S. driver’s license or state ID card; a passport or passport card; a military ID or permanent U.S. resident card.
If your identity documents don’t include an address, BetMGM will need a supplementary document to verify your address.
They will accept a bank or savings account statement from the last three months, a utility bill from the last three months, an IRS document from the last 12 months, a tenancy agreement from the last 12 months or a mortgage or home statement from the past 12 months.