Bet365 Goes Live in Illinois
According to SBC Americas, Bet365 has planted its flag in Illinois, rolling out mobile sports betting in the Prairie State on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Illinois Joins the Lineup
The Illinois debut caps a busy stretch for bet365. It kicked off 2024 with Indiana in January, Arizona in February, North Carolina in March, and Pennsylvania in July, before nailing down Tennessee approval in February 2025.
Illinois, now live as of March 13, slots in as the latest win, building on a journey that started in New Jersey back in 2019 with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Bet365’s playbook leans on its global chops, live betting, same-game parlays, and juicy promo boosts, and Illinois bettors get the full package.
The company’s calling it an “extraordinary” experience, with speedy in-game options and a mobile-first vibe. Casino games aren’t on the table here yet, unlike in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but the sports focus fits Illinois’ wager-hungry crowd.
Why It’s Working
Bet365’s U.S. push, now spanning 10 states, defies a market where some rivals are scaling back. A new 120,000-square-foot HQ in Denver, opened late 2024 with plans for over 1,000 jobs, shows they’re all in.
Financials back it up, group revenue hit $4.65 billion for the year ending March 31, 2024, up 9%, with CEO Denise Coates crediting U.S. investments for the profit rebound.
Illinois fits the strategy: grow fast, lock in key states, and lean on partnerships. In a field ruled by homegrown titans like DraftKings, its British roots offer a fresh angle, an international polish on a U.S.-heavy game.
What’s on Offer
Illinois bettors get bet365’s signature mix: real-time odds, parlay builders, and bet boosts that juice the action. The platform’s built for speed, especially in-game, catering to fans who thrive on split-second calls.
It’s a contrast to the consolidation blues hitting competitors, bet365’s doubling down, not dialing back, betting its digital savvy can carve out a chunk of the $3.1 billion March Madness pool the AGA’s eyeing.
The state is also a sweet spot. With Chicago’s sports pulse and a legal betting framework since 2019, Illinois churns big handles, $1 billion-plus monthly isn’t rare. Bet365 is late entry here, but after securing the license in December, they’re live just as the NCAA tourney heats up.
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