Illinois March Madness Betting Rules: What You Need to Know in 2025
The NCAA March Madness tournaments bring special betting restrictions for Illinois residents. Here's what you need to know about the current rules and regulations.
Illinois March Madness basketball action
Illinois sports bettors face specific restrictions when betting on in-state college teams during March Madness. As of 2024, all betting on Illinois colleges and universities is prohibited, both online and at retail sportsbooks.
Key Restrictions:
- No betting on any Illinois college teams (online or retail)
- No player prop bets on Illinois athletes
- Betting on out-of-state colleges is permitted
- Tournament games in Illinois without state teams can be bet on
Affected D1 NCAA Schools:
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Northwestern University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Bradley University
- Chicago State University
- DePaul University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Illinois State University
- Northern Illinois University
- Southern Illinois University (Carbondale)
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Western Illinois University
Historical Context:
- Sports betting launched in Illinois in March 2020
- Initial ban on all in-state college sports betting
- 2021-2024: Retail betting on in-state schools was temporarily allowed
- Current ban reinstated after July 1, 2024, sunset date
These restrictions apply to both men's and women's NCAA tournaments, affecting any March Madness participation by Illinois schools.