PointsBet Illinois | In Depth Look At Pointsbet Sportsbook Illinois | PointsBet IA

Tue, Sep 28, 2021 17:05 CET

PointsBet which has been around for a few years now, slowly making its way across the world from Australia. In January 2019, they launched a sportsbook in New Jersey and had expanded at speed ever since.
You can currently find SportsBet in Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, Colorado, and Michigan. What sets SportsBet apart from the other online gambling operators in Illinois is its pure focus on sportsbooks.
That focus is what gives PointBet an absolute edge since they offer a unique experience.
PointsBet is well known for its unique points betting system that doesn’t play the same as fixed odds.

But why should you place your bets with PointsBet Illinois?

Sign Up To PointsBet Illinois Here

Is PointsBet Legal in Illinois?

PointsBet is a legal sportsbook operating in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Established in 2017 in Australia, the mission was to offer the Illinois sportsbook scene all of the traditional markets they were used to, and some added extra with PointsBetting.
PointsBet launched officially in the US in 2019, and then in July 2020, PointsBet became legal in Illinois.
Sign Up To PointsBet Illinois Here

What does PointsBet offer?

PointsBet offers PointsBetting, a Casino, and Sports Betting. Although what is available in each state will vary depending on what is legal.

Can you win real money with PointsBet Illinois?

PointsBet is an Australian company; however, they are a legally authorized sportsbook in the United States. They are a legitimate sportsbook, and you can win real money with PointsBet.
It is important to remember you need to stay within the legal state lines. As stated on the website:
“Accordingly, you must be physically located within the boundaries of the state in which your account was registered to place a wager. You will be unable to place a bet if the geo-location technology fails. Additionally, if you attempt to use third-party software in an attempt to circumvent the geo-location, your account will be suspended and you may be reported to the appropriate state regulatory authority for further investigation.,”
Further to that:
“Federal law strictly prohibits any patron from placing interstate wagering activities while located outside of the state in which your account was registered. This includes any wire communications, including internet wagering, related to bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest. Federal fines may include money damages, imprisonment, or both, and will cause your account to be immediately suspended.”
So to win real money and keep it, you have to be living within the state lines. If you are operating outside of state lines, you will be at risk of charges.
Sign Up To PointsBet Illinois Here

Sign-up

While you might be used to signing up immediately online, PointsBet is adhering to the legislation in Illinois.

When you visit the page to sign-up this is what you will be greeted with:

This means that once you have signed up online or via the PointsBet app, you will be required to visit one of their land-based locations. While not ideal, it’s not a bad thing either.
In order to be verified, you will need to show your driver’s license, passport, or state identification card - it needs to be a government-issued ID.
PointsBet also offers an easy-to-use location map, as well as written addresses, so it’s easy to find the land-based location.

1 Risk-Free Bet Up To $2000 - New Customers Only

One of the first things you will see when you look at the promo pages is the big one—a risk-free bet for up to $2000.

What this means is that you get up to a $2000 refund in free bets if your 1st bet loses. It is for new customers only.

Handing the ID in the land-based locations protects this offer and maintains its integrity.

PointsBet promotions

Like most betting websites, there are some featured promotions and offers. They are show discounts and risk-free betting on upcoming games.

Here are some of the promotions you can expect to find on the PointsBet websites:

Sign-up offer
Money Back
Booster Odds
No Juice
Early Payout
Site FEature
Rewards
Good Karma Payout
Parlay booster (exclusive)

The most interesting ones on the list are the Rewards. PointsBet has taken member loyalty seriously, and one of the rewards is points earned with every bet. Once you have enough, you can use points for free bets. There are terms and conditions - like with every offer.

The Diamond Club is reserved for those who remain loyal to PointsBet. This is an invitation-onlywhich option, but you can email to see if you qualify.

Some of the perks of the Diamond Club are:

24/7 customer services
access to events and tickets
personalized promotions
chance to meet PointsBet ambassadors
10% deposit top-up
Expedited withdrawals - $10,000 in 30 minutes using Diamond wire transfer

The Parlay Booster is a PointsBet US market exclusive; this is a no limit, no max bet, no max payout betting promotion.

The Parlay Booster is available on the app and the website to eligible customers. To get the lowdown on how the parlay booster works, PointsBet have this handy video:

The PointsBet Reward System

The PointsBet reward system is straightforward to understand, and it means you can easily keep track of your points total.

One reward point for Every $5 fixed odds bet
One reward point for Every $1 parlay bet
One reward point for every dollar won or lost with PointsBetting.

The PointsBet reward system is available to read in full in their T&Cs.

Payment options on PointsBet Illinois

PointsBet accepts Visa, Mastercard, ACH Transfer, PayPal, and PayNearMe.

Deposits and Withdrawals on PointsBet

Unlike some of the other gambling websites on the market, PointsBet has made the process for depositing funds and withdrawing winnings as easy as possible.
Their preferred payment method is the PointsBet MasterCard. You can quickly use your own bank card to transfer funds onto your PointsBet MasterCard, and those funds are available immediately for betting.
The withdrawal process is equally as easy; you can transfer cash from your betting account to your PointsBet MasterCard, which can be used immediately.
What makes the option so great is that you can use the PointsBet MasterCard wherever MasterCard is accepted.
This feature is a massive bonus for those who are with a bank that doesn’t allow gambling transactions.
If you choose not to use the PointsBet MasterCard, then it is still a seamless process. You head to your account and click on the ‘deposit’ option.
The PointsBet MasterCard is offered to all account holders immediately after registration.
From there, you will have a range of options: PayPal, ACH/eCheck, credit/debit cards, PayNearMe, or online banking. The minimum deposit is $10, and it will be available immediately.
When using a legal sportsbook, the withdrawal process is also as seamless and effortless as depositing. You can choose how you wish to withdraw your cash. Selecting the electronic withdrawal will take up to 5 days to receive the funds, but often it takes less time.
You can also choose to receive a check in the mail. Selecting the check option will take up to 14 days, so this is a good option if you aren’t in a rush.
Once you click the withdrawal button, you will be shown your available balance for withdrawal and can select your withdrawal method.
Aside from the PayPal, ACH/eCheck, and online transfer options, you can also choose to pick up your withdrawal cash from a PointsBet land-based location in Chicago.
Remember that any money that you win on the PointsBet sportsbook is considered income, so you’ll need to report it on your tax returns.
Within the account options, you can set your limitations on how much you can deposit in total, deposit in a single day, week, or month. This allows players to take control of their sports betting and adhere to responsible gaming regulations.
Added to the limitations, at the bottom of the webpage, you will see the following:

Responsible Online Gambling with PointsBet Illinois

PointsBet has an area on the website dedicated to responsible gambling and offers some advice, sign-posts to help, and what happens when you self-exclude.
Self-exclusion on the PointsBet website means that you enter a betting exclusion period. While you are in the exclusion period, you aren’t able to use your account at all.
An important note is that if there are any outstanding wagers and the excluded player wins, the winnings can be withdrawn by contacting customer services. The account owner is not able to remove the exclusion period at any time.
One of the big points on the responsible gaming areas is that the PointsBet staff are trained to offer assistance, be aware of gambling issues people face, and support account holders with a gambling problem.
They encourage their account holders to be honest with the staff to take the right action.

PointsBet Illinois localized Betting

While national sports betting is enjoyable, PointsBet is the best place to do it if you look for local flare.

They are very focused on offering state-specific betting options for major sports.

You will notice the moment you get on the website that you are on the PointsBet Illinois website. Each state is offering a range of local bonuses, which is one of the things that make PointsBet a joy to use.
PointsBet offers localized odds boosts and provides an extensive range of options for Illinois teams. One of the things to watch out for is that PointsBet is affiliated with NBC Sports, and their Sunday Night Football betting is an event - it offers odds boosts. If you want to see the big promotions, then make sure to check out when the Bears are playing.
Some other online sportsbooks force users to search around the website to find local specials; with PointsBet, it is front and center. All of the local markets are immediately displayed on the website.
This also goes for all of the other states that PointsBet offers online sportsbooks too. There is an easy-to-find left-hand drop-down menu that will help you select the correct state.
PointsBet also routinely has a range of local athletes, former players, and other sports celebrities as features on the localized site.

PointsBet Illinois Bet Types

PointsBet offers a comprehensive sportsbook with thousands of different options at any one time.

The most popular and traditional bet options are point spread, play prop bets, team prop bets, Moneyline, totals, and features. You will typically find these markets for all of the sports that PointsBet offers.

Aside from the traditional offerings. PointsBet have their bespoke version of betting options - PointsBetting.
This means that the more correct your bet is, the more you will win - on the flip side, the more wrong you are, the more you can lose. A PointsBetting option is available for many player propositions, game totals, and game spreads.
Bettors can put a cap on their max loses and wins - this can help reduce any possible losses. This is a unique feature, but you’ll need to use it a few times to really understand how to get the best bet from it.
Here are some of the other wagers you can place:
Parlays

Combo Parlay
General Parlay
Same-game Parlays

PointsBetting

Stop-loss
Max win and max loss
With help balance

Fixed-odds betting

Total (over/under)
Futures
PointsBet teaser / Name Your Bet
Props betting
Moneyline (ML)
Against the Spread (ATS)

What leagues can you bet on with PointsBet?

PointsBet offers a comprehensive range of leagues that you can make wagers on.

Aussie Rules
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Cricket
Cycling
Darts
e-Sports
Football
Golf
Hockey
MMA
Motor Racing
Name A Bet
Rugby League
Rugby Union
Soccer
Table Tennis
Tennis
Volleyball

What Market Types does PointsBet offer?

Something that sets PointsBet apart from all of the other bookmakers across the globe, not just in the Us, is that they provide more markets on the NFL & NBA than any bookmaker globally.
PointsBet is the industry leader in US sports betting, and so they offer a unique set of markets that aren’t available anywhere else. Here are the market types that you can find:

Time of the first basket by player
Player points multiples (Q1 pts multiplied by Q2 points)
Time of First Touchdown (in seconds)
Player Shooting Percentages (Field Goal %, Free Throw %, 3Pt %, etc.)
Time in minutes played for players to pass 5pts/10pts/15pts etc
Longest made FG distance in feet
Player Points * Assists * Rebounds
Quarterback Completion %
Player Rushing Yards * Player Receiving Yards

What is PointsBet Karma Kommittee?

It isn’t every day that the sportsbook seems to be on the side of the bettors, and that's where the Karma Kommittee really makes an impact.

According to the website, the Karma Kommittee never sleeps. It is ready at all times, prepared to protect its members' accounts and bets. They are looking for season-ending injuries, bad calls, and more.
The PointsBet Karma Kommittee has the power to offer Good Karma payouts, refunding all of the bettors impacted Free Bets.
The fastest way to contact the Karma Kommittee is to tweet them, using the hashtag #KarmaKommittee.
The Karma Kommittee essentially steps in when there is something outside the typical realms of sports that can negatively impact a bet.

What is the ‘Name Your Bet’ tool on PointsBet?

While you can often find a similar feature on some betting websites, the ‘name your bet’ tool is where experienced bettors can flex their experience.

Getting creative with the sport, league, and market that they want to bet in. It’s a simple form that gets sent to the staff at PointsBet. Once PointsBet has checked it over, they may accept the bet.

Once the bet is accepted, you will receive a specific set of odds for the bet, and it will be in the ‘name your bet’ tab.
Once that bet is live, all bettors are eligible to bet on that unique market.

What features does PointsBet have?

It is the features of the website that set it apart from other sportsbook websites. Of course, it has all of the traditional sports bet options, but the market is competitive- and to stand out, you need to do something a bit special.

Here are some of the features that make PointsBet interesting and enjoyable to use, and the preference over some of their competition.

Cash-Out Options

To make good money from sports betting, you have to have a firm understanding of when to bet and when to wait. PointsBet has a cash-out option available, which means members who don’t want to potentially lose their bet can choose to cash-out.
There are a few moments where the cash-out option isn’t going to be available, specifically in the live games where the outcome has already been decided. It is possible to cash out a percentage of the full payout.
Since PointsBet has a quick response time when it comes to the live betting features it makes the cash-out a seamless experience - for those bettors who are on the ball.

Same Game Parlay

The same-game parlay is becoming a more popular betting option at all major sportsbooks, so it makes sense that PointsBet also offers the same thing. On the PointsBet website you will see these referred to as single-game parlays - but be mindful they are only available in certain markets.

What makes PointsBet interesting is that they are expanding those games and markets - which looks likely to continue happening.

At the moment PointsBet doesn’t offer as many same-game parlays as many other providers, but there are enough to keep bettors interested.

Live Betting

Live betting options keep games more interesting, as bettors can see what the form of specific teams and players is like.

PointsBet offers a huge range of live betting options in almost every market. When live betting the live odds, totals, and spread will change in real-time.

Live betting adds a new dynamic to bettors, and that is important.
Live betting is one of the ways that bettors can actually improve their odds of winning, so having a stable and dynamic platform is important.
Live streaming during the game is also an important component of enjoying international games and this feature can make or break for many sports bettors.
PointsBet falls behind some of the top competitors on the point of live bets and streaming. Their live betting options are okay, and you can easily place bets while a game is in progress, but the menu feels basic.
The biggest disadvantage to using the live betting options with PointsBet is that they didn't provide live streaming until recently, there are were no live trackers and that made it difficult to keep track of the events in the game.
However, live streaming is now available, so the one major fault that PointsBet had is no longer and issue. PointsBet partnered with Genius Sport to offer live streaming to the digital platform within the US.
The live streaming is offered on the desktop and on the app, utilizing Betgenius software to handle in-play wagers.

What is PointsBet Customer Service like?

Like many sportsbook operators, PointsBet offers 24/7 customer service accessibility. There is a chat option via the website, or you can email them.
The live chat is one of the best features when it comes to customer services in the sportsbook industry. Not only is it easy to navigate to on the app and desktop, but the PointsBet team is friendly and quick to help with issues.
A particularly useful feature of the chat is that it is a pop-up chat app, and that means that bettors can continue to use the site while their questions are being answered.

What is the User Experience like on PointsBet?

There are some websites that are cluttered with adverts, and pop-ups, and PointsBet is the opposite. They have a carefully mapped-out website. PointsBet has put user experience and comfort at the forefront of desktop and app design.

The promotions for PointsBet Illinois are there as soon as you arrive on the website, which means you have all of the current promos and bonuses immediately. You don’t need to search through the site to find what you are looking for.

PointsBet makes it even easier to get to the promo you want with this menu:

You can highlight multiple options, and you will see a selection of offers that meet what you are looking for.
As an example, highlighting ‘money back’ and ‘football’, here is what you might get:

This gives a good level of control over how and when players spend their money and ensures that they can take advantage of all of the available promotions.
One of the features that make the website so easy to navigate is that almost everything is in a drop-down menu. Dropdown menus are accessible and make searching for specific markets straightforward.
Although there is a search bar, anything that you need is well mapped out and can be found quickly from the menu.
At the top of the menu, you’ll find all of the most used options:

They are followed by the featured items like Booster Odds, NFL, Champions League, and MLB Futures.
Within each of the sport, leagues, or markets, the featured tab at the top will give a range of information. You will find the events, featured games, live games, upcoming games, and events.
This is great because it means you don’t need to dip in and out of countless pages to find an event related to the sport or league you are currently looking at.
When it comes to account management, a drop-down menu offers you all of the information at a glance. The drop-down menu presents:

Balance
Pending bets
Settled bets
Deposit
Withdrawal options
Rewards
Free bet options

Can I bet on College Sports with PointsBet?

You are free to make bets on college sports in Illinois except for any games that include a school located in Illinois or any games played within the state lines. So you can bet on any other college sport. Any market that is illegible will not populate the app or the website.

PointsBet Blog

Many online gambling and betting websites have blogs, but they are cluttered and overrun with adverts. The PointsBet Pulse blog brings value to the reader.
Of course, many of their articles cover current promotions and guides about how to use them. Still, they also offer sports coverage, guides to using their app, the latest news on the Karma Kommittee refunds, and a betting strategy.
As sports betting blogs go, it is informative and valuable - it also covers news across all of the states that they are active in and their Twitter feed.

The PointsBet App

Sportsbook mobile applications are often found to be buggy or confusing to use. A clean interface with easy-to-find options is one of the most important things for a relaxing and enjoyable betting experience.

PointsBet’s mobile app follows in the footsteps of its website and is one of the best in the betting industry. The ease of navigation, responsiveness, easy-to-find items, and general ease of use sets it firmly apart from many competitors.

The PointsBet application is available in both iOS and Android and functions equally well in both instances.
The navigation tool moves to the bottom of the screen but is just as easy to use as the desktop version.
The downside to the app is that the slips don’t populate as smoothly as you would like - and are, in fact, slower than some other sportsbook apps.
If you are betting on live events, this quickly becomes a serious problem and more than just a little frustrating. While the app is almost identical to the desktop in every way, if you are betting on live games, you’d be better off sticking to the main website instead of using the app.

Is PointsBet Illinois Recommended?

Without a doubt, if you are a fan of any of the local teams like White Sox, Bears, Cubs, Bulls, or Blackhawks, this sportsbook is an absolute must for you. The local flare offered sets it apart.

Taking advantage of localized odds boosts and featured matchups is one way to get the most from your betting cash.

And if you’re not a fan of the local teams, then you are no more than a single click away from checking out the rest of the available leagues, sports, and markets.
The promotions on offer are pretty significant and make it very easy to see as little as $10 go a long way.
The unique features of PointsBet, like their PointsBetting options, take sports betting to a new level and offer something new to making wagers.
The fact that the mobile app is identical to the main website is a nice touch, and it means that there is no learning curve between using one or the other.
Where there is a learning curve is the max win and max loss options. If you don't understand how to work these, then you do stand to make a substantial loss, or at the very least a few mistakes. They offer a complete guide on how to use PointsBetting to make it easier, but in general, you’re going to have to test it out to really see how it works.