When it comes to gambling, Illinois has been a long-time haven for residents in neighboring Chicago, Decatur, and surrounding areas. The state has one of the most bustling land-based and riverboat gambling industries in the whole of the country, and not only can players indulge in a range of fantastic gambling options such as casino games, horse racing, and sports betting, but certain forms of online wagering are also legal here now too.
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While there are an array of great options to choose from, actual online casino gaming is still prohibited in the Prairie State. However, this doesn’t and hasn’t stopped players from seeking fun elsewhere, and many are now utilizing off-shore casino sites to get their online fix of table games, slots, and poker. Sweepstakes casino games are another way that Illinois residents can participate in online casino gaming, and it’s only a matter of time before the prohibition against real money gambling online becomes a thing of the past. Nevertheless, let's take a look at what forms of gambling are and are not legal in the state of Illinois.
Illinois Gambling Laws
Illinois Compiled Statutes, sec. 720 5/28-1 et seq.; 230 10/1 et seq.; 230 5/1 et seq covers the gambling framework in Illinois. To play the lottery or wager on horse racing events, participants must be at least 18 years of age or older. To take part in any land-based casino gaming, the minimum gambling age is 18. This includes sweepstakes contests as well as charitable games of bingo and scratchcards. Anyone caught engaging in unlawful gambling may be charged with a class A misdemeanor.
According to state law in Illinois, gambling is defined as “playing games of chance or skill for money or other things of value”. This statement doesn’t leave much for interpretation, and has caused much confusion as to what is and isn’t legal among residents and gamblers over the years. There are a number of people who believe that off-shore gambling is not considered illegal because there is not enough information in the text that defines what is and isn’t constituted as illegal wagering.
While Illinois is known to be unclear in how constitutes and deals with unlawful gambling, there are some issues that the state has managed to properly address. According to Section 28 of the Illinois criminal code, it is against the law for anyone residing in Illinois to operate an online gambling business. What the code doesn’t state is how players will be punished for taking part in games at these sites. This is why most people in the state think it’s perfectly acceptable for them to gamble at off-shore sites, and so far, there’s no record of any Illinois resident ever facing a fine or prosecution for such matters.
Since 2017, Illinois has been pushing for the legalization of online gambling under bill SB-0007. Though lawmakers have been dragging their feet and taking a long time to weigh in on the implications, the bill has already received a significant amount of support and sponsorship from Senators Donne E. Trotter, Dave Syverson, Terry Link, and Mattie Hunter, along with House Representatives Robert Rita, Chad Hays, Rita Mayfield, and Litesa E. Wallace.
Local casinos have expressed their concern over how online wagering would impact the live caisno gaming industry in Illinois, citing how it would heavily impede their custom and revenues. Right now, the bill sits with the Rules Committee but there’s no real knowing if and when the bill will ever be approved.
Deposit Options at Illinois Gambling Sites
Online casinos are not permitted in Illinois but sports betting sites and social gaming sites are. If you want to place wagers on your favorite sporting events, you can with a range of available payment methods. State-licensed sportsbooks accept all major debit and credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill, wire transfers, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies. Some sites also accept bank checks.
Do note that most deposits are instant for sportsbooks and regulated gambling sites, but most withdrawals options can take a few working days to process. You can speed the withdrawal process up by ensuring you have the correct documentation and proof of identity to show to the accounts team upon submitting your request.
Illinois Casinos
Most land-based casino gaming is conducted on riverboats in Illinois. There are 10 of these floating establishments in the state, including the popular Hollywood Casino Aurora and Casino Queen. Both boats are around the same size and draw in thousands of visitors every week. Collectively, you can find more than 10,000 slots and 500 table games between the two of them. In addition to riverboat casinos and land-based casino gaming, residents and visitors to the Prairie State can also play video lottery terminals, which are situated in various bars, restaurants, and drive-ins throughout Illinois.
Six new Native Indian casinos are also being constructed in the following cities between 2022 and 2023:
- Chicago (TBD – 5 proposals)
- Danville (Golden Nugget Danville)
- Rockford (Hard Rock Casino Rockford)
- South Suburbs (Wind Creek Illinois)
- Walker's Bluff (Walker's Bluff Casino Resort)
- Waukegan (American Place)
Indian casino slot machines tend to be more of a hit with gamblers because they are typically linked to high-value network jackpots and progressives. Once the above casinos are built, it will mean gamblers who live in Chicago will no longer need to drive as far as Michigan to partake in these games. Illinois will also reap the benefits that other states now have as a result of Native Indian casinos, thanks to the tax treaties in place.
Illinois Poker
There are 14 live poker rooms in Illinois, most of which are located in the commercial riverboat casinos; Pair-a-Dice, and Grand Victoria. Other venues like Chicagoland Charity and Chicago Charitable Games also operate charitable games of poker where proceeds are donated to different causes and public projects. Real money online poker sites are strictly forbidden at this moment in time, but it is hoped that bill SB-0007 will eventually be passed to allow for online poker and all other forms of online wagering. According to state law, playing at off-shore sites is considered a class A misdemeanor and can result in charges and potentially jail time.
Amongst the doom and gloom that surrounds online gambling, players should stay optimistic about online poker becoming legal. Neighboring states have already embraced the traction that sites like PokerStars and the WSOP online have brought thanks to the legalization of online poker, so it could well be on the horizon for Illinois if lawmakers shift their perspective.
Illinois Sports Betting
Since the Supreme Court approved the dissolution of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2019, there are only a handful of states that haven’t legalized sports betting. Despite its strict attitude towards online gambling, Illinois was one of the first states to adopt the new laws that would let it govern the sports betting industry within its borders. Now, the Illinois Gaming Control Board oversees all sports betting activities in the state, including distributing licenses to operators and regulating both online sportsbooks and land-based retailers.
So far, only seven licenses have been approved and handed out to casino operators to permit them to legally accept wagers on sports, but more are likely to receive licenses in the near future.
Illinois Daily Fantasy Sports
Sports betting may now be legal in the state, but daily fantasy sports is still considered illegal. This is due to the fact that state regulations do not differentiate between games of chance and games of skill when it comes to unlawful gambling. As there is no concise framework in place that can help constitute what category DFS falls into, for now, it remains off the cards.
This setback in the law hasn’t stopped residents and DFS enthusiasts from heading to top sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, though, as these platforms have consistently denied allegations that it is illegal for them to be offering their services to residents.
Yahoo DFS and Fantasy Draft are two sites that also haven’t added Illinois to their list of restricted states yet. Lawmakers in Illinois have attempted to resolve all of these problems by pushing for new legislation that does not affect players from wagering on DFS events.
Illinois Lotteries
The Illinois lottery has been running since 1974 and started selling tickets for the Mega Millions and Powerball in 2010. Apart from standard lotteries and multi-state games, Illinois also permits raffles and instant win games. Funnily enough, residents are able to purchase their tickets for these games online, and some operators and retailers are even permitted to offer casino bonuses and other promotional deals to loyal customers. Aside from the official multi-state lotteries, playing games anywhere outside of the US is strictly prohibited and is deemed as a violation of Illinois’s gambling legislation.
Illinois Esports
The lines are blurred when it comes to the legality of eSports wagering in Illinois. The Gaming Control Board is able to allow wagering on certain eSports events, but this is rare, and overall it is not permitted. This could well change in the future, but to be safe, it’s best not to think of eSports as a legal form of gambling in Illinois at the moment.
Illinois Bingo
Illinois hasn’t sanctioned any legal bingo halls that offer real money games, even though bingo is considered a charitable game in most other states. Playing at off-shore gambling sites is considered illegal just the same as it is visiting these casinos to play poker or any other type of real money casino game.
Illinois Horse Racing
Both in-person and online wagering on horse racing has been legal in Illinois for several years. Despite online gambling being banned as a whole, state residents are permitted to utilize betting apps from all leading horse racing sites to wager on events. These sites and apps are extremely user-friendly, intuitive, and allow players to make swift bets on their favorite horse selections from their Android or iOS device.
Illinois Tribal Casinos
Up until recently, tribal gaming was not a typical pastime in Illinois. However, in 2021, a subsidiary of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians was awarded a casino license by the Illinois Gaming Board. The subsidiary is known as Wind Creek Illinois LLC, and the tribe has been commissioned to build a 64,000 square-foot casino in between Homewood and East Hazel, with works expected to be completed later in the year.
In a statement, the President and CEO of Wind Creek Hospitality said “Wind Creek Illinois is honored to have been found preliminarily suitable for the south suburban casino license by the Illinois Gaming Board.” Providing there are no unforeseen legal challenges that crop up from competitors in the meantime (or anything else that stalls construction), Wind Creek Hospitality expects the casino to open its doors by 2023.
Land-Based Casinos in Illinois
As mentioned, Illinois is heavily populated with riverboat casinos. These make up about 70% of the in-person gaming establishments here, and each year they collectively generate millions in revenue for the state. With so many great casino options available, it can be tough deciding on the best one to visit and determining which one is going to fufill your gambling and entertainment needs. In our opinion, all of the following casino venues are a great choice if you’re looking to take a vacation and partake in some top-class casino gaming within the Prairie State:
Harrah’s Joliet Casino
At the heart of the historic town of Joliet lies Harrah’s Joiliet Casino. This venue is famous for providing guests with a fun-packed gambling experience with over 1,000 slot machines, 200 video poker machines, and a huge collection of table games that includes everything from blackjack and roulette to craps and baccarat.
Some people consider their games to be the best in the state, and you can also find more exotic variaties of games including Mississippi Stud Poker, Mini-Baccarat, and Three Card Poker. The venue also offers players the option to apply for credit to get instant cash in their account, which takes away the need to carry money around the casino floor.
Jumer’s Casino & Hotel Rock Island
Jumer’s is rated among the best of casinos situated in Chicago, Illinois. It’s also on a par with many of the casinos in Las Vegas. The gaming floor features over 1,000 slot machiens, 18 table games including roulette, craps, and poker, plus a high-limit room for those that like to roll a little harder than most. Not only can you look forward to participating in some top-shelf casino action here, but the establishment also features a number of other exciting amenties including a hotel, spa, gift shop, four different eateries, a fitness centre, and a swimming pool. If you’re looking to experience the luxurious side of Illinois, Jumer’s is certainly worth a visit.
Hollywood Casino Joliet
Formerly called the Empress Casino, the Hollywood Casino Joliet is one of the state’s most modern and stylish casino joints, offering guests the most classiest amenties and services of the highest standard. The 50,000 square-foot gaming floor is home to more than 1,000 slots and video poker machines, plus a superb selection of classic and modern table games.
If you’re looking to bet on your favorite sports and leagues during your time in Illinois, look no further than the Hollywood Casino’s very own retail sportsbook. While there is no online application for this yet, players can place their bets via other online operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
In addition to live gambling, Hollywood Casino in Joilet also has an online platform that lets players partake in games from the comfort of their homes, however, this site is only designed to offer sweepstakes games due the ban in place for real money online gambling.
Illinois Gambling FAQ
What types of gambling are available in Illinois?
Illinois does have quite a relaxed approach towards gambling, but there are still certain forms that are prohibited. At current, players can take part in casino games at all of the state-licensed casinos and riverboat casinos. Harrah’s is one of the most popular venues and it has two different casinos spreadout across the state. You’ll be able to play everything from slots to blackjack to poker here, and many casinos in Illinois also run a sportsbook. Pari-mutuel wagering is also legal, as is the lottery and other types of charitable games.
As online wagering is not regulated, it is still not legal. This could well change if the existing Senate bill is approved later in the year.
Does Illinois offer any intrastate online gambling?
Other than the multi-state lottery, all other forms of intrastate online gambling are prohibited.
Is online poker legal in Illinois?
At current, online poker is illegal in Illinois. Only sweepstakes games are available to those who want to play poker online.
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