Illinois Online Casino Real Money – Gambling Laws in the Prairie State

Land-Based Casinos in Illinois

The 1990 Riverboat Gambling Act paved the way for riverboat casinos. Until recently, Illinois riverboat casinos had to dock on a waterway.

However, the 2019 Rebuild Illinois Act legalized six land-based casinos, with most currently under construction.

You can see the riverboat casinos and planned brick-and-mortar establishments below:

– American Place (temp. casino open)
4011 Fountain Square Pl, Waukegan, IL
Sportsbook: Coming soon

– Bally’s Chicago (opening 2026)
Medinah Temple, 600 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Sportsbook: Coming in 2026

– Golden Nugget Danville
204 Eastgate Dr, Danville, IL 61834
Sportsbook: Yes

– Hard Rock Casino Rockford (temp. casino open)
610 N Bell School Rd, Rockford, IL 61107
Sportsbook: Yes

– Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort (coming soon)
777 Walkers Bluff Way, Carterville, IL 62918
Sportsbook: No

– Wind Creek Chicago Southland (opening 2024)
17400 S. Halsted East Hazel Crest, IL 60429
Sportsbook: No

Horse & Dog Tracks

Horse racing betting is legal via the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975.

You can watch races and place bets at three operational tracks. Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Center are in Chicago, while Fairmount Park is in the St. Louis area.

Simulcast OTB betting is available at various locations, including the three tracks mentioned above.

Online Sports Betting

Sports betting is the only regulated form of gambling in the state.

Mobile operators must pay a $20 million fee and a 15% tax rate to obtain a 4-year license. They can renew their licenses for $1 million after four years.

Offshore sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline.ag continue accepting bets from Illinois despite not having local licenses.

Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling

Charitable gambling is legal in Illinois, but it has stipulations. Non-profit organizations must pay a $400 license fee every two years.

They are also limited to running the following games of chance:

– Bang
– Beat the Dealer
– Big Six
– Blackjack
– Chuck-a-luck
– Craps
– Five-card stud
– Gin Rummy
– Keno
– Merchandise wheel
– Poker (e.g., Texas hold’em)
– Pull table
– Roulette

Social Gaming at Home

This state is surprisingly harsh on social games despite its liberal stance on most gambling.

Sec. 28-1(a) of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 broadly defines illegal gambling as follows:

“A person commits gambling when he or she knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value […]”

Illinois has made many exceptions to this rule, including casinos, charities, lotteries, poker rooms, and sportsbooks. It is also tolerant of offshore betting sites and poker rooms.

But Naperville authorities did bust a 13-person gambling game with illegal drugs in 2015. You are unlikely to get busted if your private game is small and drug-free.

Poker Rooms and Clubs

Illinois has a sizable poker scene with ten land-based poker rooms. Rivers Casino Des Plaines and Grand Victoria Casino have over 20 tables.

Online poker is non-regulated in Illinois but is easily accessible through offshore sites. You can safely play here because state authorities have never arrested anybody for playing.

Eight-Liners

Eight-line slot machines feature three reels and eight paylines. Their key feature is offering prizes under $5.

Illinois features legal casinos and regular slot machines, so it does not have eight-liners.

Casino Cruises

Most Illinois casinos sit on waterways due to the Riverboat Gambling Act.

These boats were previously like cruises because they had to be moving before accepting bets. But as of 1999, riverboat casinos can stay docked and still provide gambling.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Illinois?

This state only seems concerned with preventing illegal gambling establishments from operating within its borders.

It has never pursued an offshore gambling site nor arrested anybody for placing online bets.

It did not even go after daily fantasy sports sites when Attorney Gen. Lisa Madigan claimed they were illegal in 2015—an opinion that the Illinois Supreme Court later overruled.

Online gambling generally seems legal in Illinois, especially if you only play at offshore sites versus operating them.

Local Unregulated Gambling Sites are Banned

Section 28-1-12 of the Illinois Criminal Code (source #6) makes it illegal to operate “an Internet site that permits a person to play a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value by means of the Internet.”

This law points to local operators, considering that the state has never pursued offshore gambling sites.

Online Sports Betting is Legal

Section 28-1-15 deems regulated online sports betting legal “when conducted in accordance with the Sports Wagering Act (SB 690).”

Online Lotteries and Pari-mutuel Betting are Legal

Section 28-1-3 and Section 28-1-6.1 note that online pari-mutuel betting and lotteries are lawful.

Find a Reputable Site

Illinois does not feature a regulated online casino market. But most gaming sites serving this state have a license elsewhere (e.g., Curacao). Licensed offshore casinos are more reputable than unlicensed competitors.

Seek Out Good Service

Finding good support at online casinos is crucial for a positive and enjoyable gaming experience. While no casino site is perfect, reliable customer support contributes to building trust between the casino and its users.

Check the Terms and Conditions

All online casinos require you to meet bonus terms and conditions. However, reputable gaming sites ensure fair terms and offer a reasonable chance to earn bonus funds.

It is also important to know the online casino’s rules and privacy policy.

Sign Up and Play for Free

You do not have to deposit immediately when interested in a gaming site. Instead, you can register and play free games to test out a casino or specific games.

Use Cryptocurrency

Using crypto offers several advantages; players can enjoy a greater degree of privacy, as transactions are not directly tied to personal information.

Deposits and withdrawals are processed faster, and sites will have lower fees compared to other banking methods.

Also, in some regions, traditional banks may have restrictions on transactions related to online gambling. Cryptocurrencies provide a workaround for players facing these restrictions, allowing for more flexibility when playing online.