Illinois Online Gambling & Casinos

While there are plenty of options, real-money online casinos in Illinois is still illegal. That’s why we only recommend legal options like sweepstakes casinos for online gambling in this state. 

Latest Illinois Gambling News and Updates

UPDATED: November 2024

Online casino games remain illegal, as per the latest Illinois gambling laws. Although betting online within the state is thriving, there haven't been any significant developments with regards to gaming sites. However, don't let the latest news get you down. Illinois gambling laws are such that you can still play video slots and lottery games online.

Sweepstake sites such as Chumba Casino are available in the state. This means you can purchase sweeps coins (onsite tokens) or use welcome bonuses and other promos to get free credits. In fact, it's because you can get free sweeps coins that these Illinois casinos don't contravene state or federal laws.

Put simply, sweeps coins don't have any real-world value but they can be redeemed for prizes. This, combined with the fact you don't need to buy sweeps coins (because you can get them for free using promos), means these Illinois online casinos comply with US sweepstakes laws. So, while the Illinois gambling scene might not yet be home to real-money casino sites, there are options if you want play for progressive jackpots et al using onsite tokens.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Illinois?

The Illinois Gambling Act of 2019 legalized online sports betting sites throughout the state. Unfortunately it did not address online casino gambling, which remains illegal. But online gamblers in Illinois can still play all their favorite table games and online slot machines with our list of recommended sweepstakes casinos.

What About Playing Sweepstakes Casino Games?

Sweepstakes casinos sites are perfectly legal in Illinois. The best ones, such as Chumba online casino, have a huge inventory of games like online blackjack, 3-card poker and online slot games based on the ones you’d find at a land-based casino. Sites like Chumba automatically provide a certain number of Gold coins and sweeps coins for new users. These are totally free and players don’t need to make any sort of deposit.

The sweeps coins can then be used to enter tournaments or contests that award prizes – including real money. These social casinos are technically classified as sweepstakes rather than gambling, which is why they're legal in Illinois. They’re a great way to practice and play all your favorite casino game apps with no risk whatsoever. They can also lead to actual prizes and cash.

Stick with sweepstakes sites over offshore casinos, which are not legal and come with plenty of risk. These sites could fold at any moment with no incentive to return players’ funds or deposit winnings in their account. And you never know who is behind these sites, which can often be tied to additional criminal activity. Handing over your name, Social Security number and other personal information to unlicensed vendors isn’t smart. Plus, you have lo legal recourse in the US against the sites.

Our list of recommend sweepstakes sites provides the same entertainment value on all your favorite casino games with none of the headaches.

Land-Based Casinos in Illinois

Casino Queen

Located just off the Mississippi River, this Illinois gambling spot offers popular slot machine games with progressive jackpots, high-stakes areas and video poker machines. Table game options include 3-card poker, baccarat and Texas Hold ‘Em. There are four dining options, including Prime Steakhouse, along with a hotel and RV park.

Harrah’s Joliet

Located near Lake Michigan in Northeast Illinois, Harrah’s Joliet has more than 1,000 slot machines including favorites like Lightning Link and Diamond Blaze. Blackjack, craps, 3-card poker and roulette are just a few of the multiple table game options and the poker room is open from 8 a.m.-5 a.m. every day. There’s a buffet and two additional restaurants, as well as a 200-room hotel.

Harrah’s Metropolis

This Harrah’s location in Southern Illinois has standard table game offerings including roulette, craps, blackjack, Mississippi Stud and more. There are 800 slot machines lining the gaming floor, and Harrah’s Metropolis offers casino credit for those who qualify. The 252-room hotel has a variety of room and suite options.

Hollywood Casino Aurora

This Illinois riverboat casino on the Fox River offers more than 1,000 slot machines and four restaurants. Traditional table game options like blackjack and baccarat are readily available and the location will soon open the Aurora Sportsbook for legal sports betting in Illinois. Hollywood Casino Aurora also has a poker room open daily.

Grand Victoria Casino Elgin

Located just 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, this casino has more than 1,100 slot machines and video poker options. Table games like baccarat, high card flush and craps are easy to find and the poker room opens daily at 8:30 a.m. Dining options include Buckingham’s Steakhouse and the Indulge Show Kitchen Buffet.

Argosy Casino Alton

Another strong riverboat casino option for legal gambling in Illinois, the Argosy opened one of the first two legal sportsbooks in Illinois in March 2020, making it a great site for sports wagering as well. That area includes 36 massive TVs and odds-display monitors. Gamblers can also get their fix with slot machines and table games like blackjack, roulette and 3-card poker.

Rivers Casino

Opened in 2011, Rivers Casino is just a short drive from O’Hare International Airport and includes nearly 1,100 slot machines and standard casino table games. They also opened the BetRivers sportsbook in March 2020, open daily from 10 a.m.-12 a.m. The Lotus cocktail bar brings in live DJs at 10 p.m. every weekend for after-hours entertainment.

Par-A-Dice Casino

This East Peoria casino offers a dozen table games like blackjack, craps, Mississippi Stud, let it ride and much more. Four restaurants are located on property and the 202-room hotel offers amenities like shuttle service, full gym and gift shop.

Jumer’s Casino & Hotel

Located off the Mississippi River just east of the Iowa border, this Illinois casino has a three-star hotel including amenities. The gaming area has close to 1,000 slot machines and video poker options along with games like craps, roulette and blackjack.

Which Casinos in Illinois Will Offer Online Gambling?

It’s difficult to say which casinos would offer legal online casino gambling should Illinois move to legalize it in the coming years. Land-based casinos usually have the opportunity to partner with gaming operators for a license before online-only operations, but Illinois has yet to fully embrace legal online casinos.

In the meantime, sweepstakes sites are a great alternative. You can play all the same games offered at a land-based Illinois casino without having to deposit any funds. And you can still win real cash prizes with the best social casino sites like WinStar, LuckyLand and Chumba.

Will Illinois Have Online Casino Apps?

Most certainly. Assuming Illinois eventually moves to legalize online casino gambling, a rich variety of mobile casino apps would soon follow. As we've seen in New Jersey online casino apps are increasingly popular for online gaming and provide a cleaner, on-the-go version of the online casino site.

Any land-based casinos that partner with operators such as Caesars or 888 online casino would roll out a mobile app as soon as the product was ready to launch. Since gamers will have a lot of options if that happens, it will be important to shop around a bit and find the mobile casino app that works best for you in terms of interface and variety of games offered.

Online Casino Games to Launch in Illinois

Roulette

Roulette would be a great option for legal online gambling and casinos in Illinois, especially among players familiar with some of the strategies. Methods like the James Bond strategy and Reverse Martingale work exactly the same with casino sites and mobile apps – it’s all about money management and precise wagering. Plus, online roulette comes with the added bonus of having the entire board to yourself. No need to sweat it out and try to keep track of your stack among a huge sea of chips on a busy night at the casino.

Lottery

Legal online lottery is already available for gambling in Illinois. It was the first state to offer online lottery when it launched the program in March 2012. It comprises a significant portion of the state’s $3 billion in annual lottery revenue and works just like the tickets you’d buy at any retail store. Sign up for an online account with the Illinois Lottery and start playing. Pretty simple.

Online Slots

Legal sweepstakes sites in Illinois already offer plenty of options for online slots, with games based on the same ones you’d find at any land-based casino. Online slots at the best payout casinos are very popular and would be included with any legislation for legal online casino gaming in Illinois in the future. New players will find it very similar to playing slot machines at land-based casinos, without having to wait for a seat at your favorite game.

Online Poker

Illinois poker tables are becoming easier to find, but the same doesn’t hold true for internet poker. Real-money online poker in Illinois is still illegal. The proliferation of other gaming has not pushed Illinois lawmakers to allow online poker. 

That doesn’t mean online poker won’t come. Illinois lawmakers are clearly open to most forms of gambling, and online poker players in the state should be optimistic this will extend to their favorite game in the not-too-distant future.

Online Blackjack

Sweepstakes casinos are a great place to practice and play online blackjack legally in Illinois. Real-money online blackjack has the same set of rules as standard land-based casinos but allow players to play at a much faster pace. This saves a lot of time not having to wait for other players to finish their hands, but it’s also extremely beneficial from a practice standpoint. With hands moving quickly, it doesn’t take long for a player to understand key situations like when to double down, whether to split 8s, etc. And you don’t have to tolerate those few dealers who look a little too happy when they pull blackjack.

Live Dealer

Live dealer online games might be available if and when Illinois moves to legalize online casinos. Live dealer options can be harder to find even in states like Pennsylvania where it is currently legal. Games like online blackjack are basically the same, the difference being there’s a person dealing real cards in front of a camera. It provides more of the land-based casino element if that’s what you’re looking for, but the experience isn’t much different than you’d find at any legal online casino.

Legal online casinos continue to add more payment options as a once-difficult process is now much easier.

Credit/debit cards are most familiar for a lot of players but can be tricky. Some banks still decline the payments even dealing with states in which online casinos are legal. Make sure to talk to your bank if this is your only option.

The Play+ card has a much higher success rate and is accepted by many of the best online casinos. Rather than deposit with the casino directly, players can add money to a Play+ card – basically an online debt card – then deposit to the casino using their Play+ account.

PayPal is even easier if you already have an account. Simply move the funds from PayPal to the online casino. And signing up for an account is a pretty simple process regardless.

Bank transfers and Automated Clearing House payments are another common method, while many social casinos like Chumba accept e-wallets such as Skrill. Simply add money to your Skrill account and transfer to the online casino.

All of these payment options and more should be available for legal online casinos in Illinois once they becomes a reality.

What Bonus Offers Can I Expect in Illinois?

Online gambling and casinos in Illinois would come with a lot of perks for players if it becomes a reality. All the best online casino sites offer a variety of bonuses and promotions for new accounts. It’s a great incentive that players should definitely take advantage of while signing up for various online casinos.

Some sites will offer a matched deposit up to $500 for players. That means if you make an initial deposit of $500, the casino will add $500 to your account, and you’re doubling your money right at the start. Some of these bonuses will come with a play-through requirement, meaning you have to wager a certain amount before you can access the bonus funds.

There are also no deposit casino bonuses that are typically smaller than a deposit match but don’t require an initial outlay by you. Those may also have playthrough requirements, so – as with all bonuses – be sure to read the terms and conditions.

Free spins are another good bonus option for online slot machine players. Basically, the online casino site puts a certain number of credits into a player’s account that they can use for free spins. They can keep any money the free spins make and don’t lose anything if they’re duds – though, again, you may be required to playthrough those winnings a set number of times.

Refer-a-friend promotions area also popular in online casinos circles. Get someone signed up for the same site you play with and the online casino will deposit a thank-you bonus. Sometimes the friend will need to wager a certain amount before the bonus kicks in, but then those funds are as good as yours.

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

When IL online casinos are added to the mix, you'll never be left to fend for yourself. To put it another way, all Illinois gambling sites are required, by law, to offer safe, supportive services. For Illinois players, this means you can get help and support whenever you need it. Additionally, you'll have plenty of tools that allow you to take control of your own actions.

Some of the responsible gambling tools Illinois players can use when they bet on sports, use social casinos and sweeps coins, or, in the future, use real-money Illinois online casinos are:

• Links to organizations such as the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG).
• Deposit limits. You can set these from your first deposit onwards.
• Betting limits so you can only wager certain amounts.
• Reality checks: This tool tells you how long you've been online.
• Timeouts: You can choose to block access to your Illinois gambling account for a period of time or forever.

History of Online Gambling in Illinois

The Illinois General Assembly first legalized pari-mutuel horse racing in 1927. This was part of a booming horse racing scene at tracks like Arlington Park, which is now owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated.

Illinois was one of the first states in the nation to offer a state-run lottery game in 1974, a practice that now generates approximately $3 billion in annual revenue. The Horse Racing Act of 1975 followed soon after to provide more regulation and oversight for the industry.

It was also one of the first states involved in riverboat gambling by approving such casinos in Illinois in 1990, assuming the boats were running due to a technicality. This was standard practice until a 1999 provision ruled the boats could operate as riverboat casinos while stationary.

The Video Gaming Act of 1999 allowed for the instillation of gaming machines at certain locations such as clubs, truck stops and bars with liquor licenses. Illinois also introduced legal online lottery play in 2012.

Finally, Gov. JB.Pritzker signed a bill in 2019 legalizing sports betting in Illinois online and at licensed land-based sportsbooks. The bill did not include Illinois online casinos and gambling, but Illinois remains well-positioned with nearly a dozen land-based casinos and fully legal sports betting.