Illinois is one of the leading states for gaming, with exciting expansions expected in 2023 such as the introduction of new bookmakers like Fanatics and Circa. Although online casinos are not yet authorized in Illinois, there are several bills in the Illinois General Assembly that could change that in the near future.
Illinois currently has 12 land-based casinos, with the newest one being The Temporary by American Place in Waukegan. Plans are in progress for four more casinos, including a mega casino by Bally’s in Chicago. A temporary Bally’s casino is set to open at the Medinah Temple in Chicago, while the Golden Nugget Danville is also preparing to open soon.
In addition to games, Illinois offers a wide variety of virtual gaming options. These include:
- sporting wagering
- gaming consoles for movie
- lottery
- equine driving
Aside from casinos, Illinois provides a variety of gaming options including sports betting, video gaming terminals, lottery, and horse racing. Keep informed about Illinois’ efforts to legalize online casinos and other gambling news by following Play Illinois.
Illinois’ Top Online Gaming Sites
News about casinos
Reports in business
Poker News
Choices for legal gambling in Illinois
Sports Betting Online
Illinois currently has seven licensed online casinos operating: BetRivers, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, Caesars, Barstool, and BetMGM. Circa Sportsbook will soon join the market as the eighth operator in Illinois. Additionally, watch for Fanatics’ acquisition of PointsBet and their entry into operations in the state.
Licenses for casinos, lottery retailers, venues, and racetracks are accessible. Online betting licenses are divided into three categories. At least 14 licenses are currently available for new online casinos looking to establish a presence in the Illinois market.
- six tied to a reputable, established financial casino
- Five licenses reserved for new market participants
- Three licenses designed exclusively for online sports betting platforms
- A maximum of four licenses linked to professional sports venues.
Signing up at a reputable Illinois betting site with multiple casinos and competition is beneficial for you. Make sure to make the most of the attractive offers and bonus bets available. You will have access to popular gambling options such as moneylines and same-game parlays.
Online Lottery
The Illinois Lottery provides access to well-known state and national games like Powerball and Mega Millions. In addition, players can enjoy instant-play games with themes like Deal or No Deal. Participants can engage in lottery activities both online and in person through the Illinois Lottery. Online ticket sales are supported, and a specialized lottery app enables users to easily view drawing outcomes.
Funds raised by the Illinois Lottery help support a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout the state, including those that assist children, veterans, and community services.
Retail Sports Betting
There are currently 11 retail sports betting options in Illinois where patrons can watch games on big screens, place bets, and enjoy food and drinks.
Various retail sportsbooks are located throughout Illinois, including at casinos, racetracks, and sports venues. The 12th sportsbook is set to open in early 2023 at The Temporary by American Place in Waukegan, Illinois.
The opening of a DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field is imminent, but the Illinois Gaming Board has yet to approve the FanDuel Sportsbook at the United Center, which launched in the fall of 2022.
Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel is including a retail sportsbook in a $34 million renovation project.
Most Illinois casinos, racetracks, and off-track betting locations offer physical casinos.
Sports Fantasy Daily
DFS competitions are legal in Illinois, as clarified by the Illinois Supreme Court’s April 16, 2020 ruling. The court determined that head-to-head DFS contests are not considered gambling, thus affirming the legality of DFS play in the state. Players can engage in real-money contests on popular platforms such as FanDuel DFS, DraftKings, Yahoo, and Monkey KnifeFight.
DFS allows participants to create teams of professional players within a salary cap, earning points and wins based on the players’ performances in their games.
Casinos
Illinois currently has 12 casinos where visitors can enjoy games like slots, blackjack, and roulette. The newest casino in Rockford is the Hard Rock Casino. Furthermore, Bally’s is in the process of building a large entertainment casino complex in Chicago, which is one of five new facilities approved according to regulatory guidelines.
American Place opened a pop-up casino in Waukegan in February 2023.
At present, only real-money casino games are permitted at brick-and-mortar casinos in Illinois. The Internet Gaming Act seeks to broaden choices by introducing restricted online poker, table games, and casinos, and the legislation is currently advancing through the Illinois General Assembly.
Online casino offerings must comply with lottery regulations according to the existing laws.
Poker
There are two types of real-money casinos in Illinois: commercial and charitable. Rivers Casino near Chicago recently revealed a new casino area. The state currently has four primary casino locations.
- Bally’s Casino and Hotel in Rock Island, part of the Quad Cities area.
- Hollywood Casino in Aurora
- The Elgin Grand Victoria Casino
- Des Plaines’ Rivers Casino
The goal of the Internet Gaming Act is to legalize online casinos in Illinois, allowing for online poker to be permitted under lottery regulations. As of now, Global Poker is the sole authorized online poker option.
FAQ on Illinois gaming
Gambling in casinos, horse racing, lotteries, and charitable activities has been allowed in Illinois for a long time.
Governor JB Pritzker signed Bill SB 690 into law in June 2019, legalizing online and retail sports betting in Illinois. The registration process is overseen by the Illinois Gaming Board, with the first sportsbooks going live in May 2020.
This bill permits the opening of six more retail casinos in Illinois, with one located in Chicago. It also allows for an expansion in the number of gambling machines throughout the state.
State Rep. Bob Rita introduced the Internet Gaming Act on February 19, 2021, which could potentially legalize online casino and table games in Illinois. Stay informed on the latest developments by visiting Play-illinois.com.
At present, online casino gambling is not permitted in Illinois under Bill SB 690.
The only options for online casino-style gaming are statewide platforms that are authorized under sweepstakes wagering regulations, like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.
You no longer have to gamble your money at offshore casinos because Illinois now provides legal and regulated online sports betting. Offshore books, which are often located in smaller countries in Central America or the Caribbean, operate with minimal oversight, leaving customers with no way to resolve payment disputes.
On the other hand, legal sports betting in Illinois comes with many benefits. You can take advantage of competitive odds and a variety of betting options, as well as convenient payment methods like credit cards or bank transfers. Additionally, the Illinois Gaming Board provides protection in case of any problems.
Illinois’ legal sports betting option is clearly a safer choice compared to the risks associated with using bitcoin or costly prepaid vouchers at offshore sites.
Illinois offers a variety of betting choices, including online and in-person options throughout the Prairie State.
- Casino games can be played at physical casinos or online gambling sites.
- You can play poker at casinos, charitable poker rooms, or on sweepstakes platforms.
- You can place sports bets both online and in person.
- Lottery activities encompass scratch cards, online games, multi-state draws, and exclusive Illinois draws.
- You can participate in pari-mutuel pools for horse racing wagers, whether at the track or online.
- Despite facing legal challenges, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) competitions are currently available in Illinois.
Illinois’ comprehensive gaming laws allow for bingo and raffles to be conducted legally.
Resources
Your first task is to choose a reputable online sportsbook that will be operating in Illinois. Utilize the free bets and matched welcome bonuses offered by different sites to help you decide which software you prefer.
There are two ways to access online casinos:
- You can use your internet browser on both laptops and desktops as it is compatible with both.
- Use your mobile device to access your favorite sportsbook by downloading the app for an optimal on-the-go experience.
Illinois bookmakers will direct you to either the Apple or Google Play Store to download the sports gambling app based on the type of device you have – Android or Apple.
When you sign up for an account, all sports betting companies will require you to provide your personal information.
Websites utilize various methods to collect data. To get started, simply click on the sign-up button upon your initial visit to the website and then follow the prompts.
On the registration page, you will usually be required to enter your screen name, email address, birth date, home phone number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Although ID documents are typically not needed at first, they may be asked for later on for extra security verification.
Reputable sportsbooks guarantee safe transactions by mandating that you utilize the same deposit method when possible for withdrawals. The following are the authorized methods for depositing and withdrawing funds:
- All bookmakers accept Visa and Mastercard as credit or debit cards.
- Credit and debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are accepted by all bookmakers.
- Prepaid debit cards, such as those offered by major retailers like DraftKings, enable you to keep your gambling funds separate from your everyday expenses.
- Bank Transfers (ACH), also referred to as E-checks, facilitate seamless transfers between your bank account and gaming account.
- Bill Pay: Major banks offer the convenience of treating sports wagering deposits just like any other bill payment.
- Bank wires are typically used for larger deposits, but they often have higher fees than ACH transfers. Additionally, some sportsbooks may also accept cashier’s checks and money orders.
- You can make cash payments using services like PayNearMe or by depositing cash at the cashier at the physical casino.
These procedures guarantee adherence to regulations in order to thwart fraud and money laundering.
The ban on sports gambling in Chicago was lifted by the City Council in December 2021, allowing sportsbooks to operate at popular venues like the United Center and Wrigley Field. This decision opened up sports gambling registration to all sporting events in Illinois, including those hosted at major Chicago venues.
There are currently nine cities in Illinois with wholesale casinos, with the possibility of Chicago becoming the tenth in 2022.
- Alton
- Aurora
- Collinsville
- Crestwood
- In Des Plaines
- St. Louis, East
- Elgin
- Joliet
- Stickney
Responsible gambling programs are created to provide protection and assistance for individuals facing challenges with their gambling behaviors. Online sportsbooks improve accessibility by offering extra resources and support. It is crucial to recognize that while most gamblers engage in safe and responsible gambling for entertainment, a small percentage may encounter difficulties.