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- Illinois Online Casinos
Illinois Online Casinos

Online casinos in Illinois for real money are not yet online. However, there have been significant efforts by lawmakers to make this a reality. The earliest real money gambling sites that feature casino games can be rolled out though is not before 2026, and if only there is enough momentum to back a proposal to legalize the gambling landscape. Some estimates put a potential launch in 2025, but this remains to be seen.
The good news is that there is sufficient interest in expanding the current regulatory makeup and adding new activities to the list of licensed operations. Now, the bad news. You can’t legally play at online casinos for real money in 2024.
Social casinos are still an option, though, and there are the sportsbooks that are one day most likely going to expand into iGaming as well, as soon as regulators in the Prairie State allow it.
The laws surrounding gambling in Illinois are fairly lenient, but unauthorized forms of gambling are still criminalized and elicit a strong response from law enforcement and courts. This vacuum has been in the meantime filled with offshore operators which are generally avoided by most players, but there is a good number of people who are finding these casinos to be surprisingly accommodating. They do not come without their risks, however, so beware if you choose to pursue such websites.
Illinois Casino News
Stay updated as Illinois makes waves with its evolving gambling laws, responsible gaming efforts, and enforcement actions. Check the feed below for the latest updates and developments across the state.
Casino
January 2, 2025
Bally’s Chicago Opens Investment to Women and Minority Investors
Bally’s Chicago has rolled out an investment program to boost diversity and inclusion in its $1.7 billion casino and resort project, which is now being built in River West. The company is offering investors a chance to buy a 25% stake in the project, but this opportunity is open to women and minority investors. Bally’s […]
Casino
August 29, 2024
Hard Rock Casino Rockford Opens, Transportation Firm to Serve the Property
Hard Rock Casino Rockford, the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s new property in Illinois, is celebrating its opening. At the same time, the local public transportation provider agreed to serve the casino, making it more accessible to those who don’t drive. Hard Rock Casino Rockford Opens Hard Rock Casino Rockford is Hard Rock International’s latest property. […]
Casino
August 14, 2024
Hard Rock Closes Temporary Rockford Casino Ahead of Permanent Venue Opening
During the construction of the Hard Rock Casino Rockford’s permanent casino location, Hard Rock operated in Rockford, Illinois, from a temporary location on 610 N. Bell School Road. Ahead of the opening of the permanent casino, the leading gaming and entertainment company confirmed the closure of the temporary location. The temporary venue closed its doors […]
Casino
July 30, 2024
Harrah’s Joliet Casino Employees Rescue Man Wounded in Shooting
Early Monday morning, a 37-year-old man got shot near a downtown Joliet parking deck. He then went to Harrah’s Joliet Casino where employees acted fast and helped him in a way that may have saved his life. Sergeant Praises Response of Casino Staff After Shooting Incident Near Courthouse The event happened around 5 a.m. when […]
Are Online Casinos Legal in Illinois?
No, online casinos are not legal in Illinois as of right now. This may of course change, and there are already efforts underway to create a competitive landscape for online casino gambling that includes casinos. In 2024 specifically, we have witnessed a concentrated effort to bring the matter up repeatedly throughout the legislative session.
Although these efforts faltered, the outlook is now for a renewed push in 2025, which could see online casinos arrive as early as 2026. The actual date of introducing a fitting gambling framework, though, remains a moving target.
After sports gambling became legal in 2019, Prairie State has been seriously debating the possibility to start offering other options as well. Online casinos have mostly been looked at with mistrust, as they tend to be associated with high levels of societal harm in the form of problem gambling.
However, most lawmakers have realized that without an adequate regulatory framework to regulate the industry, the upshot is even more detrimental, as players go to offshore operators instead.
Bad actors have not been targeted by the state, which means that some players continue to play at offshore gambling sites instead. Those websites, however, are not permitted by law, and they remain dangerous, as any brand that is not regulated in Illinois has little obligation to protect consumers.
Mobile Illinois Casinos
If you are looking for a mobile casino in Illinois, you will be limited to the ones that are available under the social and sweepstakes model. The good news is that these casinos are surprisingly mobile-friendly, and they make for a great gameplay experience when you play from your smartphone or tablet. As usual, the drawback is that social casinos are not offering you any sort of real-money reward.
Illinois Casino Apps
The only fault we can find with mobile online casinos in Illinois is that they do not have real money options just yet. Instead, you can visit the Google or Apple App Store and download social and sweepstake casino apps. The upside is that they offer some excellent casino games, especially slots, which are very much like the real thing, and will offer you a distinct variety of games of chance to try, even if you are only going to be able to play them with sweepstakes money.
Illinois Sweepstakes Casinos
Illinois presently allows sweepstakes and social casinos. They are perfectly legal and one of the available options when looking to expand on what you can play in the state.
The upside of websites such as Chumba and Luckyland Slots is that they offer almost authentic casino experiences, which will stop short of real-money rewards, but have many ways of incentivizing and rewarding players – by offering platform account levels, some free goodies that are only usable within the website, and more.
All of the games you will find at IL sweepstake casinos are FREE of charge, and they make it easy to experience not only traditional slots but similarly blackjack.
Land-Based Casinos in Illinois
When it comes to land-based casinos, the term may be used a little loosely in the state. For one, there are 10 river casinos, which have long been the staple of state casino gambling.
However, in 2019, the Rebuild Illinois capital program launched permits for six new brick-and-mortar casinos which have been mostly realized by now.
Below, we will list some of the bigger properties, but you are free to browse around for the remainder of the list and pick any land-based or river casino you like.
Casino | Address | Contact |
---|---|---|
Harrah’s Casino | IL-53, Joliet, IL 60436, United States | +1 262-416-4931 |
Rivers Casino Des Plaines | 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018, United States | +1 847-795-0777 |
Grand Victoria Casino | 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120, United States | +1 847-468-7000 |
Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel | 777 Bally Blvd, Rock Island, IL 61201, United States | +1 309-756-4600 |
Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet | 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436, United States | +1 888-436-7737 |
DraftKings at Casino Queen | 200 Front St, East St Louis, IL 62201, United States | +1 618-874-5000 |
Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino | 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611, United States | +1 309-699-7711 |
Responsible Gambling in Illinois
Responsible gambling is a top priority for the state of Illinois, and thanks to the legalization of sports gambling both online and in person, there is a growing awareness of the issue, how to spot it, seek help, and treat it. On a state level, funding has been allocated to tackle problem gambling in the Prairie State.
There have also been multiple initiatives seeking to bring awareness to the issue, including the Illinois Department of Human Services, which has been funded to address the issue. The state also has the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, which is a part of a nationwide effort to tackle problem gambling in the first place.
All stakeholders, including land-based casinos and mobile sportsbooks, are actively pushing safer gambling practices on consumers and they admittedly do a better job of it than their offshore counterparts which are less concerned with player well-being in general.
All stakeholders, including land-based casinos and mobile sportsbooks, are actively pushing safer gambling practices on consumers and they admittedly do a better job of it than their offshore counterparts which are less concerned with player well-being in general.
Illinois Online Casinos FAQ
What is the legal gambling age in Illinois?
18. Players who are 18 or older may participate in some forms of gambling. However, visiting commercial casinos is prohibited for players who are under the age of 21. These players may still find offshore casinos more accommodating, but state laws in theory should apply.
Can I play real money online casinos in Illinois?
No, you cannot play real money online casinos in Illinois. There are no legal casinos for real money in the Prairie State as of right now, but you could explore the social and sweepstake casino options.
Are online casinos for real money legal in Illinois?
No, Illinois real money online casinos are not legal. There are efforts to change that and introduce a regulatory framework, but they are still a fair way off from becoming a reality, and most likely not before 2025 or 2026.
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