Illinois Online Gambling Guide: Best IL Gambling Sites for 2024

The Illinois Gambling Act, introduced in 2019,^[1] allowed for the expansion of the state’s commercial riverboat casinos and legalized sports betting, both on- and offline. Even though land-based casinos are still popular, many gaming fans in the state choose to access the top Illinois online gambling products from the comfort of their home.

Jessica Whitehouse, Editor at online-gambling.com

• Twitter
• Email

Jessica Whitehouse is among the professional online-gambling.com editors in charge of ensuring that our readers get the best and most reliable news and details from the online gambling world. Her focus is on blackjack and roulette reviews, lottery, and more.

More About Jessica Whitehouse

Online Gambling in Illinois – Top Products & Sites

The online gambling landscape in the state takes time to grasp. You need to know the legal status of the different forms of betting – online casinos, poker, sports betting, lottery, and daily fantasy – if you want to play for real money safely. Our team set out to make all these aspects understandable for our readers.

We carried out tests on the basis of which we recommended licensed gaming platforms where you can enjoy your preferred games of chance legally in the state. Illinois online gambling sites have a lot to offer to players who are above the age of majority. Our experts have selected operators that are legal, safe, and secure.

Online Sportsbooks

Sports betting in Illinois became legal in 2019, with the passing of the Illinois Gambling Act. Since then, several online sportsbook have established themselves as key players in the state through a variety of markets, different betting opportunities and interesting bonuses.

The recommended sites for Illinois sports betting offer a wide range of sports and markets. You can bet on the NBA, PGA, NFL, and many other sports leagues. There are also international events, such as the English Premier League and the UEFA Nations League. From our experience, the best gambling sites in Illinois have been adapted for mobile use and load within a few seconds.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Many states consider daily fantasy sports as a game of skill. Therefore, they are permitted in many places, even where online gambling is not available. Still, in 2015, the Attorney General released an advisory memo with the conclusion that daily fantasy in Illinois constituted illegal gambling games under state law.^[2]

The Illinois Supreme Court, ruled that certain types of daily fantasy contests are compliant with the law and can be played on the territory of the state. We browsed and tested the popular DFS operators in the state at the moment to establish which ones are in line with our criteria.

Online Lottery

The Illinois state lottery was legalized in 1974 and has been running for nearly 50 years. Since 2012, players in the Prairie State can also participate in lotto online. You can try your luck with two big money US jackpot games – Lotto and Mega Millions. Tickets are available on the official Illinois Lottery website and mobile app.

In addition, the state lottery offers a wide variety of instant win games and scratch-offs. The lottery generates significant funding for education and community projects in IL. Playing online lottery in Illinois is becoming more and more a thing that reqiures carful consideration due to the growing number of games on offer.

Online Casinos

Illinois legalized riverboat casinos back in 1991, and nowadays, there are ten land-based casinos in the state. However, online casinos in Illinois remain illegal. This is despite the plans to expand the industry in the state under the Gambling Act of 2019. You can still playi casino games at social casinos where no money is involved.

Online Poker

As of writing this article, online poker sites are still not legal in Illinois^[3]. Poker games are available at selected casino venues in the state, and online in social casinos. Just like with online casino gaming, it’s not entirely clear what time online poker will be legalized.

Online Gambling Bonuses & Promo Codes in Illinois

Online gambling in Illinois is not only a convenient way to experience the thrill of gambling with real money, but it can also be rewarding. Illinois online gambling sites offer bonuses to attract and reward new players. You can take advantage of sportsbook offers and get more bang for your buck.

To find the best gambling bonuses in Illinois, you need to read the terms and conditions. By doing this, we were able to analyze the conditions of the different offers out there, including minimum deposit, validity, validity period, and playthrough count. Checking for fair and attainable conditions is the key to getting the best value for your money.

As more operators begin to offer their services on the legalized online sports betting market in Illinois, you can expect to see more offers for players to choose from. Most online gambling bonuses will match your first deposit with bonus funds. To stand out from the competition, some operators associate their promotions with certain coupon codes that need to be entered upon opt-in.

Deposit Bonuses

A deposit bonus is the most common type of online gambling bonus with online casinos. Sportsbooks are not so much into the type of offers where you deposit and they match the amount you put in, that’s why Illinois gamblers don’t have so many of these deals on the table. Any bonus that is unlocked after a deposit can be called a “deposit bonus”.

No Deposit Bonus Offers

Conversely, an offer that doesn’t have a deposit stipulation can be called a “no-deposit bonus”. At the present time, there aren’t that many great examples of such offers. In principle, when such bonus is available, you can take advantage of it and play with the money given for you without committing any of your own money.

Top Gambling Apps – Bet on the Go

Thanks to mobile betting apps, it has never been easier or more convenient to enjoy gambling in Illinois. You have plenty of options to choose from. For once, there’s the Illinois Lottery mobile app. The best sports gambling sites in the state are also optimized for iOS and Android devices.

The top Illinois gambling sites offer you instant access to your favorite games, and the only thing you need is your preferred mobile browser. Some operators have also developed native apps for different OSs, which you can download from the Apple Store and Google Play, respectively.

There are many factors we consider when selecting the best gambling app in Illinois. Our aim was to find a safe and reliable mobile platform with an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Another thing we evaluated is the variety of casino games and bonus offers.

Live Gambling in Illinois

Many fans of Illinois online gambling sites would prefer to play live dealer games as they combine the thrill of an authentic casino with the convenience of playing online. However, live online casino games are illegal in Illinois, but are available at the state’s riverboat casino locations.

Thanks to the new legislation that permits sports betting in IL, live sports betting is available in the Prairie State. At top sports gambling sites in Illinois, you can stream live sporting events as they happen. You can put your sporting knowledge and gut feeling to good use by watching the game in real time and placing in-play bets.

Live sports betting is available on a variety of sports – American and international. Not only is it an exciting way to place your bets, but it also offers the chance to watch various international sporting competitions, that you may struggle to find on TV. At the same time, the many different types of in-play bets give you even more reason to cheer on your favorite teams.

Deposits & Withdrawals

To play at the best Illinois online gambling platforms, you will need to fund your player account with cash. The good news is that the best operators in the state support a number of fast payment methods. These include debit/credit cards, e-Wallets, online banking, and e-checks. Many operators also support Pay With Cash, allowing you to pay at a wide selection of retail locations that support a cash payment service.

Whatever secure payment option you choose, depositing at a gambling site is quick and easy. Plus, with deposits processed instantly, you can start enjoying real money gambling online right away. PayPal is preferred by many online gamblers in IL and we think its processing times of a couple of minutes for deposits and less than one hour for withdrawals are still a benchmark in the industry.

To deposit at an Illinois online gambling website, you will first need to sign up. Creating a player account felt simple enough for our team and we believe will feel the same to you. Fill in the registration form, and confirm your email or phone if asked to. You will need to go through a similar step when you want to make a withdrawal. This step is in place to make sure that only state residents who meet the legal Illinois gambling age can gamble online.

When the time comes to withdraw your winnings, you will usually cash out using the same method used to deposit. This is a security requirement and anti-money laundering measure. Once you request a withdrawal from the banking cashier, it will be sent to the operator for approval. Once approved, our PayPal withdrawal was paid out on the same day. For the fastest withdrawal timeframes, e-wallets are the best option.

Odds & Payouts

It’s important to know how the different types of gambling products pay. Games of chance act according to a parameter called “return-to-player rate”, programmed into them. It sets a theoretical percentage of how much a game should pay out over the long run.

The fraction that the casino keeps as profit is referred to as the house edge. By checking the RTP of casino games, you can determine which games have the best-expected profitability and are, therefore, the best games to play to win money.

When it comes to sports betting, there’s no such thing as RTP to act as a compass. Sportsbooks ensure they maintain their profit margins or house edge through the odds that are offered for different sports markets. They do this by giving you suboptimal prices.

Sports betting payouts fluctuate regularly, yet the figures listed above will give you a good idea of their average values. The RTP of casino games, on the other hand, are set according to fixed mathematical principles and do not fluctuate.

Yet, it is possible for certain variants of casino games to offer a higher RTP than others. As such, it is recommended to check the return-to-player rates of casino games before you start engaging in real money gambling so you can choose variants with the most favorable odds of winning.

How to Gamble Online in Illinois

If you want to bet on sports online in Illinois, we are happy to say the state’s gambling laws no longer require you to register in person at the casino affiliated with the betting site. This provision was in place only for a brief period at the beginning of legal online sports betting in IL.

Therefore, Illinois residents can sign up at IL online gambling sites remotely. In essence, the process is similar for all types of online gambling in Illinois. To help you get started, we made a step-by-step guide on how to bet on sports online in Illinois:

It is simple to get started when gambling online in Illinois. The sign-up process takes a few minutes, and you can start exploring and wagering wihtout much delay. Regardless of the type of games and gambling products you prefer, you should always gamble responsibly. Set yourself a budget and stick to it to make sure that online gambling stays safe and fun.

Advantages of Online Gambling in IL

Online gambling in the Prairie State has many advantages. The main pro is that you get convenient, instant access to gambling games without having to travel to a land-based venue. Still, not all types of online gambling activities are legal in IL. Plus, offline gambling has its pros that are worthy of mention.

If you want to bet on sports, DFS, or lottery, Illinois gambling sites offer many benefits. You can bet anytime, anywhere, with reliable gambling apps. You can also claim attractive bonuses. Still, if you want to play real money casino games or poker in Illinois, then land-based gambling venues are the only legal option.

Riverboat Casinos, Lottery Kiosks, and Racetracks

Illinois offers various options for gambling at land-based venues. The state currently has several riverboat casinos, which are licensed and regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. The first one, Argosy Casino Alton, opened in 1991, while the state’s most recent riverboat casino, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, opened for business in 2011. Each casino is permitted to offer up to 2000 gaming positions.

The Illinois Gambling Act of 2019 authorizes up to 6 land-based casinos. State residents can also enjoy casino games through electronic gaming devices (video gaming terminals) at various retail locations, including bars and restaurants. At the end of 2019, 33,294 VGTs were in operation at 7,180 venues throughout the state.

Illinois is home to three established racetracks. Following the 2019 gambling expansion legislation, these racetracks are now permitted to become racinos, offering full-scale sports betting and casino games. Two of the three established racetracks have applied for racino status. Further opportunities for land-based gambling are available through the Illinois Lottery’s retail venues, with hundreds in convenient locations throughout the state.

Illinois Gambling Laws

There are various gambling laws in Illinois which permit certain activities and forbid others. The Riverboat Gambling Act of 1990 allowed up to 10 casinos to apply for a license to operate legally in the state. The Video Gaming Act was introduced in 2009, allowing electronic gaming devices to be installed at authorized establishments, such as airports, truck stops, and bars.

The Illinois Lottery Law permits a state-run lottery. It was launched in July 1974, and since 2012, you can buy lottery tickets online through the dedicated website and app. Horse racing is also permitted under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Daily Fantasy has long been available in the state, despite the State Attorney General’s opinion in 2015 that DFS constituted illegal gambling in IL.

Significant enhancements to Illinois online gambling laws were introduced in 2019 with the passing of the Illinois Gambling Act. Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law on June 28, 2019, making sports betting legal at both land-based venues and online.

The Act contains provisions to expand the state’s gambling industry, authorizing more casino venues and gaming positions. Online casino gaming and poker, however, remain illegal in Illinois. As such, online blackjack, roulette, and slots are not available in the state.

Gambling Guides for Other States

• New Jersey Gambling
• Pennsylvania Gambling
• Iowa Gambling
• Delware Gambling

History of Gambling in Illinois

Gambling in Illinois has its roots as far back as the 19th century, and the industry has seen many changes in legislation come and go over the years. Though casinos in the state started springing up in the 1880s, it wasn’t until the 1920s when horse race betting was legalized that the IL gambling industry was truly able to flourish.

State Facts & Statistics

Illinois officially became a state in 1818, and today is the sixth most populous state in the union. Its official slogan is “Land of Lincoln”, referring to its status as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Throughout its history, the state has been known as a valuable industrial hub. It is also known as the home of jazz and blues music.

Legal Gambling Age in Illinois

As with most states, the legal gambling age in Illinois depends on which game you plan on playing. For lotteries, pari-mutuel betting, bingo, and pull-tab games, this is 18 years of age. However, when it comes to playing on any of the state’s many river-based casinos, you’ll need to be 21 years of age. The same age limit applies for playing on video gaming terminals.

As for online gambling, IL players must be at least 21 years old to bet on sports or daily fantasy. The Ilinois top gambling sites carry out age and identity verification to ensure that underage gambling does not take place on their sites. The state’s Gaming Board can impose hefty fines for any operators that do not follow the applicable laws and regulations.

• Legal Gambling Age:
  The legal age for online gambling in Illinois is 21.
• Legal Drinking Age
  You must be aged 21 or older to drink alcohol.
• Legal Age for Marijuana
  Marijuana use is legally justified only due to medical reasons.

Responsible Gambling and Addiction Prevention

There are many resources available for problem gamblers in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Council on Problem Gambling is the central resource for awareness and education about problem gambling in the state. Anyone affected by gambling addiction can also contact the National Council on Problem Gambling through their website or helpline.

As of 2002, the Illinois Gaming Board operates a statewide riverboat casino voluntary self-exclusion program. In 2018, the board introduced a confidential problem gambling registry. By entering into the registry, players in need of help can receive informative emails about treatment resources and addiction prevention. They can also remove themselves at any time.

Upcoming Regulation and Expected Changes

Illinois gambling laws have recently been given a major overhaul. The legislation introduced in 2019 has given the green light to the expansion of the commercial casino industry in the state. Sports betting is permitted under the law, and the first land-based and online sportsbooks have begun taking wagers.

Illinois has continued to take a hard stance against online casino gaming and poker sites. Yet allowing the state’s commercial casinos to provide online sports betting is likely to fuel the debate about legalizing online operators. Furthering the online gambling industry might be what confronts the public pension issue in Illinois. We stay committed to monitoring the best online gambling sites and informing our readers of the latest developments.

References

1. Illinois Gaming Board, (06/28/2019), (230 ILCS 45/) Sports Wagering Act, Retrieved December 1, 2023.
2. Duara, Nigel, (01/02/2016), States crack down on fantasy sports, calling them games of chance, not skill, Los Angeles Times, Retrieved December 1, 2023.
3. Jenson, Paul (Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP), (November 28, 2023), Gambling Laws and Regulations USA – Illinois 2024, ICLG.com, Retrieved December 12, 2023