? Legal Online Gambling in Illinois

The Illinois casino industry has been flourishing since the 1990s, and various legal forms of gambling have a strong foothold in the state. However, legal online sports betting, as well as poker sites and legal online casinos, have faced severe resistance in the Illinois General Assembly. Despite the adamant opposition, online sports betting has been legal in Illinois since 2019, and online sportsbooks have been actively accepting bets since 2020.

However, Illinois online casinos are not yet among the legalized forms of online gambling. The regulatory body, the Illinois Gaming Board, is currently in charge of the licensing process for the local gambling industry and provides resources for problem gambling. As of August 2024, there is no news about legalizing online casinos in IL.

Gambling Regulations

The Illinois Gaming Board is authorized to regulate gambling in the state. There are a few standard regulations on sports bettors and Illinois casino customers. You need to be over 21 years of age to play casino games or bet on sports and 18 years old to participate in the Illinois lottery games, such as Mega Millions.

Furthermore, all gambling must happen within Illinois state lines. Out-of-state gambling is neither allowed nor possible. Gambling apps and websites use geolocation technology to ensure you are within Illinois borders when playing.

Illinois Gambling Laws in a Nutshell

• Legal gambling age is 21 years
• Illinois sports betting is legalized on premises and online
• Riverboat casinos and retail casinos are allowed
• Online poker is not legal
• Real money online slots are not legal
• Daily fantasy sports are legal
• Sweepstakes casinos are legal
• Online lottery, including Powerball, is legal
• Home poker tournaments are legal if there is no rake
• Video gaming terminals are legal

Will Illinois Legalize Online Casinos?

Unfortunately, there is currently no forecast or timeline for the legalization of online casinos in Illinois. While you can still play casino-style games on social and sweepstakes casinos, regulated real-money online casinos are not going to be available for Illinoisans anytime soon. On the bright side, online sports betting is completely legal, and Illinois has numerous regulated online sportsbooks operating in the state.

The legalization of different forms of online gambling remains a polarizing issue. Whether Illinois decides to regulate online casinos at some point in the future is still unclear. For the time being, we recommend that you stick to licensed sportsbooks and social casinos.

? Best Illinois Online Casinos

Legal online casino gambling in Illinois is available only in the form of online sweepstakes casinos. All of these platforms function on virtual currencies that can be used to play games for fun. The best online casinos offer online slot machines, live casino games, and table games, such as online roulette games. Furthermore, they award new users with online casino bonuses, which can be used to win prizes that can be converted for real money sweepstakes prizes. There are currently several social casino sites available in Illinois:

• ?? McLuck Casino
• ?? High 5 Casino
• ?? Vegas Gems Casino
• ?? Hello Millions Casino
• ?? Wow Vegas Social Casino
• ?? CrownCoins Casino
• ?? Funrize Social Casino
• ?? Pulsz

Illinois is one of the states that have legalized online gaming. IL residents can place real money bets online with regulated sportsbooks.

Sweepstakes Sites in Illinois

Playing sweepstakes casino games is completely legal in Illinois. The biggest social casino sites tend to offer a vast variety of casino-style games, ranging from online slots to table games. The major difference is that there is no real money involved in the gameplay, as players either acquire free virtual coins or purchase virtual coin packages that are then used to play games online. You’re not rewarded real money, either, but can redeem particular types of coins for sweepstakes prizes.

We strongly suggest you to stick with sweepstakes instead of offshore casinos, as they are not regulated and come with significant risks. Offshore sites can shut down abruptly without any obligation to return players’ funds or honor winnings. Moreover, the individuals behind these sites are often associated with additional criminal activities. It is not wise to provide your personal information, such as your name and Social Security number, to unlicensed vendors. Additionally, there is limited legal recourse within the US against these offshore sites.

Illinois Online Casino No Deposit Bonus

Legal online casinos in Illinois offer new players no deposit bonuses that they can use to play games for free. All you need to do is create an online casino account on one of the Illinois gambling sites listed below. Make the most out of your gaming experience with the Illinois online casino no deposit bonus codes listed below:

? Land-Based Casinos in Illinois

Illinois has a strong riverboat casino tradition. Riverboat casinos became legal with the Riverboat Gambling Act in 1990. In 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois Gambling Act, making land-based casinos legal. The bill also allowed for legal sports betting. Unfortunately, online casino gaming was not a part of the bill and, therefore, not included in the Illinois law.

Last updated: 08/09/2024