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Casinos in Chicago

As the third largest metropolitan area in the country, Chicago is home to nearly three million people and is one of the largest cities in the world. It doesn’t hurt that the area also has a rich history when it comes to gambling, as casinos in Chicago have exploded in recent years.

Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
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Table of contents

Locations of all casinos in Chicago


Let’s take a look at the locations of the eight casinos in Chicago and touch on the highlights of each.

  • Grand Victoria Casino Elgin - 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
  • Hollywood Casino Aurora - 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506
  • Hollywood Casino Joliet - 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436
  • Rivers Casino Des Plaines - 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018
  • Ameristar Casino East Chicago - 777 Aldis Ave, East Chicago, IN 46312
  • Bally’s Casino Chicago - 600 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
  • Horseshoe Hammond Casino - 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, IN 46320
  • Harrah’s Joliet - 151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432

Grand Victoria Casino Elgin

Owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, Grand Victoria Casino Elgin opened in 1994 and was developed by Hyatt and Gold Strikes Resorts. Nearly 30,000 square feet, Grand Victoria Casino Elgin is one of the biggest casinos in Chicago with over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, in addition to 36 table games.

Additionally, there is a Caesars Sportsbook on the property, where customers can wager on all major sporting events via self-serve kiosks and full-service ticket windows. Operating as a true (docked) riverboat casino, there is also the beautiful Grand Victoria Hotel located just across the street, offering fun for the whole family. 

Featuring four fantastic restaurants in Crave Deli, Prime Burger Bar, Buckinghams, and Indulge, Grand Victoria also features a banquet hall for large events. Located just 40 minutes from Chicago, for those looking to play slots and table games, it's hard to beat Grand Victoria Casino Elgin.

  • Address: 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
  • Phone number: (847) 468-7000

Hollywood Casino Aurora

Opening its doors in 1993, Hollywood Casino Aurora was the very first permanent riverboat casino by Hollywood Casino Corporation. Owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties, Penn Entertainment holds the gaming license for the casino portion of the establishment. As such, players can earn PENN Cash for playing games at their casinos and the ESPN Bet app which can then be used to earn various prizes including casino credit.

The massive 53,000-square-foot property boasts more than 1,000 slot machines in addition to more than 20 table games from blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and even poker. The professional poker room is amongst the best in Illinois, offering as many as seven different poker tables for customers to take part in.

Additionally, there are three fine restaurants on the property including the Take-Two Deli, Epic Buffet, and the highly acclaimed Fairbanks Steakhouse. On Saturdays, Hollywood Casino Aurora even offers live music for its many patrons to enjoy in addition to its casino offerings. Today, Hollywood Casino Aurora serves the Chicago area as one of the most luxurious casino properties in the state of Illinois.

  • Address: 1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506
  • Phone number: (630) 801-1234

Hollywood Casino Joliet

Located just 45 minutes from the Windy City, Hollywood Casino Joliet is one of two casinos in Joliet, IL, as Harrah’s Joliet is just a few miles away. The Hollywood Casino in Joliet covers 50,000 square feet of entertainment, including table games such as baccarat, blackjack, poker, roulette, and more. The casino also offers its players more than 1,000 slot machines and video poker machines, with many of the most popular gaming developers present.

Additionally, Hollywood Casino Joliet offers its patrons a full-scale sportsbook, where bettors can place wagers on all the major sports leagues from self-serving kiosks and live tellers. For visitors who don’t wish to partake in gambling, Hollywood Casino Joliet Hotel is located directly on the property as well with access to three restaurants including Final Cut Steakhouse, Epic Buffer, and 99 Hope House. 

There is truly something for everyone at Hollywood Casino Joliet, making it a can’t-miss if you’re in the area.

  • Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436
  • Phone number: (888) 436-7737

Rivers Casino Des Plaines

As one of the newest casinos in Chicago, opened in 2011, Rivers Casino Des Plaines has become Chicagoans favorites. The ownership structure is split between Churchill Downs Inc. (62%) and Rush Street Gaming (38%), with Rush Street handling the casino gaming side of the business.

Featuring more than 1,000 slot machines and 50 table games, all of the casino classics are covered including blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Mississippi Stud, roulette, and many more. Rivers Casino Des Plaines is also home to Rush Street Gaming’s BetRivers Sportsbook, featuring all the latest action in the Chicago sports scene and beyond. 

Located just a few minutes away from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Rivers Casino Des Plaines should be a first stop to anyone flying in to visit casinos in Chicago.

  • Address: 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018
  • Phone number: (847) 795-0777

Ameristar Casino East Chicago

Initially opened up as Showboat Mardi Gras Casino in 1997, after a few different transactions, Ameristar Casinos bought the property in 2007 and renamed it to what is today; Ameristar Casino East Chicago. In 2013, the casino became part of Pinnacle Entertainment, before being sold to its current owner Gaming and Leisure Properties in 2016.

Then, in October 2018, Penn Entertainment took over the casino’s operating license, bringing it’s suite of services including their popular PENN Cash rewards program along with it. Located just 20 miles from downtown Chicago, there is also an Ameristar Casino Hotel on the property, featuring hundreds of beautiful rooms for rest take advantage of.

In terms of the casino floor, there are more than 56,000 square feet including 70+ table games, 1700+ slots, and even a high-limit room for their high-spending links. There are also numerous restaurants for the casino’s patrons, as well as a buffet service in the hotel portion of the property.

  • Address: 777 Aldis Ave, East Chicago, IN 46312
  • Phone number: (219) 378-3000

Bally’s Casino Chicago

With a temporary location operating out of Medinah Temple in downtown Chicago which opened in September 2023, the full Bally’s Casino Chicago is currently under development and set to open in 2026. In what is said to be a $1.7 billion gaming complex, the permanent Bally’s Casino Chicago will be located at River West, and feature a 500-room hotel as well. With construction set to begin in early 2024, the permanent location will also feature a 3,000-seat theater, 20,000 square-foot entertainment theater, and more than 3,000 slots and 170 table games.

As for the temporary location, the location offers video slots in addition to table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker. For those just going for the experience Bally’s Casino Chicago also offers restaurants including The Publican and the Asian 888 Kitchen that are open Thursday through Monday.

With more specifics up to the Illinois Gaming Board between now and 2026, make sure to check back for all the latest news on Bally’s Casino Chicago’s grand opening.

  • Address: 600 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
  • Phone number: 888-822-2559

Horseshoe Hammond Casino

Opening its doors in 1996, Horseshoe Hammond Casino features 350,000 square feet of gaming space with its operating license held by Caesars Entertainment. Owned by Vici Properties, Horseshoe Hammond Casino features more than 3,000 slot machines, 250 video poker machines, 100 table games, a high-limit room, a poker room, and an Asian gaming area.

For those looking to go just for entertainment, Horseshoe Hammond Casino boasts two bars, a VIP Lounge, as well as a 3,400-seat entertainment venue. The world-famous Jack Binion’s Steakhouse also has a location on the property, and there is an event space called “The Venue'' that measures 90,000 square feet in its own right. 

As one of the most popular casinos in all of Illinois, there is something at Horseshoe Hammond Casino for the entire family, in addition to one of the best gambling menus in the country outside of Las Vegas.

  • Address: 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond, IN 46320
  • Phone number: (219) 473-7000

Harrah’s Joliet

Initially setting up shop near the Windy City in May 1993, Harrah’s Joliet is owned by Vici Properties (80%) and John Q. Hammons (20%), with its operating license belonging to Caesars Entertainment. In 1999, a state-of-the-art hotel was added to the property, with more than 200 rooms for guests to stay at after a night of entertainment.

Today, Harrah’s Joliet has over 1,100 slot machines and 30 table games, featuring all of the popular slot gaming developers and table games such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and many more. There are also four restaurants on the 40,000 square foot property, including Cross Street Grill, The Reserve, and The Slice Pizzeria and Pizza.

Similar to many casinos in Chicago, Harrah’s Joliet is a riverboat casino type, with two barges being joined together to offer a fantastic (and legal) gambling experience. Designed like the rest of Caesars’ Harrah’s Hotel Casino properties, Harrah’s Joliet is a spectacle that all Chicagoans have come to love.

  • Address: 151 N Joliet St, Joliet, IL 60432
  • Phone number: (815) 740-7800

Are any more casinos opening in Chicago in the future?

Despite there being almost a dozen casinos around the Chicago area, there are even more on the horizon for 2024 and beyond. Let’s take a look at a few of the casinos scheduled to open in Chicago in the future.

  • Bally's Casino Chicago: With a temporary location at the Medinah Temple in downtown Chicago (covered above) opened in September 2023, Bally's Casino Chicago will officially open its doors in River West in 2026. A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for early 2024, and be sure to check back to ILBetting.com for all of the latest information.
  • Hard Rock Casino Rockford: Scheduled to open in September 2024, Hard Rock Casino Rockford will be a $310 million casino at the location of the former Clock Tower Resort. Ground was broken as of September 2022, and by all accounts, their September 2024 opening is still on track. Similar to Bally’s, there is a temporary location set up at Rockford Casino.
  • Wind Creek Chicago Southland: Located in the southern suburbs of Chicago, Wind Creek Chicago Southland is a $529 million casino scheduled to open in summer 2024. In addition to the casino, which will feature more than 1,300 slots and 50 table games, the property will also include a 250-room hotel, three restaurants, and an entertainment venue.

What types of games can you play at Chicago casinos?

As we’ve covered today at length, there are many types of games you can play at Chicago casinos. Let’s dive into each category of gaming, and give you an idea of what to expect for your first visit.

  • Video Slots: All of the casinos in Chicago feature a wide variety of slot machines from the top gaming developers in the world. From themed slots to the more basic spinning wheels, there is no shortage of video slots for Chicagoans to participate in. This category also includes the super popular video poker gaming category.
  • Table Games: All of the most popular table games can be found at Chicago casinos, ranging from baccarat, blackjack, roulette, Texas Hold-Em poker, Pai Gow poker, 5-card stud poker, and many more.
  • Poker: Some of the casinos in Chicago feature professional poker rooms, including the Horseshoe Hammond Casino and Hollywood Casino Aurora, where anyone can enter daily cash games and tournaments.
  • Sports betting: You can bet on sports in the Chicago area through partnerships between retail casinos and online sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel, offering a seamless experience of placing wagers on various sporting events in-person.

History of Chicago casinos

In the early 20th century, organized crime syndicates started the commercial gambling industry in Chicago, taking hold of the industry within the city. By 1927, pari-mutuel horse racing was officially legalized, as tracks began popping up in and around the city. In 1975, Illinois began its state lottery, as gambling continued to increase in popularity throughout the state.

The Riverboat Gambling Act then passed in 1990, with the first riverboat casino opening in 1991 in Alton, and the first permanently docked casino opening in 1999. In 1993, however, the Hollywood Casino in Aurora opened up, becoming the first riverboat casino to gain popularity.

While various casinos have popped up around Illinois in the time since, the first official casino in Chicago arrived in September 2023, as Bally’s Chicago Casino officially opened its doors. 


FAQ

How old should I be to gamble at casinos in Chicago?

While you can visit casinos in Chicago at any age, you must be 21 years of age or older to gamble at casinos in Chicago.

Which was the first casino to open in Chicago?

The first casino to open in Chicago was the Argosy Casino Alton in 1991, which opened as a small riverboat casino.

Do I pay taxes on winnings from Chicago casinos?

Yes, the Illinois tax rate on gambling earnings is a flat 4.95% rate. You are best advised to confer with a tax professional on your specific tax situation.

Are there any casinos in downtown Chicago?

Yes, there is a Bally’s Casino Chicago located right in downtown Chicago. It is a temporary casino located at the Medinah Temple and it will remain open until 2026, when the permanent Bally’s Casino Chicago is scheduled to open.

Are there any casinos in Chicago with hotels?

Yes, there are many casinos in Chicago’s surrounding area with hotels. Refer to our full list noted above to see which casinos offer hotels.

Can I play at casinos online in Chicago?

No, you cannot play at casinos online in Chicago. Illinois online casinos are not legal, though sweepstakes and social casinos offer a legal option for real-money gaming.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a sports betting expert and author at IL Betting. With nearly ten years of experience in the field, he has gained a reputation for his adept handicapping skills. Throughout his career, Johnny has contributed his knowledgeable perspectives to several well-known sports and betting publications, including All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, Golf Monthly, and OddsChecker.