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Illinois online casinos

Although online gambling became legal in Illinois back in 2019, participating in online casino games in the state remains illegal. Several bills regarding online casino legalization have been introduced to the Illinois General Assembly, but it doesn’t appear Illinois residents will be able to get their hands on online casinos until 2025 at the earliest.

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In this guide, we will take a look at which online casino sites may come to Illinois once they’re permitted to do so, along with the bonus offers each casino operator may extend to IL users.

Online casinos are illegal in Illinois at the time of writing. The only real-money casino games allowed in Illinois are found at retail locations.

What are the latest updates regarding Illinois online casinos?

A handful of new Illinois online casinos bills were introduced to the Illinois General Assembly in February 2023, which could push the state to full online casino legalization as early as 2025.

The three online casino bills include:

Bill SB1656 would require users to register in person over the first six months of online casino legalization, while the other two would allow players to join online casinos on the day they become legal.

These three new online casino bills still have to make it through the House Rules Committee and Senate Assignments Committee before they become laws.

Online casino sites that may come to Illinois

Once online casino games reach legal status in Illinois, there will be plenty of big-name operators looking to set up shop there. Here are a few we expect to establish themselves right out of the gate.

FanDuel Casino Illinois

From their beginnings as a daily fantasy football platform, FanDuel has become a one-stop-shop for sports bettors and online casino enthusiasts everywhere. Their partnership with BetFair Casinos paved the way for FanDuel to dive into the online casino industry.

FanDuel Casino is currently available in four states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and West Virginia. Online blackjack, poker, craps, and baccarat are all available through FanDuel Casino.

DraftKings Casino Illinois

Founded in 2012, DraftKings is one of the most recognizable brands in the Illinois sports betting and online casino ecosystem. As of 2023, DraftKings’ online casino is operational in five states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut. It’s also legal for players in Ontario, Canada.

DraftKings provides their players with all the classic casino games we have become accustomed to, along with exclusive games found only at DraftKings.

PointsBet Casino Illinois

PointsBet launched their first online casino product in Michigan back in May of 2021. Since then, they’ve established themselves in three additional states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New Jersey.

PointsBet offers a wide range of casino games, and their app features the trademark aesthetic of their sportsbook. Now that they have been acquired by Fanatics, there will be changes, and we will monitor the situation and share relevant news as it develops.

BetRivers Casino Illinois

After a successful run as an online sportsbook, BetRivers expanded their operation to include online casinos as well.

With a retail casino already in place in IL at River Des Plaines Casino, we’re sure their online casino will launch in the state once it becomes legal.

Online casino games in Illinois

Generally speaking, there are too many online casino games to go over all of them in depth.

Each online operator offers classic casino games, like slots, blackjack, poker, and roulette. However, some sites have their own unique games that can only be played through their app or website. These games are often exclusively online, meaning they aren’t typically available at retail casinos.

Here’s a quick rundown of all of the online casino games we expect to be available to IL users.

Slots

For better or worse, slots are usually the first game most players go to when they visit casinos. Mostly because it’s the easiest game to pick up; the learning curve for slots compared to games like blackjack is almost non-existent.

Slots almost always provide great visuals as well to keep players enticed to spend more money. Luckily, the chances of anyone losing a substantial amount of money playing slots are pretty slim, unless you stick around a little too long.

There are also free-to-play slots at most casinos, so if you are looking to stimulate the senses a bit without wagering anything, free slots are a great option.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a popular casino game with several variations tied to it. You’ll typically find different versions of the game with every casino you visit. Some of the most popular include mini-baccarat, chemin de fer, and baccarat banque.

Online casinos have experimented with each version of the game, and most operators offer a unique baccarat experience.

Blackjack

Blackjack, sometimes referred to as 21, is a staple at every retail casino. If you’re a regular blackjack player at your local casino, transitioning to the virtual setting can be a little jarring.

Not being able to see the dealer or your fellow players is admittedly off-putting at first, but it’s important to remember that all licensed online casinos ensure that every card game is fair.

Your strategy from in-person to online blackjack may differ a bit, but the virtual iteration still offers the same excitement and competitiveness as the retail experience.

Poker

Another classic, poker is the game most people think of when they picture casinos. It also requires the most skill and strategy of any casino game out there.

However, giving it a go in a virtual setting can be an effective way to get the basics down before you start playing with high rollers.

In regards to online poker, there are a ton of variations between operators. The rules for each iteration can differ slightly as well, so always take note of the guidelines before diving in.

Roulette

Unlike poker and blackjack, there isn’t much strategy involved with roulette. It’s a game of chance more than anything else.

The goal is to predict where the ball will land once the dealer spins the wheel. You can choose a specific location, or just pick the color it lands on. The payout usually depends on how specific the location you’ve chosen is.

Craps

Playing craps is fast-paced, exciting, and all you need is a pair of dice. Or, in this case, virtual dice.

If you’ve played craps at a physical location before, you should have no issue picking it up on mobile devices or online.

Different types of bonuses that could come to Illinois online casinos

The major draw that separates online casinos from retail casinos is the multitude of bonus offers online operators extend to their customers. These promotions are very similar to those found in sportsbooks.

Before utilizing every promotion in sight, it’s important to understand the terms and conditions tied to each promo. These terms are typically different for each casino.

Here’s a look at the most common promotional offers from online casinos, along with the basic information associated with them.

  • Welcome bonus: An online casino’s welcome bonus is, more often than not, the most popular promotion they’ll offer. It’s exclusive to new users, and it can take the form of free spins, extra credits in your account, or deposit match bonuses.
  • No deposit bonus: A no deposit bonus is pretty self-explanatory. This bonus allows players to play casino games without making a deposit first. Typically, users will have to choose from a select number of games, and the bonus users receive for their participation cannot be redeemed for real cash; it must be used within the online casino.
  • Match deposit bonus: Like a no deposit bonus, this one is pretty straightforward. After opting in to become eligible for a match deposit bonus, you’ll receive a bonus of the amount you wagered. Depending on which operator you’re using, the deposit match can be a 50 percent match, meaning you’ll only receive half of your wagered amount in bonuses. Or, they may offer a 50 percent increase on your deposit, which means you’ll receive 50 percent more than your original wager in the form of a bonus.

Banking options for online casinos in Illinois

Most of the banking options found within Illinois online casinos are similar to those found in online sportsbooks, and they tend to function similarly as well.

Here are the most common banking options to be aware of:

  • Debit cards: Utilizing your debit card to deposit or withdraw funds from your account is the most popular option among users. Simply provide your card information and you’re all set. Payment is instant as well, which is a huge plus.
  • Online banking: If you're not a debit card kind of person, going with the online banking route is a solid option. You’ll need to provide your bank account information in order to use this method in online casinos. Sometimes, withdrawing your money can take a few business days.
  • Prepaid cards and Play+: If you’re an avid user of online casinos, getting yourself a prepaid card to load money onto would make sense. Play+ prepaid cards are commonly used for online sportsbooks or casinos. Simply add money to the card at a local ATM and start playing.
  • Check (in-person): Utilizing the check method is only plausible if you’re located near a retail casino. Sometimes, checks are not even accepted by casinos, so it’s important to contact the casino beforehand.

In order to gauge the credibility of each casino game on hand, it’s imperative to know the companies behind them. Each of these developers will provide different variations of the casino games mentioned above, adding a personalized twist to each experience.

Here are the most popular casino game developers working today that we might see in Illinois in the future:

WMS slots

Williams Interactive (WMS) originally began as a developer for arcade games and pinball machines. In the mid-1990s, WMS entered the slot machine market and has since cemented itself as a significant game developer for land-based and online casinos.

Some of the company’s most popular slot machine games are based on movies such as Top Gun, Men in Black, and Star Trek.

Bally Technologies, Inc.

Based out of Enterprise, Nevada, Bally Technologies is one of the most recognizable slot machine manufacturers on the market.

Their slots can be found in every Bally Casino across the country. Some of their most popular virtual casino games include Aloha Island, Big Vegas, and Cash Spin.

International Game Technology

With operating headquarters in the United States and Italy, International Game Technology (IGT) is a pioneer in the game-developing industry with international reach.

IGT currently has over 60 casino games on the market, including Dungeons and Dragons Crystal Cavern, BattleShip Search and Destroy, and Kitty Glitter.

American Gaming Systems

American Gaming Systems (AGS) may not be as well known as some of their competitors we have already mentioned, but they have a long history of developing casino games, both for retail settings and online.

AGS develops slots, card, and table games, along with poker titles.

Konami slots

Based out of Japan, Konami has been a mainstay in the game development industry for some time now. Aside from the numerous casino games they’ve created, Konami established the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game in 1999, which the Guinness Book of World Records called the top-selling trading card game of all time in 2011, with over 25 billion cards sold worldwide.

Some of Konami’s most popular casino offerings include Fortune Stacks Slot Machines, Pride of Egypt Slots, and Imperial Wealth Slot Machines.

NetEnt

NetEnt exclusively works in the online game development industry, providing exciting casino game content for over 20 years. In 2019, their systems handled over 58 billion gaming transactions.

How to start playing at an internet casino in Illinois

To get your Illinois online casinos venture underway, all you will have to do is create an account with a legal online operator and deposit money.

It’s a pretty easy process that won’t take users much longer than five minutes to complete.

Here are the three key steps to take:

  1. Choose your casino and bonus offer: The first order of business is choosing which Illinois operator you would like to play with, along with the bonus offer you’d like to utilize. Browsing through each operator’s “Promotions” tab will give you a good understanding of what they offer. Be sure to take a look at the terms and conditions associated with each bonus before making your final decision.
  2. Register and deposit: Once you find a suitable Illinois casino, you’re going to need to make an account to start gambling. After doing so, users will typically be presented with the option to deposit money right off the bat. Put some money into your Illinois casino account, and you’ll be ready to go.
  3. Start playing: After your Illinois online gambling account is loaded with cash, you’ll be able to make wagers on any casino game the operator has on hand. Most Illinois online casinos have sections for each game type (slots, poker, blackjack), making it easier for users to navigate and find what they’re looking for.

Locations of casinos in Illinois

While online casinos are still illegal in Illinois, there are 14 land-based Illinois casinos already open, with a handful under construction and set to open over the next few years.

Here’s a list of all Illinois casinos, along with their location.

  • American Place - 4011 Fountain Square PI, Waukegan, IL 60085
  • Argosy Casino Alton - 1 Piasa St., Alton, IL 62002
  • Bally’s Quad Cities – 777 Bally’s Blvd., Rock Island, IL 61201
  • DraftKings as Casino Queen – 200 S. Front St., East St. Louis, IL 62201
  • Golden Nugget Danville – 204 Eastgate Dr., Danville, IL 61834
  • Grand Victoria Casino – 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
  • Harrah’s Joliet – 151 N. Joliet St., Joliet, IL 60432
  • Harrah’s Metropolis – 100 E. Front St., Metropolis, IL 62960
  • Hollywood Casino Aurora – 1 W. NewYork St., Aurora, IL 60506
  • Par-A-Dice Casino – 21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria, IL 61611
  • Rivers Des Plaines – 3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018
  • Walker's Bluff Casino Resort – 777 Walkers Bluff Way, Carterville, IL 62918
  • Hard Rock Casino Rockford – 610 North Bell School Road, Rockford, IL 61107
  • Hollywood Casino Joliet 777 Hollywood Blvd., Joliet, IL 60436

FAQ

When will online casinos become legal in Illinois?

At the time of writing, no date has been specified for online casino legalization in Illinois. New legislation has been introduced to the Illinois General Assembly this year, meaning the earliest we could see online casinos become operational within the state is 2025.

How old will I have to be to use online casinos in Illinois?

To be able to gamble online legally in Illinois, companies usually require their users to be at least 21 years old. However, in some states, the legal gambling age is 18.

What is an offshore online casino for Illinois residents?

An offshore casino is an operator that offers IL residents their gambling product, without being licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board. Offshore casinos are illegal and we strongly advise you to avoid using them.

Does Illinois allow any other forms of online gambling?

Yes, other forms of online gambling that Illinois allows are sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports.

Do Illinois casinos take in a lot of revenue?

Yes, Illinois casinos take in a lot of revenue. In 2022, they took $344 million in total revenue.