Gambling in Illinois
Illinois gambling is booming, and it is one of the most popular pastimes in the state. For sports betting, Illinois casinos rank third in the nation and hold the title of second highest revenue.
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Illinois Casinos
There are plenty of casinos in Illinois for players to enjoy, and one of the most popular locations is Chicago. This is the largest city in Illinois, and it has several casinos within a short drive, including Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. C
Illinois casinos are famously not just located on dry land. Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria provides a unique riverboat casino experience along the Illinois River. It has a variety of gaming options and a hotel for visitors. Furthermore, Alton is home to the Argosy Casino Alton, which is situated along the Mississippi River and provides various gaming choices.
Top Casinos in Illinois
Taking a trip to Illinois and want to visit some casinos while you're there? Here are our picks for the best places to play:
Rivers Casino, Des Plaines
The Rivers Casino Des Plaines is an exciting and vibrant gaming destination nestled in the heart of the Chicago area. One of the premier Illinois casinos, owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, it opened its doors in 2011 and has become a must-visit for both locals and travelers seeking their luck and leisure in the Windy City. With a vast selection of hundreds of slot machines and an abundance of table games, visitors can immerse themselves in a true Vegas-style gaming experience.
Highlights
- 1000 slot machines
- 90 table games
- Restaurants and bars
- 10,000-square-foot entertainment venue
Slots
As one of the most interesting Illinois casinos, Rivers Casino Des Plaines Chicago boasts an impressive collection of more than 1,000 slot machines, distributed across both the main gaming floor and an additional gaming area on the upper level. The selection of slot games includes a blend of beloved classics and the latest releases, ensuring an enjoyable gaming experience for everyone.
For those seeking higher stakes, a dedicated high-limit room awaits, complete with its exclusive private cashier. River Casino Des Plaines Illinois casinos has slot game titles that include Royal Phoenix, Lightning Link and Wild Wild Samurai. For online slot games, visit NJ online casinos.
Table Games
Rivers Casino Des Plaines Chicago Illinois Casinos boasts an extensive array of more than 90 table games, making it the most comprehensive selection in the Chicago area. This diverse offering has popular options such as roulette, mini baccarat, craps and blackjack, along with classics such as Mississippi Stud Poker, three-card poker and Spanish 21. Table limits vary, but they do have some of the most generous offerings in the state and cater to a wide range of players.
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Hollywood Casino Aurora is a gaming and entertainment destination located in the vibrant city of Aurora, Illinois. This renowned casino, owned and operated by Penn National Gaming, has been a beacon of entertainment since it first opened its doors in 1993. At this Illinois casino, there are plenty of games to explore, live entertainment, and a host of dining options for players to enjoy.
Highlights
- 53,000 square feet of gaming space
- More than 1000 slot games
- $3 million in jackpots every month
- 21 table games
- Restaurants and Bars
- Loyalty Program
Slots and Table Games
At Hollywood Casino Aurora, there are more than 1,000 slot games for players to enjoy, ranging from timeless classics to the latest innovations. Some of the titles you can enjoy include Magic Eyes, Dancing Drums and The Walking Dead. With denominations spanning from penny slots to high-stakes $100 machines, Hollywood Casino caters to all types of players. Impressively, the casino awards a staggering $3 million in jackpot prizes each month. Hollywood Casino Aurora also has 21 table games, including craps, blackjack, roulette and Mississippi stud.
Entertainment and Dining
No casinos in Illinois would be truly fulfilling without live entertainment, and Center Stage at Hollywood Casino Aurora offers live music, comedy and dancing.
At this Illinois casino experience, you’ll find three welcoming restaurants. The Penalty Box Sports Book and Bar offers sandwiches, burgers, wings, pizzas and salads, complemented by a selection of beers, wine and cocktails. As an added treat, it also has an impressive array of screens, including ten 75" HDTVs, five 65" HDTVs, and a colossal 14-foot screen showcasing an extensive range of sports games.
For a touch of classic Hollywood ambience, Fairbanks Steakhouse takes you on a journey back to the 1930s. Here, a fine dining experience awaits, complete with a menu featuring sumptuous steaks, pasta, seafood and an award-winning wine list. For a more relaxed dining experience, the Take Two Deli offers a menu of sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and nachos, perfect for a relaxed lunch or snack.
Loyalty Program
Hollywood Aurora Casino is affiliated with the mychoice rewards program, a network that encompasses various other casinos and chains across the country. Joining this program is completely free and allows you to accumulate points at Hollywood, which can be redeemed at more than 35 locations throughout the United States. For even more exclusive benefits, consider becoming a member of Club Hollywood. This membership extends its advantages not only to the Aurora venue but also to its sister site in Joliet, Illinois.
Argosy Casino Alton
Argosy Casino Alton was among the pioneering riverboat casinos in Illinois and the very first in St. Louis. It has continued to draw in enthusiastic gamblers since it opened in 1991. Situated just a brief trip from the heart of the city in the historic town of Alton, it boasts a wide selection of slot machines, live tables and plenty of other enticing attractions.
Highlights
- 800 slot games
- 12 gaming tables
- Dedicated sports book area
- Restaurant and bar
- Events venue
- Loyalty program
Slots and Table Games
Argosy Casino Alton takes pride in its extensive selection of casino games. With more than 800 themed slots and high-payout games, players have a wealth of options to explore. Furthermore, the casino offers designated spaces for relaxation, including a climate-controlled area designated for smoking, ensuring a comfortable experience for guests both on the smoke-free casino floor and those who prefer to smoke.
To begin your gaming adventure at these casinos in Illinois, you can start by trying your luck with some entertaining themed penny slots. As you gain confidence, you might want to explore a range of progressive slot machines that promise substantial jackpot potential. Among the highly sought-after themed slots featured on the gaming floor are classics like Red White and Blue, Wheel of Fortune and Lightning Loot.
Popular titles such as Buffalo Grand and Lightning Link have gained attention from players. For poker slot enthusiasts, there are one-person electronic poker slots as well.
Argosy Casinos in Illinois also offers a selection of 12 tables where players can enjoy casino games found in other Illinois casinos such as craps, roulette, blackjack and Texas Hold’em. In addition to table games, the casino has introduced a newly designed sports book area equipped with spacious monitors. Here, you can stay updated on games and odds spanning a diverse range of sports including golf, tennis, basketball and football.
Dining at the Argosy
At the Argosy Casinos Illinois, you'll discover the ever-popular dining haven known as the Hops House. There are beers from esteemed local breweries accompanied by an array of HDTVs broadcasting your favorite sports events. The menu presents a diverse array of options, with traditional starters starting at just $7 and a tempting selection of hot dogs and burgers, along with regional delicacies like catfish and shrimp dinners.
Additionally, the venue boasts an event space with a capacity of up to 50 people, and the dedicated casino events team is at your service. Whether you need assistance with decorations or sound equipment, their expertise ensures your event's success. Furthermore, the team can collaborate with you to craft a personalized menu, sourcing from local suppliers and caterers to suit your preferences.
Loyalty Program
Argosy Casino Alton operates the mychoice program where you can earn prizes, cash rewards and free play opportunities. The mychoice loyalty program also offers opportunities to participate in regional contests and enter exciting prize drawings.
Top Gambling Cities in Illinois
There are quite a few gambling cities in Illinois that play host to the top casinos in the state. The first is Casino Queen, which is located by the Mississippi River. It has some great progressive jackpot slots with high-stake bets. Table games include baccarat and poker.
Joliet Casinos
In Northeast Illinois near Lake Michigan, you'll find Harrah’s Joliet. This venue plays host to more than 1,000 slot machines. They have some of the latest and greatest favorite titles like Diamond Blaze. You can also enjoy roulette, blackjack and poker at the tables.
Southern Illinois will find you at Harrah’s Metropolis, which gives you all of the standard table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, Mississippi Stud and many more. The gaming floor holds more than 800 slot machines, and you can also apply for casino credit.
Aurora Casinos
Moving over to the Fox River, you'll find the Hollywood Casino Aurora. This has four restaurants for guests to enjoy as well as more than 1,000 slot machines. Traditional table games can also be found here, including baccarat and blackjack. There is also a poker room that is open on a daily basis.
Elgin Casinos
Traveling 40 miles from downtown Chicago, players will find the Grand Victoria Casino Elgin. With video poker machines and 1,100 slots, you can find a lot to enjoy here. Table games such as high card flush can be easily found, along with a poker room.
Alton Casinos
Another strong contender for riverboat casinos is the Argosy Casino Alton, which opened for legal sportsbook gambling in March 2020. The venue has 36 wide-screen TVs and display monitors for you to watch your favorite game. There are also table games and slot machines for those who aren’t into sports betting.
Casinos Near O'Hare
A short drive from the O’Hare International Airport will take you to the Rivers Casino, which opened in 2011. It has almost 1,100 slot machines and some of the more traditional casino table games. You can enjoy after-hours entertainment at the Lotus cocktail lounge, where a live DJ plays every weekend.
East Preoria Casinos
East Peoria is another gambling city, and it is the location for the Par-A-Dice casino. There are dozens of table games here, along with four restaurants. All of this is located on the 202-room hotel property with other amenities, such as a gift shop and a full gym.
History of Gambling in Illinois
Gambling for Illinois started back in the 1920s. This is when the state legalized horse betting when races were held at the local racetracks. In 1990, the Riverboat Gambling Act was passed, which meant that commercial Illinois casinos could run. The one caveat was that they had to be located on boats and operated outside of Lake Michigan.
In 1927, the Illinois General Assembly legalized pari-mutuel horse racing. In 1974, Illinois would become one of the first states in the entire nation to offer the lottery. Another bill passed in 1975 for horse racing that made sure there were more regulations and oversights within the industry.
The next piece of big history for Illinois casino owners came in 2009, when it became legal for local bars and venues to have lottery terminals. All of these would be operated by the Illinois Lottery. Since then, no new laws have come into force.
Games Available in Illinois Casinos
In Illinois, players can enjoy slots and table games across the casinos in the state's major cities, as well as in the various riverboat casinos.
Other than this, residents of Illinois can use the lottery terminals, which are similar to slots in terms of gameplay. They are readily available at thousands of restaurants and bars across the state.
Blackjack is another game that can be played at sweepstake casinos online legally in Illinois. Playing for real money online has the same rules as the land-based casinos, but players can experience the game at a much quicker pace.
Live dealer games are very hard to come by in Illinois because there is no legal online gambling. Games like blackjack played with a live dealer are very much the same as in person, but you have a dealer through a camera.
It’s hard to say which casinos would move to offer online gambling if Illinois did choose to legalize it in the coming years. Land-based casinos tend to partner up with strong gaming operators so they can get a license before they launch online games. However, Illinois will need to legalize online casinos before this can happen.
Assuming that Illinois does eventually move to legalizing online betting, we’re sure a good array of online casino apps will follow. The apps are becoming increasingly popular among players thanks to the cleaner and more mobile games that online casino sites can offer.
Illinois Poker
The gambling city in Illinois is home to a total of 14 live poker rooms. A fair amount of these are on the commercial riverboats, but there are also some that operate out of the charitable gambling venues.
None of the venues can legally run an online poker website. With the passing of the SB-0007 bill, this may be set to change in the future. Playing online poker on offshore sites is still considered illegal and could result in misdemeanor charges.
Tribal Gaming in Illinois
Illinois does not have a history of native tribes running gaming casinos in the state. Instead, the casinos are run on riverboats, where they were first legalized in 1990. They are only allowed to operate outside of Lake Michigan and other counties that have a population of more than 3 million people.State of Online Gambling in Illinois
Unlike a lot of U.S. states, there is no formal set of online casino Illinois laws that affect gambling directly. Section 28 of the Illinois code states that it is illegal for anyone who is staying in Illinois to run an unlicensed gambling business online. However, the law doesn’t pertain to anyone playing online games, which is why most people agree that playing on offshore sites is illegal for Illinois residents.
In recent years, there has been a significant push to legalize online gambling and expand land-based options. This can be seen in the bill SB-0007, which was first introduced in 2017. The proceedings are still ongoing for this, and there has been a great amount of opposition from the local casinos.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a timetable for when online gambling will be legal in Illinois. Sports betting was made legal in June 2020, so this is a promising start.
Illinois Sports Betting Online
A bill was passed in 2019 that meant that sports betting was legal in Illinois. However, placing bets online is still not legal. There isn’t currently a timetable to indicate when this is set to change.
Retail sportsbooks can accept legal bets in online sports betting sites. There used to be a requirement that you had to register for online betting in person, but this rule was suspended during the pandemic.
Illinois Casinos FAQs
Is online gambling legal in Illinois?
There are both legal and illegal forms of online gambling in Illinois. You can gamble in sports betting, at social casinos or to play the lottery. Real money online casinos are still not yet legal in this state.
What is the legal gambling age in Illinois?
You have to be 18 to legally gamble in the state of Illinois on the lottery and horse racing. For casino games and sports bets, you have to be 21.
What forms of gambling are legal in Illinois?
Players can legally play online and mobile sports gambling, horse racing, the lottery and at land-based casinos. All of these are legal.
Do I have to live in Illinois to gamble online once it goes live?
No, you don’t need to be a resident of Illinois to enjoy online gambling in the state. However, you must be within the state borders to do so. They will check this using geolocation technology to confirm your location.
Why can I see websites with casino offers in Illinois?
There are sweepstake sites that are legal in Illinois where you can play slots for free. These are different from the real-money casinos you can find online. If you do come across a casino for real money in Illinois, it will be an offshore site, and we do not recommend you play there.
How does Illinois tax any of my gambling winnings?
Any winnings you make from gambling have to be included in your personal income tax. This is taxed at a rate of 4.95%. You will also owe the IRS a federal tax that will be based on your tax bracket.
Which is the best casino for high-paying slots in Illinois?
Many of the locals would say that the Argosy Casino Alton is the best one for slots. This is a brick-and-mortar casino that has a lot of the latest slots. It also has RTPs that top 92.3%.
How can I gamble responsibly in Illinois?
You will never be left to struggle with responsible gambling in Illinois. Both the websites and land-based casinos are required, by law, to offer safe and supportive services to gamers. This means you can get help and support for any problems should you need to take control.
What bonus offers can I get in Illinois?
Casinos often give perks to players to encourage them to keep coming back to their venues to play. In Illinois, there are a variety of promotions and bonuses for those who open new accounts. Some casinos will offer matched deposits, which means you are playing with double your money right from the beginning. There may also be no-deposit offers as well.