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Illinois Online Gambling Guide

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Illinois online casino gambling for real money is not allowed right now, but there are still ways to play casino games online. This guide explains the laws, shows safe ways to play, and looks at how things could change in the future. Learn about fun options and how to play safely from home.

Our top recommended online casinos in Illinois – 2025

The casinos listed below are the best sites for anyone that wants to play online casino games in Illinois. They are social and sweepstakes casinos, rather than real money online casinos.

Rank
Casinos
Offer
Features
Play
1
35 Free Sweepstakes Coins
With 1.5 Million WOW Coins Purchase
WOW Vegas Casino Review
  • Get 5 Free SC + 250,000 WOW Coins on Sign Up
  • Over 1000 Slots Games
  • Welcome Bonus and Daily Login Bonuses
  • Use Promo Code: WOWBONUS
2
5 Sweeps Coins
250 Game Coins & 600 Diamonds on Sign Up
High 5 Casino Review
  • US Players Accepted
  • 1200+ Slots & Live Dealer Games!
  • FREE Daily Rewards
  • Authentic Brand, Made in the USA
3
Up to 27.5 FREE SC
PLUS 57,500 GC
McLuck Review
  • US Players Accepted
  • Get 2.5 Free SC + 7,500 GC on Sign Up
  • Live Dealer Blackjack, Roulette, and MORE
  • Use Promo Code: PLAYBONUS
4
Up to 625,000 Gold Coins
Plus 125 Free SC on First Purchase
RealPrize Review
  • PLUS Earn 1,250 VIP Points
  • Daily 5,000 GC Login Bonus
  • Choose from 400+ Games
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
5
40 FREE Sweepstakes Coins
With 400,000 Gold Coin Purchase
Pulsz Review
  • Free 2.3 SC + 5,000 GC on Sign Up
  • Daily FREE Sweepstakes When Logging In
  • Choose From Over 700 Games
  • Use Promo Code: BONUSPLAY
6
100,000 Crown Coins
Plus 2 Sweeps Coins on Sign Up
Crown Coins Review
  • 75 SC Free with 1,500,000 Crown Coins Purchase (200% Bonus!)
  • FREE Daily Rewards & Weekly Challenges
  • Available iOS Mobile App
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
7
250,000 Gold Coins
PLUS 25 Stake Cash
Stake.us Review
  • Over 1,000 Slots + Live Dealer Casino-Style Games + Live Poker!
  • 10,000 GC + 1 Stake Cash Daily Bonus
  • Partnerships with Drake, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, Everton FC, and more!
  • Use Bonus Code: USABET
8
5,000 SC Free
Plus 10,000,000 Coins
Carnival Citi Review
  • Generous Bonuses & Daily Freebies
  • Feat. Casino Floor Slot Games
  • Daily, Weekly & Monthly Lucky Draws
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
9
7,500 Gold Coins
PLUS 2.5 Free SC on Sign Up
MegaBonanza Review
  • 150% Extra Coins on 1st Purchase: GC 50,000 + SC 25 FREE for $9.99
  • Fast and Reliable Prize Redemptions
  • Intuitive and Easy-to-Navigate Platform
  • To Claim: Click Play Now
10
Up to 27.5 FREE SC
PLUS 65,000 GC
Hello Millions Review
  • GC 15,000 PLUS SC 2.5 Free on Sign Up
  • Pragmatic Jackpot Play + Over 700 Slots Games
  • Free Daily Coins Reward
  • Use Exclusive Promo Code: BONUSPLAY
11
20 Free Sweep Coins
On First $20 Purchase
Chanced Casino Review
  • PLUS 2 SC + 20,000 Gold Coins on Sign Up
  • PLUS 20 FREE Spins on Account Verification
  • Live Blackjack, Roulette, and MORE
  • Instant Redemptions for US Players
12
50,000 Gold Coins
Plus 25 Free SC on First $9.99 Purchase
Jackpota Review
  • Get 7,500 GC + 2.5 SC Free on Sign Up
  • Play a Huge Range of Casino Games
  • Get Free Coins Daily
  • To Claim: Click Play Now

The current casinos you can play at in your state are social and sweepstakes casinos. These provide a similar experience to real money online casinos, giving players the chance to win cash prizes. Learn more about sweepstakes casinos.

Online gambling in Illinois snapshot

There are many different forms of online gambling in Illinois, irrespective of the situation with online casinos. So, the table below is a quick guide to the different options you have available to you right now.

Type of GamblingStatusGambling Age
Online casinoUnavailableLikely 21
Sweepstakes casinoAvailable18
Social casinoAvailable18
Online lotteryUnavailable18
Online pokerUnavailableLikely 21
Online sports bettingAvailable21
Online horse racingAvailable18
Daily fantasy sportsAvailable18

Latest Illinois Online Casino News

Legal online casino options in Illinois

Social and sweepstakes casinos are legal in Illinois. You can play for free with Gold Coins, and you can also unlock Sweeps Coins and redeem them for cash prizes and gift cards. Unlike in New York and Florida, there is no upper limit on prize redemptions in Illinois. Here are our recommendations for the best sweepstakes casinos or social sites:

  • WOW Vegas: WOW Vegas is the best site for slots players in Illinois. You can play more than 850 slots, including exclusives supplied by famous studios such as Betsoft and Pragmatic Play and enjoy quality WOW Vegas casino welcome promos.
  • High 5 Casino: High 5 Casino is an established online casino that has been welcoming players in Illinois for more than a decade. High 5 Casino hosts slots and live dealer games.
  • Pulsz: Pulsz is an impressive site that features an elegant design, loads of bonuses, and a wide range of casino games. Illinoisans can play hundreds of slots online at Pulsz, plus scratchcards, keno, multi-hand blackjack, Casino Hold’em, and arcade-style games like Classic Mines and Triple Plinko.
  • Chumba Casino: Chumba Casino stands out from rival sites in Illinois by offering exclusive slots, casino solitaire, and live bingo games. The bingo room has guaranteed monthly prizes of 125 billion Gold Coins and 2.5 million Sweeps Coins.
  • McLuck: McLuck is Irish luck-themed casino could appeal to the large Irish population in Illinois. The site offers slots and live dealer games, and there are some large, progressive McJackpots available on certain games that you can use your McLuck welcome bonus on.

Pros and cons to sweepstakes and social casinos in Illinois

Sweepstakes and social casinos are the best sites for anyone that wants to play online casino games in Illinois right now. However, like all things, there are both benefits and drawbacks associated with playing them. It’s important to play with your eyes wide open, so here are some of the top pros and cons of sweepstakes and social casinos in Illinois.

  • Anyone aged 18 or older and physically located in Illinois can play at these casino sites.
  • You can always play for fun, without any need to make a payment, but you also have the opportunity to redeem cash prizes.
  • Playing free games with Gold Coins will allow you to sharpen your skills before visiting a riverboat casino in Illinois.
  • These sites do not host the same breadth of slots and table games as the real money online casinos in states like Michigan and New Jersey.
  • Most social casinos do not offer phone support or live chat, so you will need to fill in a web form and wait for a reply if you need assistance.
  • The prize redemption process can be slow at some online casinos.
Tip icon
Insight:
The nearest state with legal online casino gambling is Michigan. Learn more with our casino bill tracker.

Will Illinois legalize online casinos in the future?

Illinois could be the next state to legalize online casinos if lawmakers gain the right level of support for their proposals. Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. and Sen. Cristina Castro both filed online casino bills in 2023, and they are currently under consideration.

Legislators have until January 2025 to advance one of those bills. If an online casino bill clears the various hurdles, Gov. J.B. Pritzker would need to sign it into law. Illinois online casinos could then potentially be rolled out in 2026.

The state’s gambling industry has expanded at a rapid pace in recent years. Online sports betting was rolled out in 2020, and lawmakers also authorized six large commercial casino resorts, so online casinos could be next on the agenda.

What online casino games are available in Illinois?

You can enjoy a wide range of online casino games in Illinois. The casino options found in Illinois host many of the same games found at the top US online casino sites, sourced from the same software studios.

Slots

Anyone aged 18 or older can play hundreds of online slots at sites like WOW Vegas, Pulsz, High 5 Casino, and McLuck in Illinois. They host games from the world’s leading providers, such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play. That means you can play iconic slots such as Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and Big Bass Splash with Gold Coins or Sweeps Coins.

Physical slot machines are also available at riverboat casinos such as Argosy Casino in Alton and Rivers Casino Des Plaines. The large commercial casino resorts currently being built, such as Bally’s Chicago and Golden Nugget Danville, will also offer thousands of slot machines.

online slots icon

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular games at riverboat casinos in Illinois. This game has a low house edge and a simple format, but there is also an element of strategy.

You can play blackjack at certain online casinos in Illinois too. They include Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Pulsz, High 5 Casino, Stake.us, Chanced Casino, and McLuck. Options include classic blackjack, multi-hand blackjack, and live dealer blackjack.

blackjack icon

Roulette

Roulette is another casino game that has captured the imagination of Illinois players for many years. Retail casinos offer roulette wheels, and you can also play online at Stake.us, Chanced Casino, McLuck, and Sweeptastic.

A white ball is dropped onto a wheel, and you can wager on which section it will land in when the wheel stops spinning. There are a few different roulette variants, but French roulette has the lowest house edge. You can play it at Stake.us in Illinois.

online roulette guide

Video Poker

Illinois has the largest video gaming network in the world. There are more than 46,400 video gaming terminals on a statewide basis, spread across approximately 8,400 venues, including stores and truck stops. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates these terminals under the Video Gaming Act of 2009.

You can also play video poker online at a few sites, including Sweeptastic and Chumba Casino. These games are played against the house, as opposed to fellow players. You can play for fun with Gold Coins, or you can use premium coins.

online video poker

Table Games

Baccarat is another popular table game found at sites like Stake.us, Chanced Casino, McLuck, and Sweeptastic. Some sites offer casino poker games too, such as 3 Card Poker and Pai Gow Poker. Other card games include three card rummy and draw high low.

Sweepstakes casinos do not offer online craps, but you can play craps for fun at BetRivers.net, a social casino linked to Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Sic Bo is available at Sweeptastic and Stake.us too. Additional games include Mines, Plinko, bingo, keno, scratchcards, and Slingo, which is a hybrid of slots and bingo.

real money online casinos icon

Live Dealer

These games allow you to connect with a real dealer. They are designed to replicate the experience of visiting a brick-and-mortar casino in Illinois, but you can play online from the comfort of your own home.

The best sites for live dealer games in Illinois are Stake.us, Chanced, High 5 Casino, and McLuck. They allow you to play live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Sic Bo, and Teen Patti.

live dealer icon

Illinois Retail Casinos

There are six large casino resorts in Illinois: American Place, Bally’s Chicago, Golden Nugget Danville, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, Walker’s Bluff, and Wind Creek Chicago Southland. However, riverboat casinos are currently the best venues in the state, and these are the most popular.

Tip icon
Fun Fact:
There are 10 riverboat casinos in Illinois. They are actually brick-and-mortar casinos, but some are located on docked barges close to a riverbank, while others sit on land over inch-deep water pits.
  • Number of slots: 1,500
  • Number of table games: 95
  • Poker room: Yes
  • Year opened: 2011
  • Owner: Churchill Downs Inc. and Rush Street Interactive

A Chicago-based company called Rush Street Interactive runs this casino, which is located just minutes away from O’Hare International Airport. The building sits above a few inches of water in a shallow pit, which allows it to comply with the state’s riverboat gambling laws.

  • Number of slots: 950
  • Number of table games: 29
  • Poker room: No
  • Year opened: 1993
  • Owner: Gaming and Leisure Properties

This riverboat casino is located near the Mississippi River in East St. Louis. It is just across the river from St. Louis, so it attracts players from Illinois and Missouri. The gaming floor floats on a basin filled with 340,000 gallons of water to comply with state law.

  • Number of slots: 1,100
  • Number of table games: 36
  • Poker room: Yes
  • Year opened: 1994
  • Owner: Caesars Entertainment

This is one of three riverboat casinos owned by Caesars Entertainment in Illinois, along with Harrah’s Joliet and Harrah’s Metropolis. Grand Victoria Casino is located in Elgin, and it is one of the largest casinos in Chicagoland.

Why you should choose legal options in Illinois

Legal casino sites such as WOW Vegas, Hello Millions, and High 5 Casino must adhere to strict regulations laid down by U.S. authorities. They comply with Illinois sweepstakes laws and various federal laws, which are designed to protect consumers and promote security.

That is not the case at unregulated casinos. These sites are not authorized to operate in the United States, but they still try to target players in Illinois.

Unregulated offshore casinos cannot be trusted to treat players fairly or pay out when you win, as they do not fall under the jurisdiction of Illinois or federal authorities. No American agencies have tested their games for accuracy and fairness, and you have no legal recourse if they scam you, so it is best to stick to legal online casino options like WOW Vegas, Chumba Casino, Carnival Citi, and Pulsz instead.

Online casino payment options in Illinois

You will be able to make deposits and withdrawals via a range of secure payment methods if online casinos are legalized in Illinois. In the meantime, you can use social and sweepstakes casino sites. They allow you to buy coins, and you can also redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes.

Credit Cards icon

Credit Cards

You can buy additional Gold Coins via a credit card at online casinos in Illinois. Most accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Credit Card Casinos
Skrill icon

Skrill

Skrill is another widely available payment method at Illinois online casinos. You can use it to buy coins, and you can often redeem cash prizes via Skrill too.

Skrill Online Casinos

All Banking Options

Online bank transfers and e-checks are also available at certain casino sites. If online casinos become legal, additional methods may include PayPal, Venmo, Play+, cash at the cage, wire transfers, and PayNearMe.

Online Casino Payment Methods

Responsible gambling in Illinois

The Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG) offers a range of responsible gambling resources. You can take a screener test to see if you are at risk of developing a gambling problem, and you will also find tips on how to gamble responsibly and information about addiction.

The IPCG also runs the statewide self-exclusion program. The site offers links to local and national services too, including Chicagoland Gamblers Anonymous and the Illinois Department of Human Services, which offers professional support for anyone with a gambling problem.

There is also an Illinois Alliance on Problem Gambling, which includes the ICPG, the Illinois Gaming Association, Illinois Lottery, Institute for Addiction Recovery, and various other agencies. It is designed to educate on the potential dangers of problem gambling, prevent underage play, and coordinate resources for Illinoisans.

Illinois Online Casinos FAQ

No, you cannot win real money at Illinois online casinos. However, you can redeem premium coins for cash prizes at certain sites. You will need to earn free premium coins, which are normally referred to as Sweeps Coins, and then successfully play them through before requesting a cash prize redemption.

Anyone aged 18 or older can buy lottery tickets, bet on horse races, enter fantasy sports contests, or play social casino games in Illinois. You need to be 21 or older to bet on sports or to visit a retail casino. If Illinois legalizes online casinos, the minimum age is likely to be 21.

You can play slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, video poker, and arcade-style games at sites like WOW Vegas, Pulsz, and Sweeptastic in Illinois. These games can be played for fun, and you can also play them with premium coins, which can potentially be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards.

There are 10 riverboat casinos in Illinois. The state also authorized six new commercial casinos in June 2019 via the Rebuild Illinois capital program. Some of the successful applicants have opened temporary casino venues, and they are gearing up to launch permanent casino resorts soon.

Bally’s Chicago plans to open in 2026. The company opened a temporary casino in the Medinah Temple in September 2023, but the permanent casino will be far larger. Bally’s Casino will have 3,500 slot machines, 173 table games, and a 500-room hotel, making it the largest casino in Illinois.

Yes, you need to pay state and federal income tax on gambling winnings in Illinois. You can deduct any wins from losses if you maintain a careful record. That means you will only be liable to pay tax if you end a particular year in profit from gambling activities.

Illinois casino players also liked

We listed the top five online casinos for Illinois players earlier, but there are lots of additional sites to consider. These are some of the other options that have proved popular in the Land of Lincoln.

Written by
Martin Green
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