Not only are casinos in Illinois aplenty, but the state is also home to one of the oldest horse racing betting industries in the United States. So, there is a rich gambling industry in Illinois.
It was also the first state in the Midwest to introduce a state lottery and the first state in the country to allow online lottery ticket sales.
Overall, casinos in Illinois bring in an estimated $3.8 billion a year to the state, which translates to $1.1 billion in tax revenue. Find out more about gambling in Illinois below.
Best Online Casinos for Illinoisans
Casinos in Illinois Guide Contents
- Illinois Gambling Laws
- Online Casinos in Illinois
- Casinos in Illinois
- History of Casinos in Illinois
- Illinois Gambling FAQs
Illinois Gambling Laws
First, let’s take a look at Illinois gambling laws and how they define gambling. Illinois residents who gamble in an unlicensed establishment will be charged with a misdemeanor.
Any further convictions, and they’ll be convicted with a Class 4 felony. The minimum age you can bet at casinos in Illinois is 21. However, you only need to be 18 to play the lottery and bet on horses.
Find out about gambling in the USA.
How Illinois Defines Gambling
Casinos in Illinois are monitored and regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). Under Illinois state law, gambling is defined as “playing games of chance or skill for money or other things of value; wagering upon games, contests, or elections; owning or operating gambling devices.”
Which Types of Gambling are Legal?
The legal types of gambling in Illinois include:
- Pari-mutuel betting
- Charitable bingo
- State lottery
- Casino gaming
- Horse racing betting
Which Types of Gambling are Illegal?
The state made daily fantasy sports (DFS) illegal in 2015. However, DFS sites like FanDuel and DraftKings have not left the state yet. But it’s recommended you avoid DFS if you live in Illinois. When it comes to racing, it’s not specified whether dog racing is illegal.
Online Casinos in Illinois
The Illinois Lottery sells tickets online. You can buy tickets for the Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick 3, and Pick 4 games. Furthermore, you can buy subscriptions for 13, 26, or 52 weeks.
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Casinos in Illinois
Casinos in Illinois have a variety of casino games, including
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Horse racing
- Lottery
- Poker
- Slots
These types of games are legal in Illinois casinos, and finding a riverboat casino in the state that offers them isn’t difficult.
Illinois video poker law allows establishments like bars, restaurants, gas stations, and charitable organizations to offer video poker and slot machines. In the state, there are about 4,500 video gaming establishments and 18,000 machines.
List of Illinois Casinos
| Casino | Size | Address |
| Agrosy Casino – Alton | Slot machines Table games | 1 Piasa Street, IL |
| Casino Queen – East St. Louis | Slot machines | 200 South Front Street, IL |
| Grand Victoria Casino – Elgin | Slot machines Table games | 250 S. Grove Ave., IL |
| Harrah’s Casino – Joilet | Slot machines Table games | 151 N. Joilet Street, IL |
| Harrah’s Metropolis Casino | Slot machines Table games | 100 East Front Street, IL |
| Hollywood Casino – Aurora | Slot machines Table games | 49 W. Galena Blvd., IL |
| Jumer’s Casino – Rock Island | Slot machines Table games | 777 Jumer Drive, IL |
| Par-A-Dice Casino – East Peoria | Slot machines | 21 Blackjack Blvd., IL |
| Rivers Casino – Des Plaines | Slot machines Table games | 3000 S. River Road, IL |
History of Casinos in Illinois
Gambling in Illinois first began with horse racing betting in 1830. Then, in the 1840s, riverboat casinos in Illinois began appearing. However, when the Civil War happened, this temporarily ended gambling in the state.
In 1927, the revival of the horse racing industry in the state persuaded regulators to legalize it. Then, in 1974, the Illinois state lottery was launched. About 20 years later, the Riverboat Casino Act was created, and in 1990, ten licenses were approved.
The Act stipulated that casinos must be on the water. Also, no casino can be established in Cook County. This was done to protect the horse racing industry in Chicago. The clause where they have to go into the water every two hours was repealed in 1999.
In 2008, casinos in Illinois experienced an instant 20% drop in revenue after the state enacted the first-ever casino smoking ban. The industry is still struggling to recover after going smoke-free.
In 2012, Illinois video poker law was approved, allowing for a wide variety of slot machines and video poker machines to be offered.
Casinos in Illinois FAQs
Yes, gambling is legal in Illinois. You’ll find all games at casinos in Illinois except dog racing.
While they no longer have to go out to water every two hours, they have to be near a body of water. Interestingly, some casinos have translated this as building a casino over a shallow pit filled with a few inches of water.
The first type of gambling became legalized in 1927. Illinoisans could place pari-mutuel bets on horse races.
The minimum legal age is 21 years for casino and bar video poker. To play the lottery and races, you can be 18 years old.
They are generally taxed at a flat rate of 30%. Furthermore, they must be reported to the IRS.
There aren’t any casinos in Chicago, Illinois, because the state wants to protect its horse racing industry.
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