Online Casinos Illinois
The following expert review aims to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the legal situation surrounding online casinos Illinois players might seek to enjoy. Currently, online gambling in Illinois is prohibited by law. Therefore, we will examine the reasons behind this decision and the specifics of online casino gaming in the US.
- Thorough Illinois gambling law research
- Complete expert overview of Illinois gambling laws
- Prospects facing online casinos in Illinois
- 0 Legal Online Casinos
- 10 Legal Land Based Casinos
- 10+ Legal Social Casinos
- 6 Legal Online Sportsbooks
- Illinois Gaming Board
- National Council on Problem Gambling
- 21+
Illinois Online Casinos – Current Gambling Laws in Illinois
With the advancement of digital technologies, Illinois gambling enthusiasts are naturally eyeing potential opportunities to wager online. However, Illinois online casinos are currently prohibited. While we hope this might change in the near future by changes in Illinois online gambling laws, at present, you might want to seek other similar entertainment formats allowed by the state’s laws.
While online casinos Illinois gamblers would like to enjoy are illegal at this point in time, you can still keep yourself updated about any upcoming changes in the IL gambling laws. In the meantime, the state of Illinois offers other opportunities to enjoy wagering, such as horserace betting, riverboat casinos, bingo, and raffles.
Online Gambling in Illinois Throughout the Years
Illinois laws on gambling were not always so rigorous. In fact, gaming for real money flourished in the 1880s, when riverboat casinos were very popular entertainment establishments. Later on, however, things began to change and regulation became stricter, ending up in Illinois online gambling laws prohibiting Internet-based wagering.
In the 1920s, a movement to restrict gambling began in Illinois. Nonetheless, in 1927 the state legalized horserace betting, and in 1974 it launched its lottery. Further, in 1999 the gambling became legal at riverboats while in dock, thus moving a step closer to land-based casino wagering. In 2009, Illinois also legalized video terminals gaming at certain locations.
Overview of Gambling History in America
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
- Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement
- West Virginia Lottery
- Michigan Gaming Control Board
The Effect of The Wire Act of 1961
The Wire Act of 1961 has served as an attempt to combat US organized crime. President John F. Kennedy signed it into law in September 1961, and – since then – gambling activities in America have been severely limited. The Illinois online gambling laws function in compliance with the current legislation, therefore Internet wagering is unavailable in this state.
Black Friday 2011
Black Friday is a term used to describe the events of April 15, 2011, when the US Department of Justice issued an indictment against America’s three largest online poker sites. Thus, thousands of US poker players suffered a severe hit. While the legalization of online gambling is a relatively new concept in America, hopefully in future there will be Illinois online casinos to cater to the needs of poker players.
The Most Popular Online Casino Games in the Legal States
Online Blackjack
Blackjack is an enticing card game that requires players to possess certain skills to win and would probably enjoy great interest at Illinois online casinos. However, as all similar entertainment formats, success also relies heavily on your luck. Thus, the state of Illinois treats it as a game of chance that is subjected to the relevant restrictions.
One of the most popular variations of online blackjack is Blackjack VIP. This game is designed for high rollers who seek lucrative rewards and high-end thrill. The setting also reflects its luxurious nature. If gambling restrictions change, this variation would probably become one of the most popular games of online blackjack in Illinois, but for now you can play it in other states like Nevada.
Online Roulette
Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world. Unfortunately, due to a series of political decisions, online Roulette is currently illegal in Illinois. However, recently there have been attempts to lift the ban on digital gambling. So, hopefully, there will soon be plenty of online casinos Illinois users can visit to try digital Roulette.
A popular version of this game is Speed Roulette, where it takes 25 seconds from spin to spin to complete a round. While it is still illegal to play online Roulette in Illinois, there are other states, such as Pennsylvania, where you can enjoy this fast-paced and quite entertaining game.
Online Slots
Online slots are some of the most popular online casino gaming formats. These entertaining machines attract millions of users, and we would be thrilled to see them featured at any potential Illinois online casinos in the future. Unfortunately, at present online slots for real money are illegal in the state since they are chance-based games.
Slots are extremely varied in nature depending on a lot of factors, such as game mechanics, reward type, and more. For example, Starburst is a classic 5-reel online slot, which offers simplistic yet exciting gameplay. It is a very popular machine in New Jersey and local players would probably also enjoy it a lot if online slots in Illinois were legal.
Online Poker
While poker is a very popular game, Illinois online gambling laws prohibit playing it online due to some outdated negative perceptions. However, recently there has been a shift in public opinion, and – hopefully – local fans will soon be able to access a variety of online gambling Illinois formats, including poker.
Texas Hold’em is a very popular poker variation. Lots of online poker Illinois admirers wish they could access it over the Internet, just like players in Delaware do, for example. It involves dealing 2-hole cards face down to each player and 5 community cards face up in 3 stages.
Land Based Casinos in Illinois
Hollywood Casino Aurora | 🍒 1,000+ slot machines, 🃏 N/A table games |
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Grand Victoria Casino – Elgin | 🍒 860 slot machines, 🃏 7 table games |
Harrah’s Joliet | 🍒 1,000+ slot machines, 🃏 N/A table games |
General Comparison of Real Money Land-Based and Online Casinos
Land-based and online casinos are pretty similar in terms of the gambling products they offer. For example, both types of establishments provide plenty of slot machines and live dealer tables. Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, and Craps are the prevalent games in both brick-and-mortar and digital casinos.
However, land-based casinos offer a rich social experience and allow you to have fun with friends or meet new people, whereas gambling websites primarily target individual players. Nonetheless, the latter offer convenient wagering on the go and it would be nice if fans of gambling in Illinois could access them.
The Future of Real Money Online Casinos in Illinois
The Future of Legal Online Gambling in Illinois
While the state has been pretty conservative on gambling activities in the past, lately there was a major turn in the Illinois online gambling laws. In 2019, the Illinois gaming expansion bill passed, thus opening an entire universe of wagering opportunities for both entrepreneurs and players alike.
Sports betting in Illinois has flourished, and recently the state ranked within the top 3 US sports betting markets. Riverboat casinos are now allowed to operate while in dock, and actual brick-and-mortar casinos have sprung up. There are a few major gambling establishment construction projects going on as well.
Online Gambling Illinois: No Legal Casino Sites at Present
FAQs About Online Gambling in Illinois
To fully complete our thorough guide to the potential the future holds for Illinois online casinos, we have compiled a detailed FAQ section below. Please feel free to browse through the questions to find answers on the most common topics of interest regarding the online gambling industry in the state.
Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos in Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming