Top Illinois Online Casinos for 2025
Updated: 2025
Illinois hasn’t always been the gambling-friendly state that it is today. In fact, for a time, many forms of gambling were completely banned here. Fortunately, most forms of gambling are now allowed in IL. Today, we’re going to explain how you can find the best Illinois casino sites currently out there.
Lawmakers in this state have been working to expand the casino industry. Laws are changing fast. We’re going over the specific set of land-based and online casino laws currently being implemented.
Before we get into the legal landscape, we’re going to look at some of the most important features of online casino websites. There are some easy ways to tell a bad one from a good one.
Some of you might want to skip over this information and get straight to the betting. No problem at all! Below are a few of the very best online casinos in Illinois right now. Check them out today!
| Rank | Gambling Site | Deposit Bonus | Get Started | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
|
250% Up To 6,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #2 |
|
VIP Program + 250 free spins | Visit Site | |
| #3 |
|
250% Up To 5,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #4 |
|
225% Up To 8,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #5 |
|
100% Up To 3,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #6 |
|
200% Up To 5,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #7 |
|
100% Up To 3,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #8 |
|
60% Up To 1,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #9 |
|
240% Up To 2,500 USD | Visit Site | |
| #10 |
|
100% Up To 1,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #11 |
|
200% Up To 5,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #12 |
|
280% Up To 14,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #13 |
|
100% Up To 500 USD | Visit Site | |
| #14 |
|
100% Up To 1,000 USD | Visit Site | |
| #15 |
|
100% Up To 8,000 USD | Visit Site | |
Illinois is home to one of the most passionate gambling fan bases in the country. Here’s everything you need to know about online casino gambling in this state!
What Are the Most Important Features to Look for in Illinois Casino Sites?
Are you new to online gambling? If so, you may have never actually visited a casino website before. Each one is different, yet the best ones all have some common features that you should look out for.
It should be easy to tell a good site from a bad one. Here are some of the features you’ll want to look out for.
Safe and Transparent Payment System
A safe payment system is without a doubt the first thing you’ll want to look for in a gambling website. You will want to ensure that the money you are gambling with is safe. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest things to look for.
It’s a good idea to check out these sites for yourself. All reputable online casino in Illinois will clearly list the details of their payment systems. It should be easy to find information on the available payment options.
You can also check out our gambling site reviews page. Here, we provide payment information for many of the best US casino sites currently operating. If we find anything shady, we’ll be the first to let you know about it.
We recommend that you join a site that allows you to make deposits using both debit and credit cards. The majority of Illinois online casinos only allow you to make withdrawals using Bitcoin. Make sure that you find a site offering you secure payment options every day of the week!
Helpful Customer Support Options
Customer support is another one of the most important features to look for in Illinois casino websites. Interestingly, it’s also one of the most overlooked. This is a shame, as the customer support options that an online casino offers are the only feature available to help answer your questions.
At the moment, Illinois does not regulate its online gambling market. This means that if you encounter an issue while gambling online, you will need to rely on the website that you play with to help you out. Make sure to play through online casino sites that are available to answer your questions 24/7.
The best customer service option today is a live chat feature. Direct phone line support is great, too. It’s best to stay away from Illinois online casino sites that only offer email support.
Casino Games That You Want to Play
Illinois is home to some fantastic land-based casinos. More people here are choosing to make their wagers online, though. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure that you join a casino site offering the exact casino games you want to play.
Most of the top Illinois casino sites operating today provide their members with a huge range of different gambling options. Some are known to focus on different games than others. You may find one website that sticks to online slot games and another that focuses solely on blackjack.
Spend some time finding a website that provides the exact games you want to play. Today, many online casinos in IL even offer fun, unique gambling options such as live dealer games!
Modern Design and User Interface
It’s fairly easy to tell a good site from a bad one based just on appearances. Online casino sites in Illinois operating today should provide their members with a clean, modern design. Unfortunately, this is another feature that’s often overlooked.
Some individuals new to online gambling sign up to sites simply because they enjoy the games being offered. This is not recommended. The way that these websites are designed will actually affect your entire gambling experience.
Make sure that you join Illinois online casinos that don’t crash. It should also be extremely easy to navigate through these sites and place wagers. More than anything, ensure that the site you join offers a design that you like!
Are Online Casino in Illinois More Popular Than Land-Based Casinos?
Not necessarily, yet they could be in time. Illinois is currently in the middle of significantly expanding its land-based casino market. Soon, several more casinos will begin operating here, including one inside Chicago.
There’s no doubt that online casino gambling is growing extremely popular right now. Just about all of the best US casinos are now operating in this state.
It’s easy to tell why online casino gambling is growing so popular right now. Here are the two main reasons.
It’s the Most Convenient Option Available
One of the primary reasons why online casino gambling is growing so quickly around the entire country is the convenience of it. Making the trip to a local casino is enough to turn some people off. Casino sites in Illinois allow you to make wagers from anywhere in the state with an internet connection.
More casinos will soon begin opening up in this state. Despite this, people are choosing to play over the internet. Check out a few Illinois casino sites and you’ll see how amazing the convenience of online casino gambling really is!
The Massive Number of Different Gambling Options
Generally speaking, top Illinois casino sites offer even more wagering options than the best land-based casinos in the country. There are simply more ways to bet online. It’s not uncommon to find online casinos offering hundreds of different games every single day.
Many also love the unique wagering options that you often cannot find inside traditional casinos. There are more slot games and fun table games able to fit a wide range of different budgets.
Do Casino Sites in IL Offer Online Poker?
Almost all of them do, yes! Online poker gambling is growing just as quickly as other forms of online casino gambling. In some cases, online poker is growing even more popular!
Many of the best online casino sites in Illinois even put on major online poker tournaments. Sometimes, these tournaments can offer massive payouts to the winners. Feel free to take a look at some of the Illinois casino sites we list at the top of this page, they all offer fun poker gambling options!
List of Land-Based Casinos in Illinois
Illinois has a successful land-based casino industry. There are many casinos in this state, some of which are more popular than others. Soon, five more gambling venues will become available here.
Below are the names and locations of the best casinos currently available.
- Arlington Park: Arlington Heights
- Jumer’s Casino Rock Island: Rock Island
- Harrah’s Metropolis: Metropolis
- Harrah’s Joliet Casino: Joliet
- Rivers Casino: Des Plaines
Residents and tourists in IL have some great options to place wagers inside brick-and-mortar gambling venues. If you’re nearby any of the above cities, make sure to check out these casinos!
Is Online Casino Gambling in Illinois Lawful?
Illinois has a large and complex set of gambling laws. The history of gambling here goes back to the 1800s, yet lawmakers have recently begun to change regulations towards the gambling industry. Today, gambling in this state is defined as the following:
“A game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value.”
Unfortunately, lawmakers here seem to be against the online gambling industry.
“‘Video gaming terminal’ means any electronic video game machine that, upon insertion of cash, electronic cards or vouchers, or any combination thereof, is available to play or simulate the play of a video game, including but not limited to video poker, line up, and blackjack, as authorized by the Board utilizing a video display and microprocessors in which the player may receive free games or credits that can be redeemed for cash. The term does not include a machine that directly dispenses coins, cash, or tokens or is for amusement purposes only.”
In 2012, lawmakers nearly approved a bill to make various forms of online gambling legal. The next year, a similar bill was nearly approved as well. Unfortunately, both failed to make it through the House and Senate floors.
One section of the state’s laws does claim that making wagers over the internet is prohibited.
“ …knowingly establishes, maintains, or operates an Internet site that permits a person to play a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value by means of the Internet or to make a wager upon the result of any game, contest, political nomination, appointment, or election by means of the Internet.”
Will I Be Prosecuted for Gambling Through Legal Online Casinos in Illinois?
It’s extremely unlikely. Lawmakers seem much more concerned about cracking down casino site operators rather than individual bettors. We have not come across a single case of any individuals here facing legal trouble for playing at online casino sites.
*We are not lawyers and always recommend that you abide by your state’s laws. Feel free to contact a law professional for a more in-depth description of the current land-based and online gambling laws here.*
How Can I Stay Safe Playing Casino Games Online in Illinois?
It’s okay to be concerned about safety when first getting into online gambling. It’s still fairly new, and many individuals are unaware of exactly how it works. Fortunately, staying safe playing at IL online casinos is extremely easy.
There’s a very good chance you’ll never encounter an issue while gambling online. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind.
Only Play Through Reputable Illinois Online Casinos
The easiest way to stay completely safe while gambling online is to only play through reputable sites. As long as you do this, there’s a very good chance you will never encounter an issue. Good online casinos will work hard to make sure you have the best experience possible.
Keep Track of How Much Money You Are Spending
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when first getting into online gambling is wagering too much money all at once. It’s an easy mistake to make; online gambling is just so fun! We recommend that you track exactly how much money you are spending at Illinois casino sites. If you realize that you’re betting too much, take a break for a little while!
Reach out to Customer Support for Help
As we’ve already mentioned, customer support is one of the best tools that online casinos offer right now. Make sure that if you ever encounter an issue while gambling online, you’re willing to ask for help. It will save you from any headaches in the future.
Only Wager on Games That You Understand
Another common mistake that individuals make when gambling online is playing games they’re unfamiliar with. With so many different games available at Illinois casino sites, this can be extremely tempting. It’s usually not a great idea, though. We recommend that you only place wagers on games that you know and understand.
Keep Your Betting Account Information Private
Always think of your betting account like a bank account. It’s important to realize that anyone with access to this account information can collect your winnings without you knowing about it. Never give out this information, and change your betting account password from time to time.
FAQ on Online Casino Gambling in IL
How Much Money Can I Win Playing at Illinois Casino Sites?
The sky’s the limit. Almost none of the best Illinois casino sites set limits on exactly how much their players can win. Generally speaking, the more you bet, the more money you can win. It’s that simple!
What Are the Most Popular Online Casinos in IL Right Now?
There are many amazing casino websites operating in this state right now. Most of them are fantastic. At the moment, the most popular are MyBookie.ag and Cherry Gold Casino. Feel free to check them out today.
Is Online Casino Gambling Easier Than Land-Based Gambling?
Not necessarily. The actual wagering process at Illinois casino sites is just about the same. When it comes to convenience, however, online casino gambling is significantly easier. It allows you to play and bet money on your favorite games from anywhere in the state with an internet connection.
Will Illinois Lawmakers Ever Choose to Regulate Online Casinos?
That remains to be seen. There have been several attempts to regulate the state’s online casino industry, yet none of them have been successful. These attempts were years ago. Many believe that soon, this form of wagering will finally become regulated and monitored by state officials.
Why Should I Play at Casino Sites in Illinois?
The choice to gamble or not is always yours. Most agree that online casino gambling is significantly more convenient and offers more gambling options than land-based casinos. If you enjoy gambling, these Illinois casino sites are probably right up your alley.
Conclusion on Illinois Online Casinos
Illinois wasn’t always considered the most gambling-friendly state in the country. Recently, however, there’s been a push to expand the number of gambling options here. It seems likely that, in time, lawmakers in this state will choose to regulate online casino gambling.
Fortunately, there are some incredible online casino sites in Illinois. The Illinois casino sites that we recommend at the top of the page are all fantastic.
Feel free to follow our industry news page for more updates to gambling law changes around the country.
Good luck with your bets!
