Best Illinois Online Casinos 2024

Best Online Casinos in Illinois 2023

Best Online Casino Bonuses in Illinois

1. Sign Up Bonuses: Almost all sweepstakes casinos will offer new players a Sign Up Bonus. This is a set amount of free coins that are given to you just for creating a new account at their site. You don’t have to make a purchase of any kind to get these coins, and they can be used at any of the games on the site.

2. No Deposit Bonuses: There are other ways to cash in on free coins without having to make a purchase, and these are called No Deposit Bonuses. They come in various forms, such as simply logging into your account to playing a certain game on a certain day. Any way it’s designed, they give you free coins and/or the chance to play games with no risk at all.

3. Deposit Match Offers: If you do go to purchase additional coins at sweepstakes sites, you can usually qualify for a Deposit Match Offer. With this, the site will match the amount of coins that you are purchasing and give you even more, potentially providing you the opportunity to get twice as many coins are you’re purchasing for half the price, essentially.

4. Free Spins: Free Spins are a bonus that’s offered to allow players to try out new slot games or slot games that the sweepstakes site wants players to compete in. Instead of giving you free coins in your account, the site gives you a set number of spins at a particular slot machine. It doesn’t cost you anything to spin the reels, and you get to keep whatever you win from those spins.

5. Loyalty/VIP Programs: Most sweepstakes casino sites in Illinois will offer some form of Loyalty or VIP Program. With these, you are rewarded based on how much you play, how much you risk and which games you play. You earn points that you can accumulate over time and then cash in for swag, entrances into contests and even convert into coins to use at various games on the site.

Are Online Casinos Legal in Illinois?

As of right now, there are no Illinois online casinos that are legal. There has been some momentum toward legalizing online casinos, though, so there is hope that the law could change in the near future.

Illinois offers a wide selection of betting options that can be done in person. There are even online sportsbooks that are available to players in the state as well as an online lottery. In other words, the groundwork has already been laid for potential Illinois online casinos to be legalized at some point soon.

With nearby Michigan having a very thriving online gambling market, Illinois lawmakers may soon feel pressured to offer online casino gambling in their state so they can stay competitive.

Sweepstakes Casinos in Illinois

While there is no online casinos in Illinois right now, people can still enjoy playing at one of the many sweepstakes casinos that are available. Sweepstakes casinos work very similarly to online casinos, except that they don’t require people to risk real money in order to win real money.

Instead, these casinos use Coins as the currency on their sites rather than dollars. Many of these sites give Coins away for free to new players who sign up, and they also offer the option to purchase more Coins. These Coins are then used at the various games on the site, and they can eventually be converted to real dollars that can be withdrawn once you earn enough.

This means that, even though you can’t directly gamble at a legal Illinois online casino, you can get a similar experience at a sweepstakes casino.

The Future of Online Casinos in Illinois

Since casino gambling is available throughout the state, and since sportsbooks are even available online, it’s likely that online casinos could soon become legal in Illinois, too. Players are certainly hoping that this will happen sooner rather than later, possibly even as soon as when the new casino in Chicago opens.

Facts About Gambling in Illinois

• In Illinois, there are 11 different land-based casinos that currently operate. They are all commercial casinos, as the state doesn’t have any tribal casinos. While online sportsbooks are available, there is no option for online casino gambling just yet. 
• In 2022, Illinois had gross gaming revenue of $2.14 billion.
• In Illinois, the gambling industry is estimated to have an economic impact of $2.95 billion on the state as a whole.
• The gambling industry in Illinois supports a little more than 15,000 jobs.
• Illinois has a graduated percentage tax that’s applied to casino gross gaming revenues, based on annual adjusted gross receipts. It starts at 15% and goes as high as 50%.
• The Illinois Gaming Board is responsible for oversight of all legal gambling activities in the state.

Popular Casino Games in Illinois

• Blackjack: This is perhaps the most popular casino table card game that’s offered. Every player who sits at the table starts with two cards, as does the dealer. The goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going on, while beating the dealer’s hand. If you do, you will win whatever your bet is. It’s a popular game because it’s quick, involves strategy and has solid odds for players.
• Roulette: Players love roulette, a game in which you try to guess which number or color ball will land on when spun on a wheel. There are 38 different numbers to choose from, and each is either red, black or green. There are multiple wagering options in addition to just betting on individual numbers. The game is very fast-paced, and the payouts can be quite high, too.
• Craps: Craps is the game that many movies use to show how exciting casinos can be. That’s because the game is very communal, works very fast and has solid payouts and odds for players. It’s a dice game where players will bet on the different number combinations that can be rolled with the two dice. The goal is to keep rolling numbers other than 7 (in most cases).
• Slot machines: Land-based casinos were built on the backs of slot machines. Today, while these slot machine games look a lot different than they once did, they are still the most popular attraction for casinos. That’s because you don’t need to wager a lot to play, but can win big on them. They are also bright and flashy and are very easy to understand.
• Baccarat: Baccarat is a more complicated table card game, but it’s very popular as well. You will bet on either the Banker’s hand, the Player’s hand or a tie — and you are paid out based on which outcome happens. There are set rules that determine when the hands stay or take another card, and it can be a little complicated to understand at first. The goal is to get as close to a value of 9 as possible.
• Poker: Casinos offer multiple options to play poker. This includes table games such as Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker. It also includes video poker games that work like slot machines. And it includes separate poker rooms, where players will face off against each other rather than a dealer or the casino. All have their unique rules and features, but are based off the basic poker hand rules.

Land-based Casinos in Illinois

• Argosy Casino Alton. 1 Piasa Street, Alton, Illinois 62002. (800) 711-4263. This casino is actually a riverboat that’s permanently docked on the famed Mississippi River. You can play slot machines, table games and even wager at a sportsbook that’s all hosted on the boat. There is even a place for players to take a break and grab a bite to eat.
• Grand Victoria Casino Elgin. 250 South Grove Avenue, Elgin, Illinois 60120. (847) 468-7000. Another riverboat casino, this one is actually operated by Caesars Entertainment, one of the leading casino operators in the world. The casino is open 24 hours a day and offers more than 700 slot machines, 25 table games, a sportsbook and multiple restaurants.
• Harrah’s Metropolis Hotel & Casino. 100 East Front Street, Metropolis, Illinois 62960. (618) 524-2628. Another casino operated by Caesars Entertainment, this one is a full-blown hotel and casino property. The 24,000 square-foot gaming floor features 17 table games and more than 600 slot machines. There are 258 hotel rooms and multiple dining options as well.
• Hollywood Casino – Aurora. 1 West New York Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506. (630) 801-1234. You wouldn’t think you’d be able to get more than 1,000 slot machines and multiple table games on a riverboat casino, but that’s exactly what this one offers. There’s even a sportsbook to bet at and multiple restaurants that you can eat at as well.
• Jumer’s Casino & Hotel. 777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island, Illinois 61201. (309) 756-4600. This casino has more than 39,000 square feet of different entertainment options. That includes 25 table games, a live poker room, a separate room for high-limit slots and 850 other slot machines. There are plenty of dining options and entertainment as well, to go along with the hotel rooms.

Responsible Gambling in Illinois

• The Illinois Gaming Board is the agency that’s responsible for overseeing all gambling activites within the state. They offer licenses to both casino operators, racetrack casino operators and suppliers. The State Gaming Fund that collects the taxes from gambling supports spending on education in those communities.
• The National Problem Gambling Helpline offers support to people across the country who think they have an issue with gambling. They offer a direct and easy way to connect with professional help that is available to them over the phone, via a text message line and even web chat. All of these services are available 24/7 for free.
• The Illinois Council on Problem Gambling also offers support to people who are struggling with a gambling problem. In addition to direct support, the organization offers resources such as a problem gambling self-assessment, self-exclusion options and many other awareness documents. This helps people identify if they have a problem, and then find proper help if they believe they need it.

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