Im in Peoria, Illinois, where would be the closest casino I could travel to and be able to play in a good $1/$2 cash game. Is Michigan my closest/best option?? Illinois is ALL 21+
He may want to practice playing playing live as that happens to be the origins of poker.
Anyways try your local universities, if you're near University of Illinois @ Urbana I know they have a huge active poker league.
If you can drive to east Windsor which is north of Michigan the gambling and drinking age is 18. goodluck on your search, I recommend google ;D
I live in davenport/ quad cities. Maybe 1.5 hours from peoria. I stopped by meskwaki casino in Iowa its an indian casino and i saw a sign there that said 18 year olds can play poker. (they cant gamble in the casino though) Being 28 i never looked into it. So check it out online im sure it says something there. Meskwaki is about 2 hours from davenport so still a drive for you either way.