Best Real Money Online Casinos Illinois 2023 – Compare IL Online Casino Sites & Claim $13,000+ In Welcome Bonuses

From Bloomington to Chicago, Illinois, with its riverboat casinos, has always been a popular haven for gamblers – but is gambling legal in Illinois? Yes, Illinois is a gambling-friendly state with a good choice of both land and river-based casinos and an ever-growing number of online casino sites and betting apps.

Online gambling has increased in the state because gamblers leverage offshore online casinos. In this guide, we present, a list of the best Illinois online casinos ranked by bonus, variety of games, software providers, customer service, and safety.

Best Online Casinos in Illinois

Best Illinois Casinos

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Latest News on Casino Legislation in Illinois

Illinois gambling rules and regulations date back to the 1920s when they were first developed to allow for the legalization of horse racing. Multiple lotteries have since been permitted along with the Riverboat Gambling Act of 1990.

This act made it permissible to operate commercial casinos on boats outside Lake Michigan and in counties with more than three million population. There is no doubt that the gambling legislation in Illinois has an extensive history, but listed below are the latest developments you should know about.

• October 21, 2022 – According to reports, Caesars Entertainment Incorporated spent almost $4 million renovating its riverboat Grand Victoria Casino Elgin facility in Illinois.
• October 18, 2022 – Bally’s Corporation has signed multi-project agreements with two construction labor unions in preparation for its upcoming $1.7 billion Bally’s Chicago complex in Illinois.
• May 24, 2022 – Illinois governing body reject the temporary Golden Nuggets Restraining Order that would have stopped the city of Danville from completing the Golden Nugget Danville Property Project.
• May 24, 2022 – Bally Chicago’s casino plans approved by the Special City Counsel. The committee consists of hand-picked chairs by the Mayor.
• May 6, 2022 – The Mayor of Illinois selects Bally as a new casino license holder in the city.
• March 11, 2022 – Preliminary approval was provided by Illinois regulators for Golden Nugget Danville.
• March 4, 2022 – PointsBet ink a deal with NBC Sports Chicago and Philadelphia to ensure a live-game sports experience for its customers.
• January 11, 2022 – Illinois accomplishes a record-breaking sports revenue of over $78 million since its legalization in 2020.
• December 21, 2021 – Illinois racing board rejects operation requests made by Arlington International Racecourse to expand into the state.
• December 8, 2021 – The sports betting proposition made by Chicago stalls because of the opposition that rose due to low rates.
• November 9, 2021 – It was recorded that the Illinois sports betting handle settled for under $60o million for the month of September.
• July 22, 2021 – The city-wide prohibition made on sports betting in Chicago was under consideration to be lifted by the politicians.
• June 23, 2021 – Chicago Bears partner with BetsRiver.com. The deal was to become the official sportsbook franchisee for the NFL team.
• August 26, 2020: First mobile betting apps launched.
• June 19, 2019: The first legal sports bets are taken at Rivers Casino.
• March 2019: Online sports betting in Illinois becomes legal.
• 2009: Local bars and venues allowed to host Illinois Lottery terminals.

The Best Illinois Online Casinos List 2023

We’ve looked at dozens of online Illinois Casinos to bring you the 10 top online casinos in Illinois for 2023. Keep scrolling as we will review our top 5 Illinois online casinos in more detail further below…

1. Wild Casino – Best overall online casino for blackjack
2. TG.Casino – Exclusively available on Telegram
3. Bovada – Best real money online casino in Illinois for crypto bonuses
4. Everygame – Home of some of the biggest jackpots
5. BetOnline – The best virtual casino experience
6. BetUS – Best Illinois live dealer casino
7. Slots LV – Best Illinois online casino for live dealer games
8. Lucky Block – Quick registration with no KYC hassle
9. Super Slots – Clean design with the best user interface
10. Lucky Creek – Best for poker tournaments

Best Real Money IL Online Casino Sites Reviewed

Now that you’ve seen our list of the 10 best online casinos in Illinois, let’s dig in with reviews of our top 6 picks and their advantages.

1. Wild Casino – Best Real Money Online Casino in Illinois for Blackjack

Wild Casino has a jungle theme and is a relatively new online casino owned by the same company behind the major BetOnline and SportsBetting.ag sites. These brands have a long history in the online gambling industry and can be relied upon to provide a safe and secure casino environment.

Wild Casino majors in blackjack offering 11 different blackjack tables with all the variants. You can also play roulette, keno, craps, baccarat and video poker here too.

The selection of live dealer games, with the software provided by Betsoft & Nucleus Gaming, is particularly impressive. It’s split into two live casino lobbies called Red and Black. The red section has 6 live games running 24/7 and the black section has over ten tables for poker, roulette and baccarat.

There is a fantastic welcome bonus available up to a maximum of $5,000 based on your first 5 deposits. The first is a 250% deposit bonus up to $1,000 so you only need to deposit $400 to claim the full bonus. This can be followed by a further 4 deposit bonuses of 100% up to $1,000. These bonuses come with a 35x wagering requirement so you’ll have to be prepared to play for some time if you go large.

There are 15 different deposit methods ranging from Visa & Mastercard to cryptocurrencies and money order. The minimum deposit is $20 and you will need to use the promo code WILD250 when depositing to claim the first bonus and WILD100 for any subsequent bonuses.

2. TG.Casino – Exclusively available on Telegram

TG Casino is a crypto gambling platform available on Telegram. New players to the site can claim the house welcome offer, which is an instant 200% deposit bonus of up to 10 ETH. 

If you are interested in table games, but also play top notch slots sometimes, TG Casino is for you. Here you will find dozens of virtual blackjack and roulette games. TG Casino currently hosts over 300 games from 50+ game software suppliers. 

TG Casino’s games library might be impressive, but we particularly like how they handle payments. Full crypto support is the only way to describe it. You can also use TG casino tokens to settle your affairs. 

Transactions are processed quicker here too. Who doesn’t want instant pay outs when playing online? Furthermore, no transaction fees apply when depositing or withdrawing crypto.

3. Bovada Casino – Best Online Casino for Bonuses & Promotions

Bovada is one of the top dogs when it comes to reputable offshore betting companies and is available to bettors in many states including Illinois. It is also one of the best online casinos in Arizona.

They are one of the best gambling sites in Illinois when it comes to player bonuses with very generous welcome offers.

During our Bovada online casino review, we noticed there was a new customer deposit bonus of up to $1,000 with 25x wagering, allowing you to try out some of their 300+ slots and classic casino games. Use code CAWELCOME100 when depositing to claim.

The good news is you can claim this welcome bonus offer up to three times! Therefore, with your initial three deposits, you can get up to $3,000 in new player bonuses.

You can claim even more deposit bonuses for using Bitcoin, with up to a maximum bonus of $3,750 available over your first three deposits. Use code BTCCWB1250 to claim your first Bovada Bitcoin welcome bonus of $1,250 today and use the Bovada code BTC2NDCWB for the second and third deposits for 2 further $1,250 bonuses.

4. Everygame – Best Online Casino in Illinois with Groundbreaking Bonuses

Everygame has been in existence since 2021 and it is now recognized as an excellent offshore online gambling site for players in the US, including Illinois. The casino has a generous $5,555 welcome package and an extensive collection of fan-favorite games.

Their library is filled with every kind of top casino game for players across 50 states in the US, including games like slots, progressive jackpots, roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, video poker, and more. Everygame has quickly established its stance in the online casino game market by ensuring players are satisfied with the quality of service offered.

Everygame also has a noteworthy payments system that supports over a dozen currencies including cryptocurrency. New players have access to get a 125% match bonus up to $1,000 alongside the initial deposit and receive a 150% match bonus on the second deposit, up to $1,500.

5. BetOnline Casino – Best for Virtual Casino Experience

BetOnline’s brand new, cutting-edge live virtual casino offers a wide range of table and card games such as Hold ‘Em, Keno, and Blackjack.

This online casino, which accepts all players of legal age from Illinois, is the first of its type, with cutting-edge visuals, regular Blackjack tournaments, and also offers cashback on gambling losses.

Every single month at the BetOnline casino there are $1,000,000 in Daily Tournaments prizes are up for grabs, including $35,000 every day! Everyone has a chance to win a piece of the pie with two daily free entry tournaments.

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More on gambling in Illinois…

Learn about all types of online gambling in Illinois our expert guides below:

• Illinois Sports Betting
• Illinois Online Poker
• Illinois Online Gambling
• Illinois Sports Betting Apps
• Illinois Sportsbook Promos
• Illinois Horse Racing
• Chicago Casinos
• Biloxi Casinos

Top Illinois Online Casinos – Bonus & Games Comparison

Let’s take a closer look and compare the best Illinois online casinos in terms of bonus offers, games, and more:

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How we Choose the Best Online Casinos in Illinois

Online casinos in Illinois build their reputations on far more than just the games you can play. Below are the factors which determine whether a site is good enough to make our list.

License

An online casino site based offshore must have a license in order to operate fairly and legally. This license shows that the site is being held to high standards, in order to ensure their consumers are getting fair results on their bets.

Games

The range and quality of casino games are how a site is judged by our experts. Slots games should be in high quantity across an online casino site, while there should be 3D versions of some games, and provably high RTPs. For table games, a range of experiences should be catered for over the tables offered.

Promotions

Bonuses and promotions always promise enormous boosts on your funds to begin with. As such, these are not how our writers rate this section. Instead, the existing customer bonuses, and terms and conditions, are viewed as more important.

Customer Support

Finally, a site should have professional and insightful customer support channels. Live chats, email forms and phone numbers should all be able to help with your queries in a timely fashion.

Key Facts About Online Gambling in Illinois

• Online casino sites are illegal in Illinois. This means that the only sites where players in the state can sign up are based offshore.
• Offshore casino sites possess licenses from relevant jurisdictions to ensure that you are playing on a reputable site.
• You must be over the age of 21 in order to gamble on offshore casino sites. if you are under 21, then you will be breaking the law if yo attempt to do so.

Illinois Online Casinos Comparison – Payment Methods

Next we will examine the various payment methods available at each of our top 5 casinos along with information on payout times and any transaction fees.

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What Games Can You Play at an IL Online Casino?

Most modern online casinos in Illinois provide all the games you would expect to find at your local retail casino and a lot more besides! In this next section, we will look at the types of games available to Illinois gamblers and the best places to find them.

Blackjack

If you enjoy playing Blackjack then you will want a casino with plenty of variety and live dealer games for that real-life casino experience. After checking out the best Illinois online casinos, Wild Casino came out on top for Blackjack.

They have 11 different blackjack tables covering popular variants such as Pirate 21, Super 21, and Multi-Hand Blackjack. The are also several live dealer varieties available 24/7 which include Baltic Blackjack and Russian Blackjack.

Roulette

Another long-running and popular casino came is Roulette. Nothing gets casino players more excited than the sound of a ball spinning around a roulette table.

You will find roulette available at all online casinos but Wild Casino really stands out for roulette fans. They offer 32 different roulette games with 15 of them available to play live.

Poker

Many new players prefer to play online poker over other games and you’ll have no problem finding a real money poker game at Illinois online casinos. Most of the casinos we reviewed offer 3-card poker, Texas Hold’em, and video poker but online casinos such as BetOnline Casino even offer live poker tournaments with cash prizes.

There are also other poker-inspired table games at Everygame including Caribbean Hold’Em, Caribbean Stud, Tri Card Poker, Let ‘Em Ride, and Pai Gow Poker; each game offers a unique spin on traditional table poker.

Baccarat

Baccarat is also well covered at most online casinos in Illinois. At some of the better gambling sites, you will be able to find different versions of the game, including live dealer options.

One such option can be found at Wild Casino which also happens to have the best bonus you’ll find at any Baccarat online casino. It consists of a 250% first time deposit match up to $1,000 and subsequent matches up to $5,000

Other Casino Games

In addition to the staple casino games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker, there are many other kinds of online casino games that can be found in online casinos in IL. These include:

• Craps
• Keno
• Bingo
• Roll the dice
• Spin the wheel
• Monopoly Live

Playing Live Dealer Games at Illinois Casinos Online

If you want to add a bit of realism to your online casino experience there are always plenty of live dealer games to choose from 24/7 with live dealers and croupiers happy to take your chips with a smile, available to play in the comfort of your own home.

Live dealer games are one of the most popular games to play amongst casino players in Illinois. Bettors can watch the croupier’s every move and avoid the traditional RNG (Random Number Generator) normally associated with these online casino games.

During our review of the best live online casinos in Illinois we found that Wild Casino offered the most live dealer games available including the following varieties:

• Blackjack VIP
• European Blackjack
• Casino Hold ‘em
• American Roulette
• European Roulette
• Baltic Blackjack
• Russian Blackjack

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The Best Online Casino Bonuses in IL

Online casino bonuses in Illinois offer new and existing players substantial benefits to play with extra funds. These come in a few different forms on these casino sites, as outlined below.

Match Deposit Bonus

Match deposit bonuses are those where the house matches your first deposit by a specific percentage, so that you can play with free funds and earn the same winnings on an online casino site in Illinois. For example, you could get a 100% match up to $1,000.

No Deposit Bonus

Usually, a no deposit bonus will be worth in the region of $20, but will not be a match on any deposit. All you need to do is opt in to this type of bonus to gain extra credits which can be used on any games you like, subject to terms and conditions.

Free Spins

When you gain free spins on an Illinois online casino, these must only be used on slot machines. Often, these will require you to play a specific game, although you can win exactly the same amounts on a free spin as you would on one with your own funds.

How to Play at a Real Money Online Casino Illinois

There are no special steps required to play casino games in Illinois. All players in Illinois must be at least the legal betting age which in the United States is usually 21 or older. To play at an online casino in Illinois, simply follow the simple instructions below. For our example we will Wild Casino:

Step 1: Register

To make a new online casino account, go to the Wild Casino homepage and select the “Join Now” option.

Step 2: Verify Your Account

Once you fill out the online sign-up form with the following details you will need to verify the account:

• A valid email address
• Country
• Zip code
• Phone number
• Date of birth

Step 3: Make a Deposit

Make your first deposit using the available methods at Wild Casino. Here is a good opportunity for you to enter any promo codes you may have to qualify for a welcome bonus.

In the case of Wild Casino, the promo code to use is WILD1. Payment methods available at Wild Casino include:

• MasterCard
• Visa
• BitCoin
• American Express

Step 4: Place a Bet

You can now place your bet on any game you want to play. Choose between table games like blackjack, roulette, slots and baccarat or video poker for example.

Is Gambling in Illinois Legal?

Yes, gambling in Illinois is legal in person at licensed land-based casinos, riverboat casinos, and racetracks. 

There are also some legal online gambling options provided by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). But if you want to play actual online casino games for real cash then you will have to use one of the state-licensed betting sites or apps which require online registration in person at the relevant casino or racetrack partner.

A hassle-free option is to consider using the offshore online casinos we have presented that accept Illinois players such as Wild Casino or BetUS. With no in-person requirement, once you register and deposit, you can be playing games from your desktop or smartphone within minutes.

The Minimum Illinois Gambling Age

To gamble in Illinois, you must be at least 21 years of age. This applies to any land-based institutions, or offshore gambling sites.

Is Online Poker Legal in Illinois?

Online poker, as with online casinos, is illegal in Illinois. However, if you do wish to play competitive real money poker in Illinois, you can visit one of four licensed poker rooms.

Legal mobile betting apps in Illinois

Here are the current legal online casino apps in Illinois and their affiliated casino and racetrack partners shown in brackets…

• BetRivers (Rivers Casino)
• DraftKings (Casino Queen)
• FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing (Fairmount Park)
• Caesars, formerly William Hill (Grand Victoria)
• PointsBet (Hawthorne Racecourse)
• Barstool Sportsbook (Hollywood Casino Joliet)

And here are our recommended online casino apps which are offshore but available to players in Illinois and offer even better bonuses and promotions.

1. Wild Casino – Best app for blackjack
2. Lucky Block – Best Telegram based casino
3. BetUS – Best app for crypto deposits

History of Gambling in Illinois

Illinois’ riverboat casinos were initially legally required to move along the river when any gambling was taking place, but the law was changed in 1999 when riverboat casinos were allowed to be docked. All riverboats stopped cruising almost immediately and became permanent dockside casinos.

Players in Illinois are also permitted to use lottery terminals which are similar to slot games. These terminals can be found in over 5000 bars, restaurants, and other establishments all over Illinois.

• 1927: Illinois gambling legislation was created. The Illinois General Assembly allows pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing
• 1971: Bingo games legalized
• 1974: Illinois becomes the first to legislate a state lottery
• 1975: Illinois formally authorizes pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing. The Illinois Racing Board was established as a result of the action, which came with a complete set of regulations.
• 1990: The riverboat Gambling Act passed to allow casinos while cruising
• 1991: Illinois was the second state to legalize riverboat gambling, and the first boats became operational in 1991. The first riverboat casino in Illinois was named the Alton Belle, which was opened in Alton in September 1991.
• 1999: The Riverboat Gambling Act removes requirements for boats to cruise the river when gambling takes place.

Illinois gambling revenues

Gambling in Illinois is big business. Illinois came third in handling for the month of July 2021, behind only New Jersey and Nevada, and is second in total revenue, trailing only the Garden State. With over $3.6 billion wagered and $292.6 million in revenue, the Prairie State ranks third and second respectively in both categories for the year.

Future of Online Casinos in Illinois

Sports betting and land-based casino gambling are now legal in Illinois. Though this does not apply yet to online casinos within the state, which are still outlawed, this does mean that the state is further along the process than many others.

That is because online sports betting is usually the first form of online gambling proffered for legalization by state senates. As a result, online casinos may well be next on the bill, though there is not yet a timeline for when there may be an attempt to legalize them.

Land casinos in Illinois: Illinois Casino Locations

Are you interested in gambling in land casinos in Illinois instead? In the next section, we present the top land-based casinos in Illinois, their address, and their advantages.

Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet

Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436

The Hollywood Casino Joliet is one of the most modern and well-known casinos in the Chicago area.

Overlooking the Des Plaines River, the Hollywood Casino Joliet is a stunning art deco structure with cutting-edge slot machines and 18 gaming tables, 1,100 video slots as well as a retail sportsbook operated by Barstool Sports. It also boasts 100 luxurious hotel rooms and 80 RV sites.

Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino

Address: 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611

The Par-A-Dice Casino is one of the best casinos in Illinois and has around 200 luxury rooms and a five-star restaurant.

With 1000 slot machines, 25 poker tables, baccarat, roulette, and blackjack, there is also a friendly bar with live music for patrons to enjoy.

The FanDuel IL sportsbook is available if you want to place a sports wager within the casino.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines

Address: 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018

The hottest gaming activity in Chicago can probably be found at Rivers Casino. The most jackpot slots and the highest table game payouts can be found at Rivers Casino.

You won’t find a better gaming option in Illinois no matter what your game is.

If you’re a sports fan then the in-house BetRivers Sportsbook will cater to your every need with it comes to sports betting.

Harrah’s Casino Joliet

Address: 151 N. Joliet St., Joliet, IL 60432

The Harrah’s Joliet Casino is a riverboat casino on the Des Plaines River’s east bank and is one of Illinois’ most popular gaming facilities.

The casino has a total gaming area of 40,000 square feet and boasts over 600 video slots and 31 tables where you can play blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, and more interesting games are available.

You can stay in one of the 200 rooms at the hotel and dine in one of the casino’s many bars and restaurants. You must be at least 21 years old and have a valid ID.

Jumer’s Casino & Hotel Rock Island

Address: 777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island, Illinois 61264

Owned by Bally’s this award-winning Illinois casino has one giant gaming floor providing over 42,000 square feet of gaming space with over 1,000 slot and video poker machines, 24 table games, live-action poker, and a high-limit slot room.

It is one of Illinois’ most populated land-based casinos. In a poll conducted by the Quad-City Times, Jumer’s was rated the best casino in the Quad Cities.

Jumer’s has four restaurants, one bar, and a 205-room hotel on the grounds. It’s open seven days a week from 7 am to 5 am. To enter the casino area, visitors must be at least 21 years old.

List of land-based casinos in Illinois

Tribal Casinos in Illinois

Unlike most states, no tribes possess an Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)-recognized compact, so there are no tribal casinos based in Illinois. Given there are already plentiful options for land-based casinos in Illinois though, you will not be wanting for choice.

Land Based Casino vs IL Online Casino: Which one to choose?

Until fairly recently, if you wanted to legally gamble in Illinois it would usually involve a visit to one of its many riverboat and land-based casinos. But in the modern age of smartphones and Wifi, online casinos are now a very viable and enjoyable option in the Prairie State.

In Illinois, the majority of top land-based casinos are situated around the Chicago Bay area, so if you don’t want to travel or it’s simply too far away, using an online casino is the obvious and often better alternative. If you are a regular player, you can easily utilize multiple casinos to unlock more casino bonuses.

While you can never recreate the glamour of an actual visit to an Illinois casino or riverboat, online casinos are becoming more immersive with realistic smooth graphics, live dealers, and chat rooms.

Some online casinos such as BetOnline go even further providing full virtual casino experiences. Using an online casino in Illinois will also give you access to a lot more games than you will find at any regular, land-based casino in Illinois.

Illinois has yet to fully regulate all types of internet gambling but casino players from Illinois can still safely deposit and play for real money at offshore internet casinos. Internet gamblers playing at these sites are not prosecuted by law authorities though operating an online casino would be illegal.

Illinois Gambling Tax Rate

Illinois is one of nine states that has a flat tax on all gambling winnings/income – 4.95 percent in this case.

Conclusion: Best Real Money Online Casino Illinois

Casino gambling in Illinois mainly revolves around traditional riverboat casinos such as the Hollywood Casino Aurora and the Casino Queen. A much more convenient option is to use an online casino that accepts players from Illinois.

There are some legal online casino options in Illinois but you will have to use one of the state-licensed operators and complete your registration in person before you can start playing.

Our best overall pick is Wild Casino which offers a very generous 250% first time deposit match up to $1,000 + subsequent matches up to $5,000.

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Responsible Gambling in Illinois

Your online gambling experience will swiftly deteriorate if you do not gamble responsibly in Illinois. Make sure to keep within your limits sot that any winnings are enjoyable, and any losses manageable.

If you do find gambling becoming more stressful than fun, you can contact a variety of resources in Illinois. The NCPG (National Council on Problem Gambling) has a dedicated page for residents in Illinois, which provides a number of helpful resources to ensure your problem is aided.

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