Casino gambling in Illinois is primarily centered around riverboat casinos. Eleven casinos throughout the state offer players thousands of slots and hundreds of table games, including poker. Residents can also play what is known as lottery terminals, which play like slots and are available in thousands of restaurants and bars. In this guide, we cover all gambling options in the state, including Illinois sweepstakes casinos.
Online casino gambling is illegal in Illinois and those that play at offshore sites could face legal action. However, a recent gaming bill, SB-0007, could eventually help legalize online casinos in Illinois. It’s been a long process so far, with the last action on the proposal in the state legislature coming in May 2018.
Until online gambling in Illinois is launched, players can bet at one of the many Illinois online sweepstakes casinos where they can play for free and still have a chance to win real money. In addition, these gaming providers are not required to hold state licenses and operate as promotional sweepstakes sites, making them legal for players in 49 states.
Winning Real Money at Illinois Online Sweepstakes Casinos
Anyone 18 or older can play at Illinois online sweepstakes casinos using virtual coins for free. Players can enjoy their favorite casino games using gold coins, which have no monetary value. Sweeps coins are given to players as a bonus when purchasing gold coin packages and can be used to play casino games and redeemed for real money.
Like real money online casinos, sweepstakes casinos in Illinois provide many convenient methods to redeem sweeps coins for cash, such as secure e-wallets like Skrill, online banking, and electronic checks.
Illinois Sweepstakes Casino Bonuses
Illinois online sweepstakes casinos usually give players bonuses in free gold coins when first opening an account. Some also offer returning customers ongoing promotions for playing, such as daily log-in promotions, free spins, or free sweeps coins.
Illinois online sweepstakes casinos provide players with many of the following promotions:
- Sign-Up Bonuses
- No-Deposit Bonuses
- Daily Login Bonuses
- Free Spins
- Gold Coin Purchase Offers
- Social Media Bonus Offers
- Loyalty or VIP Programs
Are Illinois sweepstakes Casinos Safe and Legit?
Illinois online sweepstakes casinos must provide their customers the same level of safety as real money gaming providers regulated by the state. However, because sweepstakes casinos aren’t regulated, they must comply with U.S. sweepstakes laws and provide customers with a secure betting platform and a safe gaming environment.
Why should I trust legal sweepstakes casinos?
Online sweepstakes casinos must use the same promotional sweepstakes model to be permitted to operate in the U.S. Providers must protect customers using secure encryption technology for banking transactions and give all players a fair gaming environment. U.S. sweepstakes casinos must also provide timely payouts for customers when redeeming their sweeps coins for cash.
How do I get paid if I win?
Sweepstakes casino players in Illinois will find various methods to redeem their sweeps coins for cash. The most preferred cash-out method is the online banking feature—provided by the player’s bank—or electronic checks, which transfer cash directly into the player’s bank account. Many players also use a secure e-wallet like PayPal or Skrill, which is sometimes the fastest method to receive funds.
Illinois Sweepstakes Casinos Game Selection
Sweepstakes online casinos in Illinois provide many different games where bettors can play for free and win real money. The primary focus is online slots, but the choices at most sweepstakes casinos offer similar game libraries. The other games offered include roulette, blackjack, poker, bingo, sports betting, scratch-offs, and progressive jackpot slots.
Top Illinois Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casino fans in Illinois will find many choices online to play their favorite casino games. However, checking customer reviews is best to find the most reputable and trusted providers. These providers offer the safest and most trusted online sweepstakes casino experience in Illinois:
- Chumba Casino
- Luckyland Slots
- Pulsz Casino
- Global Poker
- Funzpoints Casino
- Fliff Sportsbook
- Fortune Coins Casino
Real Money Online Casinos in Illinois
According to Illinois gambling laws, online casino games are illegal in Illinois. While online sports betting generates millions in revenue for the state every month, there haven’t been any recent developments in the online casino debate. However, in February 2023, Illinois State Senator Christina Castro sponsored a bill to bring online casino gaming to Illinois.
Pari-mutuel horse racing is available in Illinois and is a popular activity at racetracks like Arlington Park. Illinois also offers a state lottery generating nearly $3 billion in yearly revenue. In addition, the online lottery launched gaming machines in 2012 that players can find at thousands of brick-and-mortar locations around the state.
There’s no timetable for when online casino gaming will be legal in Illinois. However, since the launch of Illinois online sports betting, players are hopeful that state legislators will soon address online casino gambling. The good news is that Illinois residents can still play their favorite casino games at one of the many legal online sweepstakes casinos.
Illinois Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal in Illinois for anyone 21 or older. Seven online Illinois sportsbooks are operational in the state, where bettors can play with and win real money. In addition, all major U.S. sports markets are available for wager, and players can find several top sports markets from Europe and other foreign countries.
Sports betting became legal in Illinois in June 2019, and the state legalized online wagering exactly one year later. There are 11 retail sportsbooks in the state, with several others planning to open soon. In addition, casinos and racetracks can apply for sports betting licenses, as well as sports venues with over 17,000 seats.
Some of the top sportsbooks in the U.S. are available in Illinois, like DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, and FanDuel. Players can also wager at Fliff Sportsbook, which operates under the promotional sweepstakes platform and is free to play. In addition, bettors can wager using virtual coins and redeem them for real money when they win wagers on their favorite sports.
Illinois Online Poker
State law in Illinois does not allow online poker. However, many unregulated online poker sites operate outside the country and don’t practice the same standards as legal online casinos. Also, because they’re not U.S.-based, verifying if they’re legitimate is sometimes difficult.
There has been momentum in the effort to legalize online poker in Illinois. State legislators included online poker in their online casino bills introduced in 2021. If online casinos are made legal in Illinois, chances are that online poker won’t be left behind.
These 2021 online casino bills failed to pass in the last legislative session, but legislators will undoubtedly debate the issue again in the future. However, poker players in Illinois can enjoy their favorite game at Global Poker. This online poker provider operates as a promotional sweepstakes site where players can win cash by playing against other poker players throughout the U.S.
Illinois Retail Casinos
There are 25 retail casinos in Illinois in 21 cities throughout the state. Players 21 or older can enjoy all their favorite games, such as slots, table games, poker, and sports betting. There are also nine riverboat casinos, which first began operating in 1991. The Illinois Gaming Board is the agency that regulates retail casinos and all gaming in Illinois.
These are the top retail casinos operating in Illinois:
Rivers Casino
Des Plaines, IL
Located in the north Chicago suburbs, Rivers Casino features over 1,400 slots at the two-level, 147,000-square-foot facility.
Wind Creek Chicago Southland
Chicago, IL
Owned by Wind Creek Hospitality, this venue opened in June 2022 and features 1,350 slots and 56 table games.
Hollywood Casino Joliet
Joliet, IL
The newly remodeled 50,000-square-foot casino floor has over 1,100 slots and video poker games.
Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino
East Peoria, IL
The top casino in central Illinois, the provider has over 1,100 slots, 21 table games, and a poker room with 5 tables.
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Aurora, IL
Located in downtown Aurora, there are over 1,100 slots and 21 table games, and 7 live poker tables.
Illinois Responsible Gaming
The state of Illinois makes many resources available for persons who may be struggling with problem gambling. These organizations provide people with the resources to help with compulsive gambling and protect themselves from risky betting practices.
The Illinois Gaming Board provides help for problem gamblers on its website, including rules regarding the state’s self-exclusion program. Players can also enroll in the Video Gaming Problem Gambling Registry System to receive information on problem gambling resources.
FAQs
Can I bet on the Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawks at sweepstakes sports betting sites in Illinois?
Yes. Players at Fliff Sportsbook can bet on all their favorite professional sports teams in Illinois online. The promotional sweepstakes site is free to play for anyone over 18, and players can win real money that can be transferred directly to their bank accounts.
Who regulates online gambling in Illinois?
The Illinois Gaming Board licenses and regulates online gambling throughout the state. It also oversees all retail casinos, riverboat casinos, racetracks, and poker rooms to ensure they comply with state law and provide players with a fair gaming environment. However, sweepstakes casinos aren’t licensed by the state and will not be subject to Illinois gaming laws.
How do I get paid when I win at Illinois sweepstakes casinos?
Illinois online sweepstakes casinos offer players several methods to redeem their sweeps coins for cash. Players can use secure e-wallets like Skrill and PayPal or have funds transferred to their bank account using online banking or electronic checks. PayPal is the fastest method, with funds sometimes available in 24 hours.
Is Funzpoints Casino available in Illinois?
Yes. Funzpoints Casino is available in most U.S. states, where bettors can play their favorite casino games for free, with no purchase necessary. The site offers over 50 slots and table games that users can play for free using gold coins. Players can also use sweeps coins, which they can use to play various games and redeem their winnings for cash.
Are sweepstakes casinos safe to gamble on?
While many online sweepstakes casinos are reputable and provide a safe gaming environment, just as many receive bad customer reviews due to their deceptive gaming practices. It’s always a good idea to read independent sweepstakes casino customer reviews to learn which ones are safe to play at.