Many Illinois residents are interested in online casinos. The following page will take a look at some of the state laws governing casino games for Illinois residents, as well as show them some of the options for casino gaming we feel are best. It’s our obvious preference to play from the comfort of our own homes, as well as in the relatively safe environments our computers can offer. Still, how do we tell a safe online casino from an unsafe one? Hopefully, we’ll make all of that clear as we take a look at our very favorite legal online casinos for Illinois residents.
If you want the short answer so you can get right to the fun stuff, it’s simple: no.
For a longer answer, the most important thing to know is this. The Illinois authorities will not arrest you for merely participating in an online casino games. While there are several federal and state policies that are positively loaded with scare language concerning gambling be it land based or online, there is not a policy in place designed to attack otherwise honest citizens who merely place a wager on a casino game, and no one in Illinois has ever been charged as such.
All of the scary legalese you will read as it relates casino games in the state if Illinois relates solely to its facilitation. While it’s true that anyone who engaged in the business of operating casino games or taking bets would be in deep trouble both from the federal and state authorities, no player would be subject to these rules.
So, what good does it do Illinois players to play casino games legally if no one can legally operate them? The answer is not in the law book, but in the atlas. All the legal gambling sites accepting Illinois residents that we review on this page are located offshore and outside of US jurisdiction. The result is a hobby that Illinois players can legally participate in with a legal and legitimate offshore business.
Read More: Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Illinois?
While the prospect of gambling with any offshore business tends to make some Illinois residents sweat, there is truly no cause for alarm. Since these businesses operate legally, they are held to strict standards from both the laws of their native countries and the parameters of the international gaming commissions that endorse them. This means not only are all players in Illinois guaranteed safe and secure financial transactions, but that the casino software on all of these sites is legally obliged to provide certified fair play for all their users. This means you have all the security and advantages of gambling in a brick and mortar facility gambling from your own home, just so long as you stick to the legal Illinois casinos we’ve listed on this page!
Sometimes it’s so easy to get wrapped up in a casino’s software that you forget you’re playing from your own home, and you wonder why your waitress hasn’t brought you your shaken vodka martini until you realize you’ve been placing orders with your cat. Club world is one such casino. In this legal Illinois gambling site, users are simply one free download away from one of the most involved and complex casino experiences in the world, online or otherwise.
Which brings us back to your cat and that martini. It’s true that while enjoying all that Club World has to offer while you sit in sweatpants you can start to feel like you’re missing some of the benefits of gambling in a land-based casino. After all, most will offer free drinks or snacks to regular players. When you sign up at Club World, they may not be able to teach your cat how to make a Manhattan, but they can reward you with free casino chips and free play for every day of the week. Check out their promotions page, and see all the ways you can cash in free!
When it comes to online casinos for Illinois residents, there is a bunch of noise, and then there’s Lucky Red. Based in the UK, the legal gambling site draped in deep red tones offers much more than a stylish homepage – they offer lightning fast casino software, and the kind of quick service that players would come to expect from any high caliber retail site. When you become a member of Lucky Red, it’s almost as if a mere snap of your fingers can deliver your payouts to you.
Speaking of payouts, did you know that no Illinois online casino offers more options? Whether you prefer your money to arrive via an old-fashioned check through the US postal service or through an advanced method like an eWallet or Western Union transfer, Lucky Red covers all those bases and then some. What’s more, as often as once a month you can receive a check from Lucky Red with no fees attached whatsoever. When it comes to collecting what’s rightfully yours, no legal gambling site will take better care of you!
| Casino | Bonus | Software | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club World Casino | 100% up to $777 | RTG | Visit |
| Lucky Red Casino | 400% up to $4,000 | RTG | Visit |
| Slots.lv Casino | $5,000 Welcome Bonus | RTG | Visit |
| Aladdin's Gold Casino | 200% Unlimited | RTG | Visit |
| Manhattan Slots Casino | 100% up to $747 | RTG | Visit |
| High Noon Casino | 200% up to $2,000 | RTG | Visit |
| Bovada Casino | 8 Match Bonuses Worth $3,000 | RTG | Visit |
| BetOnline Casino | 100% up to $1,000 | RTG | Visit |
| All Star Slots Casino | 65% FREE Deposit Bonus x4 | RTG | Visit |
| SportsBetting Casino | 25% Casino Re-up Bonus | RTG | Visit |
Although Illinois is not really known as a gambling hub, there are a few sanctioned brick and mortar casinos scattered throughout the state. Due to an old law that stated all casinos had to be water based, most are found along the waterfront. Although Illinois residents lack a marquee sort of casino to give their gambling community any real identity, Harrah’s, perhaps the largest branch of casinos in the entire state does indeed have a shop that operates in Illinois. Still, due mainly to the inconvenient location of these casinos in relation to the size of the state, legal online casinos friendly to Illinois players have proven to be the more popular option.
As you can gather throughout this page, it’s easy to work with the state’s laws to find means to gamble legally. There is, however, one good way to toss all this goodwill aside: gambling underage. In order to avoid penalties like steep legal fines, community service, and even jail time, all Illinois residents must wait until they are at least 21 years of age before attempting to play any legal casino games.
We said at the very beginning that casino games in Illinois are overwhelmingly popular, but that most residents are unaware of how easy it can be to enjoy them legally. We hope that this page has at least helped to clear up what Illinois players’ rights are as they concern playing traditional casino games.
We also hope that you have found a few venues worth checking out. We are sure that any of the legal online casinos indexed on this page will provide you with excellent service. If you don’t feel like any of these sites are quite right for you, all we can urge you to do is please ensure that you do enough due diligence in selecting legal venues in which to gamble. Most of all enjoy your hobby responsibly – and have fun doing it.