Are Online Casinos Legal in Illinois?
We took a quick look at our guide that shows
what states online casinos are legal
in and found that Illinois was not on the list. However you can play casino games in-person at one of the many retail physical casinos in the Prairie State.
- Online casinos legal? No
- Retail casinos legal? Yes
- How many Illinois casinos are there? 16
- Legal gambling age: 21 years
- Last verified: February 27, 2025
- Best Illinois online casino: Stake.us
- Biggest casino bonus: Wow Vegas
- Best Illinois sweepstakes app: Stake.us
- Real money online casino games: No
- Social online casino games: Yes
- Gambling regulator: Illinois Gaming Board
Best Legal Online Casinos in Illinois
While you cannot legally use an Illinois real money online casino, you can use sweepstakes casinos instead. After all, they don’t feature real money gambling but let you play with virtual currencies. Here are five of the best of them:
| Sweepstakes casino | Welcome offer | Number of games |
| Real Prize | 125 Sweepstakes Coins, 625,000 Gold Coins and 1,250 VIP Points | 550+ |
| Stake.us | 55 Stake Cash, 260,000 Gold Coins and 5% rakeback | 1,400+ |
| High 5 Casino | 40 Sweeps Coins, 200 Game Coins and 100 Diamonds | 1,900+ |
| Clubs Casino | 100% purchase bonus, spend $20 and get 200,000 Gold Coins and 40 free Sweepstakes Coins | 800+ |
| Wow Vegas | 1,750,000 WOW Coins and 35 Sweepstake Coins | 1,200+ |
RealPrize - Hot new sweeps casino site
Pros and cons of RealPrize
- Excellent Daily login bonus of 5,000 GC and 0.30 SC
- Fast gift card redemptions often within 24 hours
- Quality sweepstakes casino games from top providers like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play
- Seven-tier VIP program with increasing rewards
- PayPal supported for purchases and redemptions
- Small game library of only 200+ titles
- Live chat support limited to higher VIP tiers
- No dedicated sweepstakes casino app
Visit Real Prize
This brand was only launched in 2024 but it’s legal in 45 states including Illinois. You can sign up here and get a welcome offer of 125 Sweepstakes Coins, 625,000 Gold Coins and 1,250 VIP Points and after that keep playing for free thanks to top deals like daily login bonuses and so on. There are over 550 quality slot games here including big-name titles from Pragmatic Play. Definitely worth a closer look.
Stake.us: Pros & Cons
- 1200+ casino games
- Safe and legit
- Cool promo deals
- Live chat support
Visit Stake.us
You can sign up to Stake.us from anywhere in Illinois using our exclusive PROMOBOY code and get a deal that gives you 55 Stake Cash, 260,000 Gold Coins and 5% rakeback. This can be used across over 1,400 casino games that includes slots, table games, scratchcards, live dealer games and those hugely popular Stake Originals. Plus you can even play via your mobile on the newly launched Stake.us app.
High 5 Casino - Top sweeps casino from legendary slot developer
High 5 Casino: Pros & Cons
- Generous welcome bonus package
- Over 1500 quality games available
- Free daily coin rewards
- Legit with multiple licenses
- Limited table game options
Visit High5Casino
High 5 doesn’t just make awesome slot games, it also has created a stunning sweepstakes casino. This is packed full of over 1,900 slot games and you’ll also find some quality live dealer table games here too. The whole thing kicks off with a welcome offer that gives you 40 Sweeps Coins, 200 Game Coins and 100 Diamonds and there’s also a good loyalty program. Just don’t forget to download the High 5 Casino app for an even easier way to play.
Clubs Casino - Another top sweeps casino in IL
Clubs Casino: Pros & Cons
- Fly through the registration process
- Unlock a huge welcome bonus
- Swift replies from support
- Fair limits attached to redemptions
- No way to access through an app
Visit Clubs Casino
This is another relatively new sweepstakes casino that is worth checking out. After all, Clubs Casino features over 800 casino games and these come from major developers like Pragmatic Play and Relax Gaming. Not only that, but you can sign up here and get a 100% purchase bonus that’ll start you off with 200,000 Gold Coins and 40 free Sweepstakes Coins. Plus there is a quality VIP program to keep existing customers interested.
WOW Vegas - The most glamorous sweeps casino on the market
WOW Vegas: Pros & Cons
- Sign-up bonus offer
- Over 1,000 casino games
- Plenty of rewards and incentives
- up to date software
Visit Wow Vegas
Not every sweeps casino has partnered up with Paris Hilton, but that’s exactly what Wow Vegas has done. As well as that, the site has boosted its already strong collection of over 1,200 slot games with some immersive live dealer games. The best thing is that you can start off here by getting a welcome offer of 1,750,000 WOW Coins and 35 Sweepstake Coins and then keep playing for free thanks to literally dozens of promos for existing customers.
Can You Win Real Money at Sweepstakes Casinos
You cannot directly win money at sweepstakes casinos. However, you can redeem cash prizes if you play through your Sweepstakes Coins the required amount of times and have the minimum amount in your verified account.
Do You Want to Learn More About Sweeps Casinos? Check Out Our Guides!
Best IllinoisCasino Apps
We’ve found a growing number of sweeps casinos in Illinois have released their own mobile apps. Here are the best of them:
| App name | App Store rating | Play Store rating | Number of games |
| Stake.us | 4.8 | No rating yet | 1,400+ |
| High 5 Casino | 4.6 | 4.2 | 1,900+ |
Online Casino Laws in Illinois
Online casinos aren’t legally allowed to operate in Illinois. The Illinois Gaming Board only permits in-person real money casino gaming at one of the licensed retail casino sites.
The only way that you are going to be able to legally play online casino games in Illinois is to use a sweepstakes casino. After all, these sites don’t feature real money gambling and therefore won’t require the same levels of regulation.
History of Casino Laws in the Illinois
Gambling in Illinois has been around since the 1800s where unlicensed riverboat casinos were in operation. There was also a boom in horse racing betting in the 1920s which led to the creation of the Illinois Racing Board to oversee operations at the state's three licensed racetracks.
Since then, there has been the establishment of the Illinois Lottery in 1974, while the first riverboat casinos were legally allowed to operate within the state in 1991. However, the biggest change came when online sports betting became legal in Illinois in 2019.
Are Real Money Online Casinos Going to Become Legal in Illinois Anytime Soon?
Hopes are high that Illinois could be one of the next states in the US to legalize online casino gaming. 2024 was two iGaming bills brought to the state's legislative session but it remains to be seen when these will be discussed and if they can successfully bring legal casino gaming to the Prairie State.
While you’d be wasting your time looking for the best real money online casino in Illinois at the moment, the Prairie State does offer some alternative forms of gambling. These include the following:
- Sports betting both online and in-person
- Horse racing betting
- The Illinois Lottery
Legal Gambling Age in Illinois
You will have to be at least 21 years old to gamble in Illinois. As such you will be expected to present some form of government-issued photo ID such as your passport or driver’s license to legally gamble in the Prairie State.
Do You Pay Taxes on Casino Winnings in Illinois
Yes, you will have to pay taxes on your net casino winnings over $5,000 in Illinois. The tax rate is set at 4.95%.
What Games Are Available at Illinois Casinos
Most sweepstakes casinos will have a similar range of games as those found at real-life online casinos. This means that you could expect to play slots, table games, live dealer games and many of the following popular games:
| Game name | RTP | Provider | Where to play |
| Crash | 99% | Stake Originals | Stake.us |
| Big Bass Return to the Races | 96.07% | Pragmatic Play | Real Prize |
| Dead, Dead or Deader | 96.09% | No Limit City | Wow Vegas |
Bonuses at Illinois Online Casinos
All
top US online casinos
have deals for new and existing customers and that extends to the sweeps casinos listed here. Take a look at just some of the types of deals you can get below:
- Welcome offer
- What you get for signing up to the casino site for the first time
- Daily login bonus
- Get free credit just for logging into your casino account everyday
- Social media offers
- Carry out simple tasks like sharing posts on the casino’s social media channels
Payment Methods at Casinos in Illinois
While you can always play at sweeps casinos for free, you will get the option to purchase one of the Gold Coins packages. Here are some of the most common payment methods for doing so:
| Payment method | Payment time | Redemption time | Fees |
| Credit and debit cards | Instant | Usually within 10 days | None |
| Ewallets | Usually instant | Usually within 10 days | None |
| Bank transfers | 2-3 working days | Usually within 10 days | None |
Retail Casinos in Illinois
You’ll find around a dozen retail casinos in Illinois and here are a few of them:
- Argosy Casino Alton Penn 1 Piasa St., Alton
- Bally’s Chicago Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago
- Casino Queen 200 Front St., East St Louis
- Grand Victoria Casino Elgin 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin
- Hollywood Casino Aurora Penn 1 W. New York St., Aurora
- Hollywood Casino Joliet Penn 777 Hollywood Blvd., Joliet
- Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino 21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria
- Rivers Casino Des Plaines 3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines
- Harrah’s Casino 100 E Front St., Metropolis
- Club Hawthorne Prospect Heights 1250 River Road, Prospect Heights
- Club Hawthorne Crestwood 13148 Rivercrest Drive, Crestwood
- Club Hawthorne at Crazy Pour 105 E. N Ave., Villa Park
- Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort 777 Walkers Bluff Way, Carterville
How We Rate the Best Online Casinos in Illinois
All sweeps casinos will have to impress us on the following criteria before we recommend them to you:
- Casino game selection: There should be hundreds of quality slots and table games on offer
- Promos for new and existing customers: These should be good value and easy to activate
- Customer support: Ideally available 24/7 via live chat, email and phone
- Security and legality: Legal in IL and capable of safeguarding your data and payments
- Clear terms and conditions: So that you know how to redeem Sweepstakes Coins for prizes
Responsible Gambling in Illinois
You should only ever use sweepstakes casinos in a way that is responsible and in control. If you feel like you need help, then visit a responsible gambling organization such as one of the following:
- National Council on Problem Gambling
- Illinois Council on Problem Gambling
Explore the Best Online Casinos in Other US States
We’ve got this entire resource dedicated to casino gaming in the US. Check out our guide to other states to see what the gaming laws are elsewhere. After all, there are seven states with legal real money online casino gaming and you’ll need to know what your options are.
Conclusion - Get ready to play at a sweepstakes online casino in Illinois
We’ve shown you that you cannot play at an Illinois online casino with real money but there is little stopping you from signing up to any of the sweepstakes casinos listed on this page. Not only are these sites legal all over the Prairie State, but they have lots of
no deposit casino bonuses
to keep you playing for free. So sign up to one of these sweeps casinos and start playing.
The social casino bonuses we recommend right now
1.
125 Sweepstakes Coins
+ 625K GC + 1250 VIP Points
2.
260K GC ,
55 SC
5% Rakeback
Wagering (WR): 3x
3.
57500 GC ,
27.5 SC
Wagering (WR): 1x Bonus
4.
150% Purchase Offer:
25 SC
FREE and 50K GC
5.
250 H5C ,
5 SC
600 Diamonds
Wagering (WR): 1x Bonus
Online casino Illinois FAQ
🎲 Can you play online casinos in Illinois?
You cannot use real money online casinos in Illinois, but you can use sweepstakes casinos like the ones listed in this guide.
🏆 What is the best real money casino in the USA?
It depends on what you are looking for, but brands like BetMGM and Caesars are pretty popular. Just note that real money online casino gaming is illegal in IL.
📱 Are there any Illinois casino apps?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us and High 5 Casino have their own mobile apps that you can download for free to your iOS or Android device.
