Illinois Gambling Sites

Gambling has long been a subject of debate in Illinois, but so far there has been very little debate over the Illinois gambling sites. In fact, there is a large number of different online gambling sites that accept residents of Illinois, and we have made it a point to hunt these down and offer them to our readers. If you live in the state of Illinois, you are not going to be told that you cannot gamble online in the state. There are a few laws written in regards to preventing people from operating online gambling businesses in Illinois, but we presume this is not what you are here to do. We have compiled a list of the most important types of online gambling in the state of Illinois, all to provide our readers with a slight overview of how the online gambling industry works. Provided you do not attempt to start an online gambling website out of Illinois, you should have nothing to worry about.

Is online gambling legal in Illinois?

Illinois features some of the most diverse gambling options available legally to U.S. citizens, including riverboat casinos, which are highly enjoyable, and more than 9 land-based gambling facilities. The state government reaps the benefit with a tax rate as high as any in the country applied to revenues earned by these facilities. But the internet has not made its way into Illinois law.

Players in Illinois still enjoy many of their favorite gambling hobbies online. Sites that operate in countries other than the U.S. open their virtual doors to residents of Illinois, allowing them to enjoy slots, roulette, poker, table games and even sports betting, all in a legal, safe and secure manner. Illinois law regarding legal minimum age, in this case twenty-one, are strictly enforced by the state when visitors go to brick and mortar casinos or cruise vessels, and the online sites will do the same.

Reality Of Illinois Gambling Laws
In the state of Illinois, like most other states in the nation, there is a grey area in which offshore online gambling sites operate. For the most part, you have nothing to worry about if you are going to gamble online. There has never been an arrest of a private citizen over the Internet gambling industry. What you will find is that the online gambling industry is not regulated, nor are these sites licensed by the state or federal government. Illinois online gambling sites are established off shore, but they accept residents of the state of Illinois all the same. Provided you are above the legal gambling age in the state of Illinois, you should not encounter any trouble actually attempting to gamble over the Internet.
Illinois Gambling Laws
The gambling laws in Illinois have briefly glossed over the operation of online gambling sites. There are a few laws you will have to contend with, but these laws primarily deal with the operation, maintenance, and establishment of an online gambling site within the state. A list of the gambling laws in Illinois can be accessed online, and you should check these if you are uncertain whether or not what you want to do is illegal. We are not attorneys, we do not provide legal advice, nor can we tell you what is legal and what is illegal. We are simply here to inform you over the different gambling sites that will accept you if you live in the state of Illinois. Check with a lawyer if you are unsure about the law.
Types Of Legal Gambling Sites Accepting Illinois Residents
While you cannot walk down the street and find a full blown, resort style casino in Illinois, you can boot up your computer and find a long list of different online gambling sites accepting residents of Illinois that offer everything you would find in a live gambling center in Vegas. These types of gambling include Illinois sports gambling sites, Illinois casino gambling sites, and Illinois poker gambling sites. Some sites will offer all three, and these hybrid sites are generally amongst the best that we have found. No matter what kind of gambling you are looking for, you should find it through any of the Illinois gambling sites.
Illinois Legal Casino Sites
Online casinos have long been the main type of Illinois Internet gambling sites. These casinos combine everything that you would find in a casino's gaming floor, all without the addition of all of the other people and complications that you may generally have to encounter. Online casino gambling is something that has been mired in confusion, primarily because some people expect casino gambling on the Internet to be dishonest or a rip off. The truth of the matter is that, while there are some casinos out there that are not to be trusted, the ones that we do provide are amongst the most impressive. We do not allow our players to join dishonest online casinos that cannot be trusted.
Lucky Red - Recommended Online Casino For Illinois Residents
Lucky Red CasinoLucky Red Casino is one casino that we have always enjoyed, as they are easily one of the most powerful and trusted of all casinos online. If you do not want to worry about any of the complications, then we recommend you join Lucky Red casino. We have never seen a player be displeased with this gaming center, as they make it a point to please their users. Lucky Red offers a 400% match bonus, which gives up to $4,000 in free cash to play with when you join. If you go into their gaming center you will see that VISA, MasterCard, wire transfers, prepaid cards and more can all be used to process deposits into the casino. Lucky Red is easily one of the most trusted gaming centers online, and we recommend them to both beginners and experts in online gambling.
Best Online Casinos For Illinois Residents
Online Casinos Deposit Bonuses Bonus Codes Software Visit
Lucky Red Slots Bonus: 400% - $4,000 LUCKYRED400 RTG VISIT
Club World Slots Bonus: 100% - $777 BIGSLOT RTG VISIT
Aladdin's Gold Slots Bonus: 200% - $2,000 No Code Needed RTG VISIT
Bovada Casino Slots Bonus: 100% - $500 (4x) SLOTS500 RTG VISIT
High Noon Slots Bonus: 200% - $2,000 HIGHNOON100 RTG VISIT
Slots.lv Slots Bonus: 200% - $1,000 HELLOSLOTS200 RTG VISIT
Las Vegas USA Slots Bonus: 400% - $10,000 400BONUS RTG VISIT
BetOnline Slots Bonus: 100% - $1,000 SLOTS100 RTG VISIT
All Star Slots Slots Bonus: 100% - $787 ALLSTAR1 RTG VISIT
SportsBetting Slots Bonus: 100% - $1,000 100SLOTS RTG VISIT
Manhattan Slots Slots Bonus: 100% - $747 (2x) No Code Needed RTG VISIT
Legal Illinois Sports Betting Sites
The Illinois gambling sites that provide sports betting are also amongst the most popular. If you live in Illinois and want to bet on sports, you may do so through online sportsbooks. The Illinois online sports gambling sites provide players with the ability to wager on odds just as they would if they were in an sportsbook in Las Vegas. These sites are more legitimate than gangsters and organized criminals that offer sports betting to local residents. The safety of these sites are all inclusive, and they provide you with completely secured transactions.
Bovada Sportsbook - Bet On Bears, Cubs, White Sox, & More
Bovada SportsbookIf you are going to bet on sports, we recommend you do so through the sportsbook known as Bovada. Bovada's gambling site allows you to bet on sports running the entire gambit of events, be it a political events, sports competitions, and other things. Bovada has a 50% to $250 deposit waiting for new players, which can be collected on your first deposit. Bovada accepts VISA and Wire Transfers for deposits, which has made it simple to fund your account. Withdrawals can be processed through checks, which generally ship in less than two weeks time. Bovada is one of the most trusted online gambling sites for Illinois residents, which has a reputation of trust extending more than 15 years in the past.
Best Sports Betting Sites For Illinois Residents
Online Sportsbooks Bonuses Top Sports To Wager Visit
Bovada Sportsbook 50% Match To $250 NFL, College Football VISIT
BetOnline Sportsbook 25% To $1,000 - Every Deposit NFL, MLB, MMA, NHL VISIT
SportsBetting Sportsbook 25% To $1,000 Match NFL, College Basketball VISIT
5Dimes Sportsbook 50% To $250 Match College Sports, NBA, MLB VISIT
DSI Sportsbook 20% To $500 Match NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL VISIT
Legal Illinois Poker Sites
Poker fans who wish to have immediate, 24 hour access to the game will be able to do so through the Internet. The online poker industry has received a lot of flack over the years, and this is because some people are unsure of the lack of transparency found in the games. This means they prefer live gambling over digital gambling. We cannot recommend many poker sites because a lot of them are somewhat shady, so we recommend you stick only to our preferred poker rooms that are Illinois gambling sites.
Bovada Poker - Huge 100% match to $1,000 Deposit Bonus
Bovada PokerBovada poker is a website that has been operating for many years, and we can tell you that they provide their users with one of the most stable poker rooms on the Internet. Bovada's poker room is so generous that they offer a weekly $100,000 guarantee, and also a 100% match bonus, which is good for up to $1,000. Bovada poker uses wire transfers and VISA cards to process payments, which has simplified the whole affair. Bovada is one of the most trusted gambling sites online, and we recommend it to any player who is looking for their poker fix. They have stud games, hold 'em games and much more.
Best Online Poker Sites For Illinois Residents
Online Poker Rooms Deposit Bonuses Average Traffic Visit
Bovada Poker 100% Match Good To $1,000 12,000+ Players VISIT
BetOnline Poker 200% Match Good To $1,000 8,000+ Players VISIT
SportsBetting Poker 200% Match Good To $1,000 8,000+ Players VISIT
Illinois Gambling FAQ

Is it legal to gamble online in Illinois?

Only the act of operating an online gambling site on U.S. soil is against the law, not the simple act of placing bets online. So long as Illinois residents use the services of an online gambling site located elsewhere they are not committing any crime.

What is the legal gambling age for Illinois residents?

The legal gambling age for Illinois residents in online casinos is 21. Some online gambling sites may have their own age restrictions so be sure to check the rules for each site that you are visiting.

Is online poker any different from live poker?

Other than the fact that you will not be holding cards while you play, or that you can play with others at any hour of the day or night on demand, the game remains exactly the same as it is in person. Some players prefer not physically sitting next to others who may be studying their ‘tells’.

How often do Illinois online gambling sites pay their players?

These sites will pay you at your request. The amount of time it takes to receive your winnings is often dependent on the distance a check must travel from the location of the site you are using. Canadian sites often have Illinois residents paid in under two weeks.

Do online gambling sites offer rewards or VIP programs?

Yes, but instead of free drinks and hotel rooms, these sites instead offer you free money to keep you playing. Many incentives can have you playing quite a few free rounds of cards, slots or bets on sports. Clever gamblers can utilize ways to spend very little of their own money to increase the size of their bankroll.

Are these gambling websites based in the United States?

The sites that we recommend here are located in Canada, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Costa Rica and have been operating for years under their own stringent laws and regulations. Federal laws do not permit these businesses to establish physical operations inside the U.S. which is why any gambling website for Illinois residents that is considered safe is based offshore.

How can I make a deposit into an Illinois online gambling site?

Most sites accept major credit cards like Visa but will also offer options to make a deposit via bank wire transfer, money order or a check by courier. The process may require a verification of identity but is not too intrusive nor time consuming.

Do I need to report gambling winnings on my taxes?

As is the case with all earnings in the United States, you are expected to report all of your income to the IRS including winnings from gambling. You will not be monitored by the site, the government or anyone else for that matter and it is up to the player to report their winnings. In your annual tax return paperwork, there is even a special section for money that was won off of gambling winnings.

NOTE - We do not claim to be experts pertaining to the gambling laws in Illinois. All of the information provided on this site is from personal experience. It is recommended that you consult the Illinois Gambling Laws or consult an attorney if you are unsure on how much liability you will assume when playing at real money gambling sites.

Bet On Illinois Sports

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