Gambling Laws In Illinois
In addition to the Illinois gambling laws, the federal government of the United States has a number of gaming-based laws which sweep all across the country, such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) that outlaw the business of gambling and facilitating bets. Neither on the state or federal level, these laws do not say that it is not legal for U.S. citizens, Illinois residents included, to place bets in-person or even online. These federal regulations leave plenty of room for states to create their own laws regarding gambling and Illinois is one such state that has a lengthy list of detailed statutes.
Sit back as IllinoisGamblingSites is going to inform those who living in the state of Illinois about their own state's regulations regarding gambling and where they may go to legally and safely place bets without fear of prosecution whether it be online or land-based. Included in this lesson will be the age required to gamble in Illinois, plus other little tidbits that readers may find interesting. With no time to spare, let's get started!
As the fifth most populous state in the union, Illinois has quite a bit of legislation on gambling to follow up the federal laws which govern the country. Gambling is illegal in the Land of Lincoln, minus some exceptions and state sanctioned instances. We recommend that everyone read up about Section 28-1 of the Illinois state code to get the full definition of what the State of Illinois considers to be 'gambling.'
In that section of the state's statutes, it is mentioned that there is indeed a large subsection which outlines the exceptions where gambling is permitted. In fact, there are 13 major exceptions with the most important for the average Illinois resident being #13 which states: “Games of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate.” This particular statement can give a little bit of wiggle room for the social bettor wishing to play a hand of poker or wager on a sporting event within his or her private residence. Although Illinois law is expansive, the state appears to fall in line with the federal legislation which intends to put a stop to organized crime and not the small social bettor who is not engaged in any business of gambling.
The State of Illinois also provides many avenues of legal gambling which are regulated by the state. There are a number of state sanctioned casinos on land as well as riverboats which residents can go to legally play traditional casino games as well as poker. Illinois also hosts pari-mutuel wagering in the forms of horse and greyhound tracks as well as a state run lottery and bingo halls. Although bettors in the state of Illinois will not find any place to place a sports wager, the state is one of the few which hosts state regulated online betting sites such as purchasing lottery tickets and even betting on horse racing at pre-approved sites. There are no regulated poker or casino sites however.
One of the more intriguing facts of Illinois gambling is that 100% of the casinos within the state are licensed by the state. There are no tribal casinos in Illinois which operate outside of Illinois state law. What this means for those wishing to gamble in the state is that Illinois state legislation is indeed the final word on what is and what is not allowed. Luckily, residents of Illinois are provided most gambling options across 11 different casinos which are accessible from all corners of the state.
Land-Based Gambling In Illinois
Since the state of Illinois does have legalized and state sanctioned gambling, residents will find more options than some other states where they can wager on games of chance, skill or contest. There are currently 11 casinos in the region and each one offers slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, Caribbean stud poker and three card poker. Some casinos also offer baccarat and other forms of poker such as Texas Hold‘em. One of the more popular gambling land based destinations in Illinois is Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island. This is one of Illinois’s largest casinos with over 1,000 slots, 25 table games and a live poker room. The venue also touts a nightclub, sports bar and four distinct restaurants along with 205 luxurious hotel rooms. Illinois is also known for its riverboat casinos after passing the Riverboat Gambling Act in 1990 which produced the first and famous Alton Belle and her Argosy Casino Alton in Alton, Illinois’s riverfront district.
Online Gambling In Illinois
Although gambling outside of state sanctioned casinos and facilities is not readily available, the state of Illinois is one of the few states which offer state sanctioned online gambling for its residents. Locals may visit state websites to bet on live horse and greyhound racing, purchase lottery tickets and try their luck at online bingo however the state does not offer any sort of casino games or sports betting. The options may be limited within Illinois but they are not absent. Current laws and regulations make it illegal for anyone operating a gambling site within the jurisdiction of Illinois state law and those found guilty of such a crime are arrested whereas the players who may have placed bets there are not. This opens up further, the possibilities of online gambling for Illinois residents.
If a bettor in Illinois wishes to play casino games or make a sports wager online, there are indeed opportunities that lie outside of both Illinois and federal jurisdiction to do so. The locale of an online gambling site is paramount to legality and many are indeed situated in perfect locations to cater to Illinois citizens. There are a wide range of reputable sites which are located throughout Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe which many Illinois residents have already been taking advantage of for a number of years reaping huge payouts from successful bets and gaming. These online gambling sites also offer all major forms of gambling ranging from traditional casino games, all variations of poker, horse racing, every major American as well as international sports and virtually every wagering type on each subject. One can bet on player or team proposition bets, the moneyline or the spread and even wager on who may win next year’s Super Bowl. Many Chicago Bears fans rejoice at the NFL betting chances for their favorite team. These sites are also noted for their prompt and reliable payouts as Illinois residents receive their winnings by mail in under two weeks, especially from a site as nearby as Canada. Safety and security is key as sites that we suggest here have exquisite records which maintain tightly run businesses to rave reviews and have for decades.
Popular Gambling Options In Illinois:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
Bovada is one such online gambling site which provides it all to Illinois residents. Famed and used by multiple major American publications for its online sportsbook, the betting lines and odds posted by Bovada are respected world-wide for its up to date and accurate record keeping and lines-making. The sportsbook also covers every betting type and option through nearly every sport imaginable with chances at huge payouts or small conservative bets depending on what a member is looking for. Bovada also has one of the most popular online poker rooms on the web with its unique and dynamic poker software available for free download. Members may play any form of poker that they wish for either low or high stakes and also join in huge poker tournaments for massive pots. Bovada also hosts an online casino which features a wide variety of slots, electronic games, scratch-cards and video poker.
While Illinois residents explore the resources available to them at Bovada they are typically satisfied enough to become full-fledged members but this online gambling site sweetens the deal with perks and bonuses galore. Simply signing up at Bovada nets a new member a 50% bonus on their initial deposit for the sportsbook or a 100% welcome bonus to the first deposit to play in their online poker room.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age for residents of Illinois either live or online is 18 for the state lottery, pari-mutuel betting and bingo, however a resident must be 21 years of age to partake in casino gambling in the state. Online gambling sites for Illinois residents accept membership from all those 18 years of age and older.
Best For All Gaming Types
