Casinos in Illinois

Jane Shaw By Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US Updated: May 1, 2024
Jane Shaw Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US See Full Bio

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she's our gambling tech expert. Jane's also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

Illinois Casino Map - List of Gambling Locations

Check out our Illinois casinos map below, which shows you exactly where each of the casinos in Illinois are situated. It should be really easy to use the map and find out which of the Illinois casinos is nearest to you.

Illinois Casino Map

The Best Casinos in Illinois

Illinois Best Casinos
Hollywood Casino Joliet
4.0 /5
Hollywood Casino Joliet www.hollywoodcasinojoliet.com 777 Hollywood Blvd, 60436, United States 1177
  • Live concerts
  • Meeting space
  • Restaurants
More About The Casino
Hollywood Casino Aurora
4.0 /5
Hollywood Casino Aurora www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com 1 W New York St, 60506, United States 1161
  • Free parking
  • Restaurant
More About The Casino
Casino Queen Hotel St. Louis
4.0 /5
Casino Queen Hotel St. Louis draftkingsatcasinoqueen.com 200 S Front St, 62201, United States 1155
  • Live Music
  • Pool
  • Restaurant
More About The Casino

The Biggest Casinos in Illinois

Illinois Biggest Casino

Are There Indian Casinos in Illinois?

Indian casinos, also called tribal casinos and Native American casinos, are casinos built on reservations. While there are many in other states throughout the country, there are none in Illinois. This shouldn’t be a problem though, as the commercial casinos offer enough variety to keep most casino fans entertained.

Racinos

Racinos – venues that combine a racetrack and a casino – are not found in Illinois. It is legal to bet on horse racing in some casinos in the state though, meaning that you can bet on horses and play casino games in the same place.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Illinois?

It used to be the law that all casinos in Illinois has to be riverboat casinos. What’s more, the law stated that these casinos had to be moving in order to operate. This law has now been relaxed though, meaning that the casinos can be permanently docked. So, Illinois casinos are now a hybrid of riverboat and commercial casinos.

Full Illinois Casino List

Below, you can see the full list of Illinois casinos. With only nine in total, it’s not a huge list, however most people in Illinois should be able to find a casino that is right for them. Remember that there are also casinos in some bordering states too, such as Iowa and Wisconsin, which are often visited by those from Illinois.

Choose a City
Choose a Type
All Casinos in Chicago
Rivers Casino Des Plaines - Chicago 3000 S River Rd, Chicago, 60018 Commercial
Grand Victoria Casino - Elgin 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, 60120 Commercial
Hollywood Casino Joliet 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, 60436 Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Harrah's Joliet 151 N Joliet St, Joliet, 60432 Commercial Chicago
Hollywood Casino Aurora 1 W New York St, Aurora, 60506 Cruise Ships/Riverboats
All Casinos in Rock Island
Jumer's Casino and Hotel 777 Jumer Dr, Rock Island, 61201 Commercial
All Casinos in St. Louis
Casino Queen Hotel St. Louis 200 S Front St, St. Louis, 62201 Commercial
Argosy Casino Alton 1 Piasa St, Alton, Alton, 62002 Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Harrah's Metropolis 100 E Front St, Metropolis, 62960 Commercial
 

Expected New Casinos

At the moment, there are plans to open another six casinos in the state. This plan is only in its early stages though, with locations still being chosen. Many involved in gambling in Illinois hope that these new casinos, as well as the recently legalized sports betting, will help to make the state a destination for gambling fans. So, expect to see some new Illinois gambling cities at some point!

Gambling in Illinois

Looking to find out about gambling in Illinois? Perhaps you want to know how old you need to be to play in a casino, or what types of games are found in Illinois casinos? If so, you’ll find the answers you need below, as well as information on many other topics too.

Illinois Gambling Topics Gambling Facts for Illinois
Number of Casinos 9
Casino Types Commercial, Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Casino Games Offered Slots, Casino Poker, Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments, Roulette, Blackjack, Dice Games, Lottery Games, Other Games, Sports Betting,
Age 21+ Casinos, Sports Betting, 18+ Lottery,
Smoking Yes/No*, *Smoking inside is prohibited but there are external smoking areas in each Illinois casino
Drinking Yes/No*, *Drinking while playing is allowed, but no free alcoholic drinks are served
Opening Hours
24/7 , Some casinos are closed on Easter and Christmas. Check the brands pages for more info
Betting Limit No legal limits
Taxation of Winnings Yes/No, for additional details click here

Casino Games in Illinois

When it comes to the games found in Illinois casinos, you’ll find pretty much everything. Whether you’re looking to play slot machines, blackjack or anything else, you should find it easily. What’s more, unlike casinos in some other states, Illinois casinos are allowed to also offer sports betting to patrons.

Slot
  • Cherry Riches
  • Wheel of Fortune
  • Vortex
  • Buffalo Inferno
  • Dancing Drums
  • Black Diamond
  • 9,000+ slot machines in the state
  • Types: Traditional Reel, Video Reel, Video Poker Free Slot Tournaments
  • Popular providers: Aristocrat, WMS
Casino Poker
  • 3 Card Poker
  • Mississippi Stud
  • Caribbean Stud Poker
  • Ultimate Texas Hold’em
  • 4 Card Poker
  • Pai Gow Poker
Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments
  • NL Hold’em
  • Limit Hold’em
  • Omaha
  • Omaha 8 or Better
  • Fortune Pai Gow Poker
  • Mixed Games
  • 44 poker tables at casinos in Illinois
Roulette
  • American Roulette
  • Roulette Evolution
  • Double Zero Roulette
Blackjack
  • Blackjack
  • 21+3
  • Double Deck Pitch Blackjack
  • Splitting Aces
  • Spanish 21
  • Royal Match 21
Dice Games
  • Craps
  • Firebet Craps
Lottery Games
  • Electronic Keno
Other Games
  • Video Poker
  • Mini-Baccarat
  • Dragon Bonus Baccarat
Sports Betting
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Horse Racing
  • Sports betting is legal in Illinois and is currently being rolled out at casinos

Gambling Legal Situation in Illinois

When was casino gambling legalized in Illinois?
Casino gambling was legalized in Illinois in 1991, with the Riverboat Gaming Act.
Online gambling
Online sports betting is legal in Illinois, however online casinos and poker are not.
What is the legal gambling age in Illinois?
You must be at least 21 to play in casinos or place bets on sports in Illinois. The lottery can be played by those aged 18 and over.
Can you smoke in Illinois casinos?
The Smoke-Free Illinois Act, introduced in 2008, prohibits smoking in all public places, including casinos.
Horse racing / Off-Track betting
It is legal to bet on horse racing in Illinois.
Dog racing / Off-Track betting
It is legal to bet on greyhound racing in Illinois.
Illinois charitable gaming
Charitable organizations can hold a maximum of four charitable gaming events in a year.
Other legal restrictions
Sports betting has recently been legalized in the state, allowing those in Illinois to bet in retail venues or online.

Taxation of Winnings

Illinois has a flat rate of income tax, which is 4.95%. Wins of any size won in an Illinois casino must be declared and tax must be paid. It will also be necessary to pay federal tax of 24% on any wins over a certain amount, which differs from game to game (it’s $1,200 for slots), or on wins that are worth 300x the original stake or more.

Prize ($) All wins (any prize) Illinois Gross Income Tax (%)4.95

Illinois Gambling Laws

When it comes to gambling laws in Illinois, the state has more relaxed rules than many other states. Casinos are legal in the state, plus sports betting has also recently been legalized. The two most important Illinois gambling laws are summarized below.

History

As with many states in the country, Illinois has a long history with gambling. Nowadays, the lottery, casinos and sports betting are all legal in the state. Take a look below to see some of the key dates in the history of gambling in Illinois.

Illinois history image
history-illinois-img2.jpg The first riverboat casino in Illinois opened in 1991.
history-illinois-img3.jpg
  • 1800s Illinois has a large problem with unlicensed riverboat casinos and the clientele they attract. Gambling is eventually banned altogether in the state.

  • 1927 Pari-mutuel betting is legalized in Illinois.

  • 1975 Illinois becomes the first state in the country to introduce a lottery.

  • 1990 The Riverboat Casino Act is passed, legalizing riverboat casinos. These casinos had to be moving along a waterway in order to legally operate.

  • 1991 The first riverboat casino opened.

  • 1999 A change to the law means that casinos no longer need to be on moving riverboats.

  • 2019 Sports betting is legalized in Illinois, both online and offline. Both forms of sports betting began in 2020.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

With the fact that sports betting has just been legalized, it’s unlikely that there will be any other changes to gambling regulations in Illinois soon.

Illinois Casino Resorts and Trips

Illinois doesn’t have the largest casino resorts, however they’re still great fun and provide accommodation, as well as entertainment, restaurants and more. Perhaps the best way to visit a casino resort is by signing up to a trip, and there are plenty of them to choose from. We’ve listed the best casino resorts in Illinois below, as well as three trips that will take you to an Illinois casino.

Casino Resorts

Casino resorts don’t just offer gambling, as they also have many other aspects to them. This means that they can be a great place to spend an entire day, or even a whole weekend. The casino resorts below all offer accommodation, as well as dining options. Check out the special packages too, which can really lead to some fantastic deals.

Harrah’s Metropolis
Number of Rooms260
Price Range ($)55-159
Special Packages"$20 Daily Food Credit"
Additional ServicesFitness Restaurants Meeting space
Jumer’s Casino and Hotel
Number of Rooms212
Price Range ($)109-599
Special Packages"Romance Package", "High Roller Package", "Stay and Play Package"
Additional ServicesPool Fitness Live concerts
Harrah’s Joliet
Number of Rooms204
Price Range ($)89-249
Special Packages"$40 Food Credit"
Additional ServicesFitness Restaurants Meeting space

Casino Trips

If you don’t fancy driving to a casino yourself, why not jump on a casino trip? These visit various Illinois casinos, and some even visit large casino resorts outside of the state. These trips will include transportation to and from the casino, plus some also include special perks, such as free play on slot machines. You can see three top Illinois casino trips below.

Green River Lines  Visit Website
  • Jumer’s Casino and Hotel
  • Gambling trips
Airport Express  Visit Website
  • Rivers Casino
  • Shuttle Services
D&S Tours  Check FB page
  • Jumer’s Casino and Hotel
  • $10 free slot play

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to provide only accurate and up-to-date information, please be aware that casinos.us shall not be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the offer packages or other details listed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all Illinois casinos on riverboats?

It used to be the law that all casinos had to be on moving boats, however this law has now been relaxed.

Can I gamble outside of casinos?

It is possible to bet on sports anywhere in the state, as they have legal online sports betting. You will also find a number of bingo halls throughout Illinois.

Do Illinois casinos allow guns?

It is legal to take guns into a casino, however concealed carry is not permitted. Different casinos will have their own rules on carrying guns in their premises.

Where can I get help regarding gambling addiction?

The Illinois Gaming Board offers help to those suffering from gambling addiction. To get help, call 1-877-YOU-QUIT (1-877-968-7848).

About Illinois

State Image
Capital Springfield 
Largest Cities Chicago, Aurora, Rockford 
Size 57913.55 sq mi 
Population 12,671,821 (2019) 
Time Zone Central: UTC -6/-5 
Abbreviation IL, Il.