Our specialists have ranked the top social Illinois casinos and sportsbooks so that you can immediately choose the ideal gaming venue. Enjoy frequent promotions, a vast selection of games, and the most recent software on these reputable websites. Discover what the Prairie state has to offer players in the following text. (Edited by Steve Bittenbender)
The top online gambling sites in Illinois
Currently, social casinos are the only choice available to Illinois residents who wish to play casino games online. These operators provide free-to-play games. They offer two types of currency: gold coins, which are used to access the free games, and sweep coins, which may be used to play real-money sweepstakes games and are earned, not purchased.
Pulsz Casino
Since 2007, players in Illinois have had access to Pulsz, a social casino that has been operating online. More than 300 games, including slot machines and table games, are accessible on the website. When you sign up, you may grab the welcome bonus and participate in the continuing loyalty program to earn extra casino credits. You may play casino games with free coins or by purchasing currency and exchanging your earnings for cash.
Welcome offer of free sweepstakes coins and 30 sweepstakes coins on your first purchase.
Gambino Slots
Naturally, the emphasis is on slot games, and Gambino Slots offers over 100 of them. Gambino Slots concentrates solely on free games, making it a great location for individuals who wish to learn how to play certain slot games without the chance of it becoming an expensive lesson. There are nine tiers to the VIP program, and the more you play, the higher you climb the ranks and the more opulent the perks.
When you sign up for Gambino Slots, you earn 100,000 G-coins, which are the equivalent of gold coins in other social casinos.
Read our review of Gambling Slots.
Fortune Coins Fortune Coins
At the Fortune Coins social casino, there is a big welcome bonus, and the site also offers several free coin promotions to existing players. The website is situated in Ontario and offers over 50 unique slot and table games. You may purchase sweep coins, which can be used to play games and redeemed for cash. Or, you may play risk-free with free Gold Coins. The online casino will keep your wallet of Gold Coins filled up with bonuses.
Fortune Coins Bonus: Claim 140,000 free Gold Coins + 500 Fortune Coins (sweeps coins) (sweeps coins).
Gambling Casino
Stake doesn’t simply give gamers with a platform to play social casino games but does so in style with its outstanding desktop site. Illinois residents may sign up and play for free with Gold Coins. You may also purchase Stake Cash Coins, which can be used to play the casino’s unique slot machines and table games. You are able to convert your earnings to cash. The fact that Stake Casino only takes bitcoin payments makes deposits quick and safe.
10,000 Gold Coins and 1 Stake Cash Coin are provided upon registration at Stake Casino.
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games adds a twist to the social casino by donating the majority of your deposits to charity. When you sign up and purchase on-site cash, you may pick among millions of charitable organizations. You may use this cash to play slots and bingo games and withdraw any wins. Or, you may enjoy its huge choice of games for free. With games beginning every 15 minutes and a top prize of $2,500, the online bingo variety is astounding.
Golden Hearts Games Bonus: For your first charitable contribution, you will receive a 100% coin match.
What the top Illinois casinos provide
Whether you are a seasoned casino player or a complete beginner, you want to choose a casino that suits your needs. That’s where our professional staff come in, with expert evaluations based on a range of characteristics that will enable you to pick where to spend your gaming bucks. The primary criteria we evaluate include:
Security and fairness: The finest online casinos have advanced security procedures in place to secure your personal information and ensure that all games run properly.
Bonuses: Casinos compete for your business with a variety of enticing bonuses. Check the welcome bonus to verify that it suits your gaming style so that you can get the most out of it.
Some Illinois casinos are focused on slot machines. Others are just focused on poker. However, the majority will provide a variety of games, and we’ll walk you through those available at Illinois online gambling sites.
Mobile: The leading online casinos have applications that can be downloaded onto your device, as well as mobile versions of their websites that make it simple to play using a mobile web browser.
Banking methods: Using your selected method, you should be able to fund your online casino account fast and effortlessly. Importantly, you must also be able to easily withdraw any real-money winnings.
Customer service: If you need to contact the casino, you want to receive a response and resolution as soon as possible. We evaluate websites based on the diversity and caliber of their facilities.
Enjoy legal online gaming in Illinois
There are several methods to engage in internet gambling in Illinois. Since 2019, sports betting has been permitted in this state, and numerous outstanding casinos, racinos, and resorts provide legal casino games.
Online gambling’s legal status in Illinois
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was deemed unlawful by the US Supreme Court in 2018. This ruling allowed states to legalize sports betting and internet gambling. In 2019, the Illinois General Assembly enacted a measure allowing sports betting.
In 2020, the first retail sportsbooks were open, followed quickly by internet sportsbooks. To sign up for a sportsbook, however, you were required to visit a casino in person until March 2022, when this requirement was lifted.
Even though it has been anticipated that internet casinos in Illinois may earn up to $230 million in yearly tax revenue, there are worries that this would come at the expense of the retail casino business. At least until later in 2022, internet casinos may not be authorized in Illinois.
The minimum age for gambling in Illinois is 21 for all forms of gambling, including casino wagering and online sports betting.
Do taxes apply to gaming winnings?
Yes, the IRS has determined that all gaming profits constitute taxable income. There are two taxes to be considered. 24% is the federal tax rate. On wins exceeding a certain threshold, the sportsbook or casino may automatically withhold this amount. Illinois is one of the few jurisdictions that imposes a fixed rate, in this case 4.95 percent, on wins. The most crucial piece of advice is to keep an exact record of your winnings and losses to ensure that you are accurately evaluated when you file your annual tax return.
How are casinos governed?
The Illinois Gaming Board controls and regulates all types of gaming in the Prairie State, including online sportsbooks and casinos.
What online casino games are accessible to Illinois residents?
At the state’s social online casinos, there is a vast selection of games accessible for aficionados to play. There are also a number of brick-and-mortar casinos in the Prairie State that provide all casino games.
Slots \sSlots
Whether you play at a social casino or a real-life casino, the vast majority of games will often be slot machines. When commercial casinos are authorized in Illinois, there will be hundreds of titles to pick from, including progressive jackpots. Almost all Illinois social casino sites are primarily focused on slot games. Annually, leading software developers invest extensively to offer increasingly sophisticated online slot experiences.
Blackjack \sBlackjack
This perennially popular card game is a staple of any land-based casino worthy of the name, and many social casinos in Illinois offer online versions. At Illinois, Chumba, for example, offers social casino blackjack games, while there are countless possibilities to play in actual casinos.
Roulette
Roulette is another traditional game without which no casino – virtual or actual – would feel complete. Numerous variants are now available to delight gamers. Social casinos such as WorldWinner give the opportunity to play online roulette games, as will the conventional casinos that are coming to Illinois in the middle of the next decade.
Video poker Video Poker
Global Poker provides Illinois casino patrons with a social casino that focuses solely on this enduringly popular card game. With high-quality visuals and four forms of poker, this site is ideal for video poker enthusiasts. Other social casino providers, like as Chumba, also offer Illinois online poker alternatives.
Live Casino Games
When playing casino games, many individuals still desire the thrill of being “in-room.” Live dealer games are therefore popular in online casinos. There are several options to play roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and poker with a live dealer in many jurisdictions. Currently, the selection of live games at social casinos in Illinois is quite restricted; this may change in the future.
Sports betting Sports Betting
Online sports betting is now legal in Illinois, and an increasing number of sportsbooks are eager to accept your wagers on anything from in-play wagering to parimutuel wagering. Numerous Illinois casinos provide athletic markets to both in-person consumers and out-of-state gamblers.
Imaginary Sports
Daily fantasy sports games are permitted in Illinois. Popular DFS operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings are operational in Illinois, and you will find a selection of games there. However, you will not be able to access them through the social casinos now functioning in Illinois.
Obtaining the top online casino bonus offers
All online casinos in Illinois compete for players by offering enticing incentives. It is recommended to verify the terms and conditions of any bonus to ensure that it is compatible with the method you intend to bet.
Welcome bonuses
Here is where the greatest value may be discovered. At social casinos, welcome bonuses typically consist of large quantities of gold coins. When the possibility to gamble for real money presents itself, there are a range of ways in which the major brands provide additional initial value in exchange for the initial deposit.
No-deposit bonuses
If you are playing at a social casino that solely provides free-to-play games, you should not be required to pay to activate the initial bonus. Signing up for an account should be sufficient. In the realm of real-money casinos, a no-deposit bonus is money deposited into your account before you have made a deposit.
Deposit reward
If you must fund your account in order to play at a social casino in Illinois, you should receive a big bonus that replenishes your available coins. Real-money casinos frequently offer deposit bonuses, where a 100% match essentially doubles your spending power before you ever begin playing.
Risk-free days
In the initial 24 hours of account activation, many online casinos for real money will refund your losses up to a specified limit, often as much as $1,000.
Refer a colleague
Online casinos in Illinois and abroad appreciate it when you recruit new clients on their behalf. If one of your friends creates an account and lays a wager, both you and your friend will receive a bonus.
Local casinos in Illinois
Previously, Illinois law required that casinos be situated on moving ships. The majority of casinos in the Prairie State are now located on land, while there are still a few riverboat casinos. There are several casino alternatives in Chicago, as well as throughout the west and south-west of the state. All casinos are open all year except Christmas and Easter.
Responsible gambling in Illinois
The vast majority of individuals find gambling to be a soothing pastime. Unfortunately, for a tiny percentage, all forms of gambling include the danger of addiction, which can lead to financial and emotional difficulties.
It’s encouraging to see that so many Illinois groups promote responsible gaming at all times. The operators of the state’s social casinos provide comprehensive guidance to anybody who is concerned that they may be developing a gambling problem, and there are other organizations in the state that provide support and practical aid. Included among these are:
The Illinois Gaming Board provides an outstanding array of resources for anyone who are concerned about their own or a loved one’s gaming.
Additionally, the Illinois Department of Human Services offers access to services such as helplines and treatment programs.
The Illinois division of the National Council on Problem Gambling provides several local and national recommendations.
You may also visit our section on responsible gaming for further information.
Depositing and withdrawing funds for online gambling
Utilizing a suitable banking method is one of the most critical aspects of online gambling in Illinois. People choose to move their money in a variety of ways, and the greatest social and commercial casinos make this as simple as possible by providing a variety of alternatives. Examine the various of deposit methods accessible to ensure that you can make deposits conveniently.
The options offered should include:
Charge cards
Debit cards
PayPal
PayNearMe
Bitcoin transfer by wire
FAQs
Are internet casinos allowed in Illinois?
Not yet. Social casinos are the only online casinos accessible to players in the Prairie State. Legislators have undertaken feasibility studies concluding that the state may collect as much as $230 million per year in tax revenue from a legal internet gambling sector here; nevertheless, there is fear that this could detract from retail casinos’ earnings. However, it seems anticipated that Illinois will allow internet casinos where players may wager and win real money in the near future.
What is the legal age to gamble in Illinois?
The minimum age for casino gaming is 21. To bet at an Illinois online casino, you must be at least 21 years old. At the age of 18, you can participate in gambling on lottery games and horse races.
Can I win actual cash?
Due to a legal loophole, it is possible to win real money in a number of Illinois’ social casinos. You may participate in sweepstake games if you earn sweep coins by playing free games with gold coins; the winnings can be swapped for real money. In Illinois and other places where social casinos operate, this is totally legal.
Can I play games for free?
Yes, you can. Possibly, the primary objective of social casinos in Illinois is to provide slot machines and table games for amusement reasons alone. By accessing brands such as Chumba, LuckyLand Slots, and Gambino Slots, it is possible to enjoy the pleasures of online casino gambling for free.
Are gambling gains subject to tax?
Indeed they are. As in all states, the IRS has mandated that real-money casino wins in Illinois are subject to taxation. As part of your gambling plan, you should meticulously track your wins and losses so that you can file an appropriate tax return each year. In addition to the federal tax rate of 24%, Illinois gamblers must pay a state tax of 4.95 percent.
Are Illinois online casinos safe?
Yes, they ought to be. Experienced commercial casinos are at the forefront of cyber security in order to provide clients with total peace of mind. Social casinos should aim to the same levels of security/ Players’ personal and financial information must always be protected.
Can I play mobile games?
Yes, you can. Social casinos have developed applications that can be downloaded on all common devices, allowing its consumers to access free play games from anywhere.
What games are offered?
Social casinos often provide a limited variety of games than their real-money counterparts. However, people who engage in online gambling in Illinois have access to a plethora of online and mobile options. You should have access to a decent selection of slot machines, while certain operators will provide a few table games. Global Poker is the site of choice for poker gamers.
Are the games unbiased?
Yes, they ought to be. Even if you are playing a free game, you should feel certain that you are being treated properly. To guarantee that players do not feel resentful after playing casino games for real money, these games must conform to stringent criteria of fairness.
How do bonuses function?
The objective of incentives is to entice new consumers to try a brand, as well as to provide exceptional value and enjoyment upon sign-up. Because they play a significant role in convincing individuals to sign up for an account, welcome incentives are very substantial. However, it is essential to provide value on a continuous basis so that players feel appreciated and have the opportunity to access additional features that result in recurring infusions of extra revenue.