#ad
21+
This site contains commercial content
Advertisement Disclosure
This independent comparison website helps consumers choose the best available gambling products matching their needs. We offer high quality advertising services by featuring only established brands of licensed operators in our reviews. We receive commission for advertising the brands listed on this page. This may influence brand ranking. Please note that although we endeavor to provide you with up-to-date information, we do not compare all operators on the market.

Casinos in Illinois

Jane Shaw Written By Jane Shaw
Last Updated on 24.04.2025
On this page, we’ll look at the Illinois casinos, including where you can find them, and our highlights for best casinos across the state. We’ve even included information on taxation and the history of gambling in Illinois, so that you can get a broad overview of casino gaming in the state.
NJDGE PGCB+ NCPG

Illinois Casino Map – List of Gambling Locations

Illinois Casino Map

The Best Casinos in Illinois

Illinois Best Casinos

Hollywood Casino Joliet

Website: www.hollywoodcasinojoliet.com
Phone: (888) 436-7737
Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd , Joliet , 60436 , USA
Slots: 1177
Table Games: 25
Poker Tables: 5
Min Bet: $0.01
Opening Hours: 24/7
Dining: Yes
Bars: Yes
Attractions: Yes

Hollywood Casino Aurora

Website: www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com
Phone: (630) 801-1234
Address: 1 W New York St , Aurora , 60506 , USA
Slots: 1161
Table Games: 20
Poker Tables: 7
Min Bet: $0.01
Opening Hours: 24/7
Dining: Yes
Bars: Yes
Attractions: Yes

Casino Queen Hotel St. Louis

Website: draftkingsatcasinoqueen.com
Phone: (800) 777-0777
Address: 200 S Front St, 62201, United States
Slots: 1155
Table Games: N/A
Poker Tables: N/A
Opening Hours: 8AM – 3AM (5AM on weekends)
Dining: Yes
Bars: Yes
Attractions: Yes

The Biggest Casinos in Illinois

Illinois Biggest Casino

Rivers Casino Des Plaines – Chicago

Website: www.riverscasino.com
Phone: (847) 795-0777
Address: 3000 S River Rd , Chicago , 60018 , USA
Slots: 1044
Table Games: 48
Poker Tables: 10
Min Bet: $0.01
Opening Hours: 24/7
Dining: Yes
Bars: Yes
Attractions: Yes

Hollywood Casino Joliet

Website: www.hollywoodcasinojoliet.com
Phone: (888) 436-7737
Address: 777 Hollywood Blvd , Joliet , 60436 , USA
Slots: 1177
Table Games: 25
Poker Tables: 5
Min Bet: $0.01
Opening Hours: 24/7
Dining: Yes
Bars: Yes
Attractions: Yes

Jumer’s Casino and Hotel

Website: jumerscasinohotel.com
Phone: (309) 756-4600
Address: 777 Jumer Dr , Rock Island , 61201 , USA
Slots: 1000
Table Games: 24
Poker Tables: 6
Min Bet: $0.01
Max Bet: N/A
Opening Hours: 24/7
Dining: Yes
Bars: Yes
Attractions: Yes

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 a fairly recent addition to Illinois. Fairmount Park now has a fully functional casino, boasting almost 300 slot machines, plus video poker and electronic table games, making this venue the only true racino in the state.

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

The popularity of casino gaming in Illinois has led to the opening of several new casinos across the state, and there’s more to come. Suitably named as The Temporary by American Place when opened in 2023, the permanent Waukegan casino venue is scheduled for completion in 2027.

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
Cash 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

  1. When was casino gambling legalized in Illinois?Casino gambling was legalized in Illinois in 1991, with the Riverboat Gaming Act.
  2. Online gamblingOnline sports betting is legal in Illinois, however online casinos and poker are not.
  3. 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.
  4. Can you smoke in Illinois casinos?The Smoke-Free Illinois Act, introduced in 2008, prohibits smoking in all public places, including casinos.
  5. Horse racing / Off-Track bettingIt is legal to bet on horse racing in Illinois.
  6. Dog racing / Off-Track bettingIt is legal to bet on greyhound racing in Illinois.
  7. Illinois charitable gamingCharitable organizations can hold a maximum of four charitable gaming events in a year.
  8. Other legal restrictionsSports 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 ($) Illinois Gross Income Tax (%)
All wins (any prize) 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.

  • Riverboat Gambling Act: This legalized riverboat casinos in 1991. The law is now slightly different, as casinos can be in moored vessels that don’t leave the dock.
  • Illinois Gambling Act: This act made significant changes to gambling law in Illinois, including legalizing sports betting online and offline.

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
  • 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.

FAQ

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).