Online Poker in Illinois - Best IL Online Poker Sites 2025
Illinois is on the larger side as far as states go, so it only stands to reason that there's a bustling market for online poker in Illinois. However, there are no state-licensed sites for this activity, so you'll need to head offshore if you're interested in playing.
Despite being unregulated by the IL authorities, Illinois online poker is not prohibited, so it's legal to play. In our guide, you'll find the best legal real money online poker rooms in Illinois, including top-rated Ignition Casino poker, as well as all of the legal information you'll need.
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2. Online Poker Legal? 3. Best IL Poker Sites 4. How to Play Online Poker
5.1. Game Selection 5.2. Cashier Methods 5.3. Bonuses & Promos 5.4. Rakeback
6.1. Ignition 6.2. SB Poker/BOL 6.3. Bovada 6.4. ACR Poker 6.5. CoinPoker 6.6. Everygame 6.7. SwCPoker 6.8. Nitrobetting
7.1. B&M Poker 7.2. Gambling History 7.3. Famous Poker Players 7.4. Alternatives to IL Online Poker
Top Online Poker Sites in Illinois
Not all poker sites that accept Illinois players are equal. Some are untrustworthy and unreliable, so your money isn't safe with them. That's why we've gone through the trouble of evaluating all available options. Here are the best ones for your convenience:
Is Online Poker Legal in Illinois?
Illinois is one of the few states that specifically mention internet gambling in their legal codes, but all of these provisions criminalize anyone who “establishes, maintains, or operates” an online site for such gambling. This means that ordinary players are not covered by this proscription.
Federal laws, including UIGEA, only apply to those running and managing poker sites in the US and don't apply to offshore poker sites. Neither do they target ordinary players.
What this means for you is that you're not breaking the law in Illinois when you log on to your favorite offshore poker room and fire up a couple of tables.
Best Illinois Online Poker Sites
We've done the work of researching all the online poker rooms for Illinois, and we therefore feel comfortable presenting you with those that have a reputation for honesty and integrity. The poker sites below accept Illinois players and offer fair poker games, solid customer support, and prompt payment of any winnings you accumulate.
- Ignition Casino - Highest volume of players.
- SB Poker - Bad Beat Jackpots at every blind level.
- BetOnline - Excellent mobile poker client.
- Bovada - Multiple gaming available (poker, casino, sports, racing).
- ACR Poker - Large tournaments with huge prize pools.
- Coin Poker - Crypto poker site with the most players.
- Everygame - Robust promotional lineup.
- SwCPoker - Many poker variants spread.
- Nitrobetting - In-browser Bitcoin poker.
- BlackChip Poker - Sister site of ACR, an option if you already have an account with ACR.
- Juicy Stakes - Weekly rake races, frequent reloads, daily freerolls, and more.
- True Poker - Partner site of ACRPoker and BlackChip.
How to Play Online Poker in Illinois
Playing online poker for real money in Illinois is not a challenging task at all. We have provided instructions below for signing up at our #1 rated site, Ignition Casino Poker, but getting started at any other site is basically the same with just a few differences.
- Use any of our links for Ignition Casino Poker to go to the website.
- A registration form will open up in your browser. Provide the information asked for, and remember to use your true personal details. If you supply false info, then when you attempt to make your first withdrawal and have to complete identity verification, any discrepancies could lead to your account being terminated.
- When you're ready, press the “Register” button near the bottom of the page.
- Ignition may attempt to verify your mobile phone number by sending you a text message. Enter the code sent to your mobile into the appropriate field on Ignition's website.
- The account creation process will now be complete. Now it's time to fund your account by depositing via whatever channel is most convenient for you (we recommend Bitcoin).
How We Evaluate Illinois Online Poker Sites – Choosing the Best Internet Poker Room
Each site for online poker Illinois residents have access to does things in its own way, which means that they each have areas in which they excel and others in which they fall short. We've evaluated these rooms according to several criteria to determine which ones are the best.
Game Variety and Stakes
There are many variants of poker in existence. Some sites stick to the basics, like NL Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha, while others offer a wider range of games, perhaps including Razz, Limit Omaha/8, 12-game, Open Face Chinese, and others. Even at sites with the same formats spread, there may be differences in the blind levels available.
Online poker has spawned such innovations as fast-fold poker, anonymized tables, lottery-style SNGs, and On Demand tournaments. Some sites embrace these new forms of poker while others haven't yet implemented many of them.
Options for Deposits and Withdrawals
When it comes to adding money to your account and retrieving your winnings, you have several traditional methods available, like credit cards and checks. However, we believe that Bitcoin is more convenient because it features fast transaction timeframes along with low fees.
Each of our recommended Illinois online poker rooms let you make both deposits and withdrawals via Bitcoin. To learn more about how Bitcoin works in the realm of online poker, read this detailed Bitcoin online gaming guide.
Bonuses + Promos
The majority of internet poker sites will give you a bonus when you make your first deposit. After that, you may be able to take advantage of reload bonuses, rake races, leaderboards, tournament overlays, loyalty programs, and more.
Some online poker promotions are offered only for a limited time. Others, though, are ongoing offers that you can benefit from for an extended period.
Online Poker Rakeback
One of the most valuable kinds of poker promos is called rakeback. This refers to a never-ending rebate on the rake you pay while playing at the tables. We appreciate the benefits of rakeback so much that we have incorporated it into the name of our site, Professional Rakeback.
Here's a list of Illinois online poker sites that offer rakeback:
- ACR Poker – 27% rakeback on demand
- CoinPoker – 33% rakeback weekly, must hold CHP token
- Everygame – 36% rakeback daily
- SwCPoker – up to 50% rakeback dependent on play volume
- BlackChip Poker – 27% rakeback on demand
- Juicy Stakes Poker – 36% rakeback weekly
- True Poker – 27% rakeback on demand
Reviews of Online Poker Sites for Illinois
If you'd like to know more about your options before signing up for any poker site, then look below. We have reviewed the best Illinois online poker sites and have gathered important details about all of them so that you can make an educated decision as to where to play.
Ignition Casino Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Many active tables and tourneys
- Fast bonus clearing rate
- Easy opposition
Cons
- No seat selection or long-term player tracking
Review
As the Illinois online poker site with the largest player base, Ignition is a fine place to go for NLHE, PLO, and PLO/8 games as high as $10/$20. There’s also Limit Hold’em action and Zone fast-fold cash games to enjoy as well.
Beyond ring games, you can play sit n’ gos, including the exciting lottery-inspired Jackpot Sit & Go, and $1.5 million in weekly guaranteed tournaments. There are also tourney series that pay out millions of dollars.
All gameplay at Ignition is anonymized to protect newcomers, so long-term opponent tracking is impossible. Furthermore, you cannot choose your cash game table or seat because they're assigned automatically by a Quick Seat function.
Ignition provides a poker download for PCs and Macs. In addition, you can log into the web poker client from mobile, Linux, or basically any other form of computing hardware. Make a deposit and get a 150% up to $1,500 if you use Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.
SB Poker/BetOnline
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Bad Beat Jackpots in all Hold'em and Omaha games
- Great mobile poker software
- Attached sportsbook, racebook, and casino
Cons
- High rake percentages and caps
SB Poker and its partner BetOnline host the most robust Bad Beat Jackpots available to U.S. residents, and they're present at all stakes of NL Hold’em tables and PLO, which exist up to $5/$10. You can also enjoy PLO/8, 5 Card PLO, 6 Card PLO, and Boost fast-fold games.
The biggest issue with ring games at these two sites is the high rake. It is possible, though, to get part of this rake back weekly through the RISE rewards program.
Standard SNGs, randomized-prize pool Windfall matches, and multi-table tourneys round out the lineup here. Stay on the alert for weekly races, missions, and reload bonuses to pick up some extra cash.
Windows and Mac OS users can install the SB Poker software on their machines while a web-based poker room caters to Android, iOS, and other mobile users. The initial deposit match is a 100% up to $1,000 deal.
Bovada
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Pros
- Great player traffic
- Attached casino, live casino, sportsbook, and racebook
- In continuous operation for more than 10 years
Cons
- Small poker bonus
Review
Bovada is on the same network as Ignition, and so the cash games, sit n’ gos, and MTTs at both sites are identical. Where Bovada shines, though, is if you intend to bet on sports or horse races, because these forms of wagering are not available at Ignition. Bet on baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and a wide range of international sports too. Esports, television shows, and election results are also available to bet on.
Bovada’s full poker software can be installed on PCs and Macs. In addition, phone and tablet owners can access the action through a dedicated mobile website. The welcome bonuses here are extensive – $500 for poker, $3,750 for casino, and $750 for sports/horses if you use Bitcoin.
ACR Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
Pros
- Largest tournaments open to IL players
- $10 free bankroll (promo code PRB10FREE)
- Ongoing rewards through Elite Benefits
Cons
- No practice play games
Review
ACR Poker has cash games as low as $0.01/$0.02 as well as stratospheric tables of $25/$50 and even higher. There are a few niche poker variants here that aren't found at every site, like 7 Card Stud.
Where ACR truly shines is in its tournament selection. A few times per year, there are series that hand out seven or eight figures in prize money as well as a recurring Venom event that guarantees no less than $5 million!
ACR Poker has created applications for both Windows and Mac, and there’s a mobile client too. Through the use of our exclusive PRB10FREE ACR no deposit code, you can grab a free $10 and get a further 100% up to $2,000 bonus with your 1st deposit.
Coin Poker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Pros
- Most player traffic of any crypto poker room
- 33% rakeback weekly possible
Cons
- No standard SNGs
Review
Coin Poker is a crypto poker site that utilizes USDT (Tether) to denominate its games although you can conduct deposits and withdrawals using BTC, ETH, and a few other coins.
CoinPoker offers NLHE, PLO, and 5 Card PLO, but it lacks PLO/8. Also missing are normal sit & gos although lottery-style Cosmic Spins are present.
CoinPoker is available to play on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. You can benefit from a bonus of 150% up to $2,000 on your first deposit, and you can also earn 33% ongoing rakeback if you keep a balance of CHP, CoinPoker's proprietary crypto token.
Everygame
Deposit Methods
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
Pros
- Many profitable promotions offered
- Multiple gaming products, including three separate casinos and a sportsbook
- 36% rakeback
Cons
- Outdated poker software
Review
Although traffic at the Everygame cardroom is a bit light, this site makes up for it in other ways. For starters, you’ll get 36% rakeback FOR LIFE when you sign up through our links. Add on top of this weekly rake races, frequent bonus opportunities, a loyalty tiers system, and other valuable promotions, and it’s easy to see how you can really grow your bankroll if you take advantage of Everygame’s generosity.
Windows users can run the full Everygame poker client while mobile and Mac users have recourse to an Instant Play interface. All new customers can claim a 200% up to $1,000 poker bonus.
SwCPoker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
Pros
- Plenty of poker variants present
- Up to 50% rakeback (volume dependent)
Cons
- Player population limited
Review
SwCPoker is an online poker site that denominates all play and cashier functions in BTC. SwC distinguishes itself with its wide variety of formats supported, including more standard games like NL Hold’em and PL Omaha, but also rarer game types, like Razz, Courchevel, and HORSE.
SwCPoker is fully compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. There’s no initial deposit bonus available, but you can earn up to 50% rakeback, depending on the volume of your play.
Nitrobetting
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Pros
- Excellent cross-platform compatibility
- Up to 35% rakeback
Cons
- Traffic is light
- Only NLHE and PLO
Review
Nitrobetting's in-browser software means there's nothing to download although it is limited to only NL Hold'em and PLO games. There's no first deposit poker bonus, but you can get up to 35% rakeback depending on the amount you play during a month. Tables are denominated in bitcoins.
Facts About Illinois' Poker Industry
This section will provide detailed factual information regarding the live gambling venues in Illinois, the history of gambling throughout the state, famous IL poker players, and more.
Live Poker
Nearly a dozen riverboat casinos dot the state, and several commercial casinos have either opened their doors or are expected to in forthcoming years. The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin may have the best poker room among them.
There are 20 tables spreading low-stakes NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8 cash every day with low-buyin tournaments a couple of times per week. Grand Victoria Elgin also hosts WSOP Circuit events regularly.
History of Gambling in Illinois
Illinois, and especially Chicago, has a long history of gambling starting in the mid-1800s when riverboat casinos would ply the Mississippi River and host pro poker and faro players among their passengers. Criminal entrepreneur Michael Cassius McDonald “owned” Chicago underground gambling from the 1870s until his death in 1907.
McDonald's antics were soon eclipsed by his Prohibition Era successor, Al Capone. Capone and his “Chicago Outfit” were eventually brought down, and state leaders started to add legal gambling to the entertainments available in the state.
Racetrack betting debuted 1927. To this were added charitable bingo in 1971 and the Illinois Lottery in 1974. In 1990, riverboat casinos were authorized, and in 2009 came video gaming, which refers to gambling terminals installed in bars, restaurants, and other small retail establishments. In 2019, both online and brick-and-mortar sports betting were legalized.
Famous Poker Players From Illinois
Several well-known poker pros hail from The Land of Lincoln. Barry Greenstein is likely the most popular among them. Barry Greenstein, of Chicago, has amassed more than $8.6 million in live tourney wins, picking up three WSOP bracelets along the way.
Besides his achievements on the felt, Barry is also notable for writing a poker book, “Ace on the River,” and his charitable nature, often donating sums of hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time.
Alternatives to Registering Your Poker Account in the State of Illinois
Perhaps you are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc, If so, then you may have other online poker options available. Here is a list of the states that border Illinois and Professional Rakeback's review of each of them: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. For an overall picture of the internet poker scene in the United States, head over to our players guide to U.S.A. online poker.
There's plenty of ignorance among the population regarding online poker in Illinois, but you can do something to address this problem. If you have any friends or family members who are interested in this subject, then please share this page with them so that you can inform them about the game they enjoy.
Summary of Online Poker in Illinois
The laws on the books regarding gambling aren't ever enforced against Illinois online poker fans. You can choose a site from our list of top-rated firms and start playing cards today right from your home. Online poker in Illinois is certainly a fun way to pass the time, especially during the frigid winter months, so begin your poker-playing adventure online today!
Responsible Gaming
At Professional Rakeback, we take responsible gambling seriously. If you find that your online gaming activities consume too much of your time, energy or money, then you might wish to consult the following resources for help:
- Gamblers Anonymous
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- Illinois Department of Human Services Gambling Help
- Illinois Council on Problem Gambling
Frequently Asked Questions
There are plenty of questions about Illinois online poker, and the answers to them aren't necessarily obvious. Look below for comprehensive information on some of the most common questions that people have about online poker in Illinois.
Yes, it's totally legal to play online poker if you're a resident of Illinois. The various federal and state laws that target this form of entertainment have only ever been directed at those actually operating the games, not individual players. You're taking no risk of legal persecution if you turn on your computer and fire up a couple of tables of poker from inside Illinois' borders.
Yes. Offshore poker sites accept people residing in Illinois since state and federal laws don't apply to them. Many players from Illinois are playing at those sites.
Yes, PokerStars is a legal Illinois internet poker room. However, you cannot play at this site for real money.
This is because 'Stars was one of the main organizations targeted in the Black Friday crackdown on online poker in 2011. As part of the settlement it reached with the Department of Justice, the company agreed to halt its U.S.-facing operations except in those states where it's legally licensed to transact. Needless to say, Illinois is not one of these states.
Illinois has a state income tax, and it expects you to pay what you owe on your poker winnings. Perhaps more expensive are the federal income taxes that you owe on your income, and this definitely includes money won at the poker tables.
The exact forms you must fill out will depend on many factors, including your marital status and the amount you win. For more info on this subject, it's probably best to hire a tax attorney or a qualified CPA. You may also wish to read what the IRS has to say on this matter.
Yes. Smartphone and tablet owners are increasingly looking to be able to enjoy online gaming from their handheld devices, and poker site operators have taken note. Some of them, like Sportsbetting.ag, have crafted apps that you can download to your mobile system. Others, like Ignition and Bovada.lv, offer a web poker portal that lets you play from the web browser on your smart device.
You can fund your online poker playing through a variety of payment methods, including credit card and money transfers. There are also plenty of channels for requesting the payout of your winnings.
We counsel our readers to conduct all their online money movements using the digital crypto-currency Bitcoin. It costs very little to make BTC transactions, and they're processed relatively quickly. All of the sites that we work with support this digital coin.
Other cryptos have been gaining a lot of support from the internet gaming industry lately too although acceptance rates lag far behind Bitcoin. You can read about two other popular digital currencies in our Bitcoin Cash gambling guide and our page on using Ethereum for poker and betting online.
Additional Resources
Take a look at the following pages for more info on gambling for Illinois residents:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!