Illinois Online Poker - legally play real money poker in IL

Can I play online poker in Illinois? The answer is yes!

Is it legal to play online poker in Illinois? The answer to this is also yes!

Online poker is not prohibited in Illinois, so it's legal to play. In our guide, you'll find the best legal real money online poker rooms in Illinois as well as all of the legal information you'll need.

Federal laws, including UIGEA, only apply to those running and managing poker sites in the US and don't apply to offshore poker sites. Crucially, the State of Illinois does not prohibit online poker and has never brought charges against any person for playing cards over the internet. This means everyone is free to play at offshore poker sites. Here are the best ones for your convenience:

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 and 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.

1

IGNITION

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO

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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.

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 100% up to $1,000 bonus (150% up to $1,500 if you use Bitcoin).

VISIT IGNITION POKER NOW

2

SB POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOT

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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SB Poker hosts the largest Bad Beat Jackpot available to U.S. residents, and you can try to hit it at NL Hold’em tables, which exist up to $5/$10. If this BBJ doesn’t appeal to you, then maybe the PLO, PLO/8, 6+ Hold’em, or Boost fast-fold games will interest you more. 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 to 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, and you can also claim bonuses in the attached casino and sportsbook.

VISIT SB POKER NOW

3

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR CASINO GAMING

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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BetOnline is a sister site to SB Poker on the Chico Poker Network, so the poker games and promos on offer tend to be nearly identical across the two sites. BOL is the longer-running of the two sites and is recognized for its world-class sportsbook and casino gaming. You can wager on major sports, like the NFL and the MLB, as well as numerous other events like eSports and politics. The BOL casino offers numerous games including slots, table games, live dealer games, and video poker.

BOL is available to download on any PC, Mac, Android, or iOS device. You can get a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to $1,000, and there’s additional sportsbook and casino offers that await you.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

4

BOVADA

BONUS:

100% up to $500

★★★★★

4.2 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR SPORTS & CASINO

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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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 to 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, $3,000 for casino, and $250 for sports/horses. These offers get even larger for bitcoiners.

VISIT BOVADA NOW

5

AMERICAS CARDROOM

BONUS:

100% up to $2,000

★★★★★

4.1 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE WITH FREE BANKROLL OFFER

NETWORK:

WINNING

FREE

$10

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Americas Cardroom 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!

Americas Cardroom has created applications for both Windows and Mac. There’s a mobile client too with a restricted list of games. 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.

VISIT AMERICAS CARDROOM NOW

6

COIN POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $700

★★★★★

4.0 / 5

BEST IL CRYPTO-ONLY ONLINE POKER SITE

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

33% RAKEBACK

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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. Of the various crypto-focused internet poker sites, CoinPoker is the biggest and it is growing quickly. In addition to the standard poker formats that we are all accustomed to, CoinPoker also offers a few somewhat unique poker variants like 5 Card Omaha and Open Face Chinese. The rake at CoinPoker is quite low, especially on micro-stakes tables, and it boasts a provably fair shuffling algorithm. Weekly leaderboards and special events also add additional value to playing at this poker site.

CoinPoker is available to play on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. You can benefit from bonuses on your first three deposits here including a 100% bonus of up to $100, a 100% bonus of up to $300, and a 100% bonus worth up to $700. At CoinPoker, you can also earn 33% ongoing rakeback if you keep a balance of CHP, CoinPoker's proprietary crypto token.

VISIT COIN POKER NOW

7

EVERYGAME

BONUS:

200% up to $1,000

★★★★★

3.9 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR RAKEBACK

NETWORK:

HORIZON

EXTRAS

CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK

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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 as well as 25 free slot spins.

VISIT EVERYGAME NOW

8

SWCPOKER

BONUS:

NONE

★★★★★

3.6 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE SITE FOR DIFFERENT POKER VARIANTS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

FREEROLLS

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SwCPoker is an online poker site that denominates all play and cashier functions in BTC (Bitcoin) and BCH (Bitcoin Cash). 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. There are zero-rake micro-stakes tables up to $0.10/$0.20 blinds to help you start your poker journey.

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 your total volume of poker play.

VISIT SWCPOKER

9

NITROBETTING

BONUS:

100% up to 25mBTC

★★★★★

3.4 / 5

BEST IL ONLINE POKER SITE FOR LOYALTY FREEROLLS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

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Nitrobetting's Bitcoin-only cashier delivers exceptionally quick payouts, often in less than one hour. Numerous games are on offer including NL Hold’em, PL Omaha, Crazy Hold’em, and 6+ Hold’em. Weekly and daily freerolls can help put some additional cash back into your pocket.

Nitrobetting’s web-based poker software is widely compatible with almost any computing hardware in use today. Nitrobetting offers a 100% first deposit poker bonus up to 25mBTC. You can also receive mBTC credits back from the Nitro rewards system as you accumulate points through play.

VISIT NITROBETTING NOW

How to Choose the Best Illinois Poker Site For Your Style of Play

No two players are the same, and neither are any two internet poker providers identical. The site you ultimately opt for will depend upon numerous factors, including the stakes you're comfortable with, the formats of poker you most appreciate, and the types of promotions you're looking for. While we can't make this decision for you, we can illustrate some of the things you should be thinking about as you evaluate these competing sites against each other.

How Do I Receive Withdrawals and Payments?

You can easily make deposits and withdrawals at any of the above sites. In our payment speed report you can see what payment options are available and the average processing times for each method.

It may be best to conduct all your poker-related financial transactions with the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. It makes everything go smoothly because you won't have to pay heavy withdrawal surcharges or wait weeks for your money to arrive. If you haven't yet joined the Bitcoin revolution, then we'll show you how with our guide to getting set up with Bitcoin.

Alternatives to Registering Your 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 on 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.

Facts About Illinois Poker Industry

This section will provide detailed factual information regarding the legality of poker and gambling in Illinois, live gambling venues, current and potential future state regulation, and the history involving gambling throughout the state.

The Legality of Online Gambling and Poker in Illinois

Illinois could be a gambling and poker powerhouse, but it has not taken the necessary steps to regulate online gambling. The potential stems from a large and well-off population and a more liberal base that in theory should be more open to citizens being allowed to make whatever choices they want in regard to online gambling.

Although Illinois does have some rather severe anti-gambling statutes on the books, the fact is that charges have never been brought against anyone for playing online poker. At the federal level, all the laws in question, including the notorious UIGEA, only affect those running and managing poker sites on US soil.

These laws were not drafted to go after the players, and this is one area in which the government has adhered strictly to the letter of the law. No one anywhere in the state of Illinois or the rest of the country has ever been prosecuted for online gaming with an offshore firm.

Illinois actually includes provisions specifically mentioning real money gaming over the internet. These codes are contained in 720 ILCS 5, Article 28. Turning to 28-1, we find out how the state defines gambling:

(a) A person commits gambling when he or she:
(1) knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value, unless excepted in subsection (b) of this Section;

There are other numbered clauses in this text, but there's no need to look any further: All games played for money “or other thing of value” are illegal. Now, it's not clear whether or not this refers only to physical gambling taking place within the state's borders or if it includes online betting too. We do see the following from the same section of law enumerating the offenses that count as gambling:

(12) knowingly establishes, maintains, or operates an Internet site that permits a person to play a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value by means of the Internet or to make a wager upon the result of any game, contest, political nomination, appointment, or election by means of the Internet. This item (12) does not apply to activities referenced in items (6) and (6.1) of subsection (b) of this Section.

The operators of gambling sites are clearly targeted by this item. The fact that the internet is specifically mentioned with regard to running a site but not participating as a player may mean that the earlier prohibition against games of “chance or skill” only applies to offline betting.

The phrasing of both of these paragraphs refers to other parts of the law that contain exceptions. All of these exceptions are the permitted types of cash gaming that are authorized and overseen by the State of Illinois.

On to the penalties for violating the law:

(c) Sentence.
Gambling is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under subsections (a)(3) through (a)(12), is a Class 4 felony.

The punishment for a Class A misdemeanor is up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Those who break the rule about running a gambling operation at least twice run the risk of being found guilty of a Class 4 felony, which carries a fine of up to $25,000 and a sentence of between one and three years. Remember that it's not clear whether or not playing on your computer from home would cause you to be in violation of these laws. In any event, law enforcement in IL has never charged or arrested a regular online poker player for breaking the gambling regulations. The only poker games that the authorities have shut down have involved live gaming that occurred without a proper license. You can play on the internet with confidence because there's no history of anyone in the Prairie State ever getting in legal trouble for doing so.

There's another Illinois law that enables gambling losers to recover money from the people they lost to (720 ILCS 5/28-8). If the original loser fails to sue to reclaim his losses within six months, then any third-party can initiate legal action against the winner who will have to pay triple what he or she won. Someone actually attempted to use this law to go after PokerStars, but an appellate court found that an online poker site isn't really a winner for the purposes of this statute but rather just a service provider.

Land-Based Gambling in Illinois

Horse tracks allow pari-mutuel wagering, and there are a number of charitable gaming opportunities in Illinois too along with a state lottery and commercial casinos. The casinos and race tracks are allowed to offer sports betting ever since this activity was legalized in 2019.

Riverboat casinos number around 10, and they're a far cry from their ancestors in the 19th century because they're allowed to be moored in port continuously and have attached hotels and event venues. None of them is particularly large, but the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin may have the best poker room among them. There are 13 tables spreading low-stakes NL Hold'em cash every day with tournaments a couple of times per week.

Charitable poker games are another possibility although they move around frequently to different venues because of rules limiting the number of poker events a qualifying organization can host in the same place.

There are enough traditional casino companies in the state that if online gambling were to be legalized, there would be a pretty natural and competitive scene developing in the area. Harrah's and Hollywood Casino both operate within the state while Ameristar has a property just across the border in Indiana. These traditional powers would be in a prime position to expand their brands in the event of licensed online poker becoming a reality in IL.

State Regulation

Illinois is a prime candidate to legalize poker as they have major budget problems and a large population that has an above-average income. The state legislature has already talked about the possibility of legalizing online gaming, and there have been a few abortive attempts to do so over the years. The latest effort was HB0479 in 2017, which passed the State Senate in a 42-10 vote but stalled in the House.

The gambling expansion in 2019 was centered around sports betting, both live and online, and this basically occupied the time of legislators to the exclusion of poker. Still, the fact that online sportsbooks are now allowed to transact freely, so long as they have obtained the necessary licensure, augurs well for the future of internet poker in the state.

Illinois seems to be getting there slowly but surely, and it should be looked at as one of the more likely states to regulate real money internet gaming in the next couple of years.

History of Gambling and Poker in Illinois

Betting activities in the area now called Illinois date way back to even before Columbus crossed the Atlantic. Ruins from the native city of Cahokia (near modern-day Collinsville) indicate that gambling was taking place perhaps as early as 600 A.D.

The game Chunkey involved rolling a disc on the ground and trying to throw a spear as close to the final stopping point of the object as possible. Wagering on the outcome was a commonplace pastime. Even after Cahokia was abandoned around the year 1300, Chunkey continued to be played by tribal groups throughout a wide geographic area, including the Creek, Cherokee, and Chickasaw tribes.

European exploration of what we now call Illinois was halfhearted at first, and even in 1820, a few years after statehood, there were barely 50,000 people registered on the census rolls. Yet, the groundwork was laid for Chicago a scant 10 years later. The metropolis soon blossomed into a major transportation center with its location close to both the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. It was this river that provided the environment for waterborne hustlers to operate on steam-powered craft, milking the other passengers at games of poker and faro.

Michael McDonald
Original Chicago Crime Boss

The steamboat went into decline after the Civil War, but the railroad more than compensated, and Chicago remained one of the most important cities in the country. Despite strict laws against gambling, underground establishments popped up by the hundreds, and racetracks were also a popular venue for betting.

It was during this time that the criminal element first stepped into the role of protector and exploiter of gambling enterprises. Michael Cassius McDonald, originally from New York, was the original Chicago crime boss, cutting deals with politicians to leave his illicit betting halls alone. He reportedly “owned” politicians Harvey Colvin (mayor from 1873 - 1875) and Carter Harrison, Sr. (mayor 1879 - 1887). McDonald died in 1907 but not before showing the Windy City how organized crime was done.

Al Capone
Chicagoland Bootlegging Gangster

These lessons were taken up by an eager acolyte a few decades later: Al “Scarface” Capone. Though his “Chicago Outfit” was focused mainly on bootlegging alcohol during Prohibition, it did maintain a profitable sideline in gambling.

Patrons at these shady gambling dens should have perhaps been suspicious of the games – evidence has surfaced that some of the roulette tables at least were rigged. But then again, who in his right mind would accuse the house of cheating at an establishment run by the notoriously violent Capone? The Feds thought they had ended the Chicago crime syndicate when they sent Al Capone to prison for tax evasion in 1932, but his subordinates continued on albeit with a much-reduced public profile.

On the legal gaming front, officials of the Land of Lincoln legalized betting on horse races in 1927, making it one of the first states to do so. Charitable bingo was permitted from 1971, and the Illinois Lottery launched in 1974.

In 1990, the state authorized the return of riverboat casinos. At first, these vessels were prohibited from offering games unless they were actually moving on a river, but these restrictions were waived in subsequent years. Today, most of them are permanently docked and are basically the same as any other land-based casino.

In 2009, an activity called “video gaming” was authorized by lawmakers. This refers to small terminals located in bars, restaurants, and other licensed businesses where patrons can play slots, keno, and similar games of chance.

The newest form of regulated Illinois real money gaming came in 2019 with the passage of SB690. This bill allowed for both brick-and-mortar and online sports betting. The first state-licensed sportsbooks duly opened for business in March 2020.

Our experts have created a visual timeline detailing every major gambling and poker-related event to take place within the state of Illinois. The completed timeline can be found below.

Famous Illinois Poker Players

Despite having a population of almost 13 million and a major metropolis in the form of Chicago, the Land of Lincoln hasn't really made itself felt very strongly in the world of poker. Situated far from the Wild West frontier poker hotspots and the East Coast gambling centers while having only limited riverboat poker options within its borders, Illinois can't by any means claim to have had a storied poker history.

Barry Greenstein

Perhaps the most proficient practitioner of the game from Illinois is Barry Greenstein who was born in Chicago and grew up in its environs although he now lives in California. While working toward his Ph.D. in the '80s, he was convinced to join a small startup company called Symantec. He stayed there as a programmer for almost a decade, watching the firm grow into a giant in the software field, but he then left to pursue a full-time poker career.

Any regrets Barry may have had about abandoning his job at the time have since been put to rest by his results at the tables. He has collected more than $8.2 million in live tourney cashes in his career. This includes three World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles.

Greenstein has been known to be quite generous with his winnings, earning himself the nickname “The Robin Hood of Poker” for such actions as donating $440,000 to the charity Children, Incorporated after scoring $770,000 in a 2003 poker tournament. Barry joined Team PokerStars in July 2006, a position that he retains to the present day. Among his other accomplishments, Barry Greenstein is the author of respected poker tome “Ace on the River,” which was released in June 2005.

Other noteworthy players from Illinois include Chicago-born Connor “blanconegro” Drinan, with more than $11 million in live MTT cashes and another $6 million online, 2016 Main Event runner-up Gordon Vayo from Bloomington, and Darien native Gavin Griffin who was the first player to win an event in the WSOP, WPT, and EPT.

Other Types of Online Gambling in Illinois

Illinois offers a fairly limited selection of gambling within the state, leading many people to seek online gambling alternatives. Luckily, there are numerous gambling choices available online for players from Illinois. There are so many choices, in fact, that it can be quite difficult to decide which casinos and sportsbooks are worthy of your trust. Our experts have researched this issue meticulously in order to determine the best options available for players in Illinois. We will provide our top, trusted casino and sportsbook recommendations below.

Online Casinos

Illinois certainly has its share of land-based casino gaming, but there will undoubtedly be times when you want to play right away without having to go outside and travel to the casino. Fortunately, there are many online casinos that you can play at. We have identified three of the best of them:

1. Ignition Casino - $1,500 Max Bonus ($2,000 with Bitcoin)

2. Bovada Casino - $1,000 Bonus x 3 ($1,250 x 3 with BTC)

3. SB Casino - Three 100% up to $1,000 Bonuses

For additional info about dependable internet casinos for Americans, visit our page that lists the most trusted online casinos for USA players.

Online Sportsbooks

Illinois legalized sports betting in June 2019, and the first state-licensed sportsbooks began taking bets less than a year later. However, state-supervised IL online sports wagering demands that you visit a brick-and-mortar gambling location to open up your account in-person before betting. If you don’t have time for such shenanigans, then perhaps you would prefer booking your action with one of our recommended online sportsbooks instead :

1. Bovada Sports - Up to $250 Bonus for Sports ($750 with Bitcoin)

2. Sportsbetting.ag - $1,000 Welcome Bonus and NEVER ENDING 25% Reloads

3. Everygame Sports - Get a $250 Bonus on First Three Deposits

These are only a few of the honest online bookies that serve Illinois. For a more complete understanding of this type of internet gaming, head over to our page about the best online sportsbooks for U.S.A. bettors.

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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!