Best Illinois Online Casinos 2025

Illinois is one of the states where online gaming is regulated quite strictly. The Sports Wagering Act of 2019 made online sports betting possible, operated by licensed bookmakers. At the moment, pari-mutuel horse race betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) are also allowed in the state. Land-based casinos are licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) — there are about 15 of them in the region. However, full-scale online casinos — including slots, table games, and online poker — are not yet permitted. Attempts to legalize them have been made through several bills, but none have passed so far. Still, this could change quickly, just as it did with sports betting.

Since licenses for Illinois online casinos are not currently provided, players may use social casinos or sweepstakes casinos. These are not prohibited in the state. The minimum age for playing in land-based casinos is 21. For online casinos, there are no regulations, while in social or sweepstakes casinos, the age limit is set by the platforms themselves — it can be either 18 or 21. Players should always check this in the T&C before registering.

All legal winnings are subject to federal income tax as well as Illinois state tax at a rate of 4.95%. However, if a player participates in a social casino using virtual coins that cannot be redeemed for cash, there are no real winnings and therefore no taxes apply. If a player participates in a sweepstakes casino and redeems winnings, this is considered taxable income. In Illinois, this means federal tax plus the 4.95% state tax.

Participation in unlicensed online casinos carries risks — such sites are not regulated, and players have no legal protection. Moreover, the operation of illegal gaming providers may lead to fines and penalties.

All the approved online casinos you see on this page have been carefully reviewed by the SlotsUp expert team, which has over a decade of experience in this field and has examined hundreds of sites to determine whether they are safe and suitable for play. To speed up your search, personalize the list, and select the best online casino in Illinois according to your criteria, use our filters and sorting options. You can filter this list by specifying, for example, the types of games you are interested in, providers, or choose any parameters related to payments and withdrawals. 

By default, the list is sorted by Recommended, but you can sort it by SlotsUp Rating, Bonus Money, or Free Spins. By default, you also see the Best tab, generated based on various parameters, but you can switch to the Complete List at any time. To make your choice easier, you can also sort the list by Casino Match. This indicates that the IL online casino operates in your location, accepts your country’s currency, and provides an interface and support in your preferred language. This setting is applied automatically, but you can adjust it manually by clicking on it.

Our team of experts has its own evaluation methodology for every online casino site, developed and refined over many years. Among the criteria are: legality and licensing, reputation, quality and clarity of the T&C, available payment methods and limits, bonuses, the presence of responsible gaming tools, quality of customer support, and more.

• License

  In the case of online casinos in Illinois, where there is no local regulation or licensing, players may choose one of the offshore casinos that also hold licenses. When our experts review each casino site, they always evaluate how it operates legally, what licenses it holds, and describe these aspects in detail in their reviews.

• Casino Reputation

  When preparing a rating, experts carefully study everything related to a casino’s reputation. This may include professional reputation — such as nominations for awards, partnerships with trusted ambassadors, peer recognition, and more. And, of course, it concerns the reputation among players — the team carefully analyzes reviews on TrustPilot, Reddit, and other platforms, checks for complaints, and evaluates how the online casino in Illinois responds, whether it communicates with players and resolves disputes.

• Check T&Cs for Players

  While compiling a ranking, our experts also study the T&C and all important information for players. This includes age requirements for registration, territorial, and other restrictions. Typically, the KYC policy and possible checks that players may face are clearly outlined, along with key details about deposits and withdrawals.

• Available Payment Methods & Limits

  The ranking also takes into account the variety of payment methods and the limits imposed by both the casino and the payment systems. Experts always evaluate minimum and maximum deposits, withdrawal limits, and whether there are daily, weekly, or monthly restrictions. Limits set by the payment providers themselves are also reviewed.

• Available Bonuses

  When preparing a review and rating, experts also examine all bonuses offered by the Illinois online casino. They pay attention not only to the size of the bonuses but also to wagering requirements, providing a conclusion on how truly beneficial these offers are for players. The terms are studied carefully, since some bonuses may include restrictions based on a player’s location or chosen payment methods.

• Responsible Gambling Tools

  Almost every site has information on responsible gaming, though it differs across Illinois online casino sites. For example, some sites allow players to set their own limits on deposits, spending, or session timers. Our team evaluates the variety of such tools, as they are genuinely useful for players. 

• Customer Support

  While preparing reviews, experts constantly communicate with customer support and then evaluate each communication channel in terms of the quality of assistance and speed.

Since the state does not issue licenses for online casinos in Illinois, players choose such alternative safe options as offshore casinos, sweepstakes casinos, or social casinos.

Offshore casinos

These are international operators licensed outside the United States, but which can accept players from other countries (for example, Curacao, Malta, Anjouan, and others). They cooperate with a large number of well-known providers and offer the most popular slots, table games, and live casino.

List of the USA offshore casinos

Sweepstakes casinos

Sweepstakes casinos in the USA work on an unique model. The player buys virtual coins — they are used for entertainment, but have no monetary value and cannot be withdrawn. But together with their purchase, the player receives bonus coins — these already participate in sweepstakes. In case of a win, they can be exchanged for real money or gift cards.

List of the USA sweepstakes casinos

Social casinos

Such casinos offer free games with virtual coins that have no monetary value. This is an entertainment format without real winnings.

List of the USA social casinos

The set of payment methods varies from casino to casino and often depends on the player’s location. For players from Illinois, payments via bank cards, cryptocurrencies, and e-wallets are often available. The most popular among them, found in the best online casino in Illinois for real money, are:

• VISA/Mastercard

  Bank cards are the most common deposit method. They are accepted in almost all casinos, providing instant deposits and convenience. The downside is that at online casino that accepts debit card withdrawals to cards are not always supported, and banks sometimes block transactions related to gaming.

• Bitcoin

  Bitcoin — one of the most widespread cryptocurrencies. It is chosen by players who value speed and anonymity. Deposits and withdrawals are usually processed instantly, and many IL online casinos offer special crypto bonuses. The main drawback is the high volatility of the exchange rate.

• Tether

  USDT — a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, which eliminates the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. This method is popular among crypto users thanks to fast transactions and minimal fees. So there are some top Tether casinos.

• Skrill

  Skrill — a popular e-wallet. It provides instant deposits and relatively fast withdrawals, along with an extra level of security. The downside is that some Illinois online casinos exclude Skrill from welcome bonus eligibility.

For players and their family members seeking support with issues related to online gaming, there are several organizations in Illinois itself, as well as national organizations that are always ready to help:

1. Illinois Department of Human Services – Problem Gambling Services (1-800-GAMBLER / dhs.state.il.us)
   Offers confidential counseling, support programs, and assistance for people struggling with gaming addiction.

2. Illinois Alliance on Problem Gambling (weknowthefeeling.org)
   A regional organization that helps players and their families find professional help and resources.

3. National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) (1-800-522-4700 / ncpgambling.org)
   A national council on gaming issues is available to players in any state, including Illinois.

4. Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org)
   A hotline and peer support groups are available 24/7 across the United States, based on community support.

Although Illinois does not license online gaming, players in the state still have legal ways to play. To make your choice, you can evaluate the best rated online casinos in USA based on the criteria we described above. Or you can select the best online casino in Illinois from our list, relying on the expertise of our team, the ratings provided, and all the search tools available on our website.