Illinois has a long history with poker, from Chicago-area casino cardrooms to home games across the state. Illinois does not currently offer state-regulated online poker, but players still have access to established offshore platforms that accept U.S. players.
These sites offer real-money poker, including cash games and tournaments, despite operating outside Illinois’ regulated gambling market.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about playing poker online in Illinois, including available options, what state law says, and the latest efforts to regulate online poker and iGaming.
Top Real Money Online Poker Sites in Illinois
If you’re looking to play online poker in Illinois, the sites below are among the most trusted and accessible options. Each offers a different advantage depending on your playing style, budget, and preferred payment method.
Ignition – Best for Illinois Players Using Crypto Bonuses
Ignition stands out in Illinois for its anonymous cash tables, steady low-to-mid stakes traffic, and strong crypto support. Deposits via Bitcoin are seamless, and withdrawals often arrive within 24–48 hours with no fees. The $1.5M+ in weekly tournament guarantees includes re-entry and bounty formats suited for casual grinders. Ignition strikes the right balance for players who value privacy, reliable crypto payments, and relaxed competition over HUD-heavy play.
High traffic with active cash games and tournaments.
100% up to $1,000 bonus with tournament tickets.
Fast crypto payments with no fees.
Many tournament options, including PKOs and Sunday Majors.
Min Deposit
10
Payout Speed
1 Day
Best for Flexible Banking
If you’re a player who prioritizes fast, flexible banking, you will find a lot to like at BetOnline Poker. With smooth, reliable processing, the platform supports credit cards, e-wallets, and major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Regular tournaments and soft cash games offer plenty of action at approachable stakes, making it easy to stay in the mix. With a $1,000 welcome bonus and steady site performance, it’s a practical, low-friction choice for those keeping a consistent poker routine in Illinois.
Bovada suits casual poker fans in Illinois seeking an easy, pressure-free experience. The simple interface and anonymous tables eliminate the stress of being tracked by regulars. Enjoy quick Sit & Gos, including Jackpot SNGs with multipliers up to 1200x, or low-stakes tournaments with over $2M guaranteed weekly. The fast-fold Zone Poker offers ~200 hands/hour, perfect for quick sessions. With a minimum deposit of $10 and crypto withdrawals processed in 1–24 hours, it’s convenient and efficient for casual play.
Massive daily & weekly tournament schedule with high guarantees
Daily freerolls & leaderboards for casual players
Fast Bitcoin withdrawals (1-8 hours)
Min Deposit
10
Payout Speed
1-24 hours
Best for Tournament Volume
Americas Cardroom is the top destination for tournament volume among Illinois poker players. The site maintains a deep tournament schedule with consistent multi-table tournament action across various formats and buy-in levels. Players can access Texas Hold’em tournaments in No-Limit, Fixed-Limit, and Pot-Limit formats, plus extensive Omaha options including PLO, Fixed-Limit Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo variants. The platform also offers 7-Card Stud tournaments and mixed-game events, ensuring diverse daily tournament opportunities.
Take advantage of a generous 100% welcome bonus up to $2,000, with funds released in $1 increments per 27.5 Award Points earned through tournament play. The site operates legally for Illinois residents and offers regular freeroll tournaments to supplement the extensive paid tournament schedule. Americas Cardroom’s commitment to tournament variety makes it an excellent choice for Illinois players seeking consistent tournament action.
Illinois Online Poker Legality Snapshot
Here’s a quick snapshot of where things currently stand with online poker in IL. While no state-regulated sites exist yet, players in Illinois can legally access offshore poker platforms.
Online Poker
No State-Regulated Sites; Offshore Sites Available
Land Based Poker
Available
Legal Gambling Age
21+
Poker Regulator
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB)
Is Online Poker Legal in Illinois?
Illinois does not currently offer state-regulated online poker. The Illinois Gaming Board has not licensed any online poker operators, although established offshore poker sites continue to accept players from the state.
Illinois lawmakers have repeatedly considered expanding the state’s regulated gambling market to include online casinos and poker. However, those efforts have stalled despite the success of mobile sports betting and regulated iGaming in neighboring states.
Michigan provides one of the clearest regional comparisons. Its regulated iGaming market generates hundreds of millions of dollars in monthly gross receipts, demonstrating the potential size of a mature online casino market. Illinois has yet to follow Michigan by establishing its own state-regulated iGaming or online poker framework.
Can I Play Online Poker in Illinois?
Yes, you can. While Illinois hasn’t legalized or regulated real-money online poker at the state level, players can legally access a number of offshore poker sites. These sites operate outside of U.S. jurisdiction and are widely used by Illinois players without legal interference. They offer real money games with a variety of stakes and formats, from low-limit cash tables to large tournaments.
Sweepstakes and Social Poker in Illinois
Illinois players also have access to sweepstakes and social poker platforms that use promotional gaming models rather than the state-regulated gambling framework. These sites typically use free-to-play virtual currencies alongside promotional currencies that may be redeemed for prizes.
Platforms such as Clubs Poker, Stake.us, and ClubWPT offer poker-style games and social gaming options to eligible players. These platforms operate separately from Illinois’ licensed casino industry and should not be confused with state-regulated online poker sites.
Live Poker and Casinos in Illinois
Illinois’ casino industry has changed considerably since the state first authorized riverboat gambling in 1990. What began as a market built around riverboat casinos has gradually expanded to include land-based gaming properties and major casino developments throughout the state.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines is one of the state’s leading poker destinations, with a dedicated 22-table poker room offering cash games and tournaments. Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin is another longstanding Illinois casino, while Bally’s Chicago represents the state’s expansion into land-based casino gaming within Chicago itself.
These venues give Illinois players access to regulated in-person casino gaming even though the state has yet to launch regulated online poker.
State-Regulated Online Poker in Michigan
Illinois players looking specifically for state-regulated online poker can travel to nearby Michigan. Online poker is regulated there, and players can access licensed platforms while physically located within Michigan state lines.
See our Online Poker in Michigan page for more information about the state’s regulated poker market.
Illinois Gambling Laws
Illinois has one of the more comprehensive gambling frameworks in the Midwest, with a mix of legalized betting options and ongoing legislative efforts. Below is a breakdown of the key gambling laws currently in effect across the state.
Type/Code
Summary
State Code Section(s)
230.ICLS.5-40; 720.ICLS.5.28
Definition of Gambling & Player
Person Commits Gambling: Knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value; or 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.
Online Poker/Gambling
Multiple attempts to legalize online poker and casino games have failed while Illinois has continued to expand other forms of gambling. As of 2026, lawmakers continue to consider iGaming proposals, but no legislation has established state-regulated online poker or online casino gaming.
Live Poker
Live poker is permitted in all of the casinos in Illinois, and the poker rooms offer cash games and tournaments.
Casinos
The Riverboat Gambling Act permitted a limited number of fully-functional casinos to operate as riverboats throughout Illinois, and the 2019 gambling expansion legislation expanded the definition of riverboats and authorized a long-awaited casino on land in the Chicago area.
Sports Betting
The 2019 gambling expansion bill legalized retail sportsbooks, and mobile and online sports betting for people located in Illinois. Retail options were slow to find success due to the 2020 pandemic casino closures, but online sports betting soared in popularity.
DFS
As with sports betting, daily fantasy sports contests were included in the 2019 gambling expansion bill. DFS is now legal in Illinois.
Other Forms of Gambling
Horse racing, pari-mutuel betting, bingo, raffles, pull-tabs, charitable gambling, poker runs, jar games, Native American gaming, video gaming terminals.
The History of Online Poker in Illinois
Illinois first explored online poker regulation in 2017, when a proposal passed the Senate but failed to advance further. Online poker has appeared in multiple iGaming proposals since then, but none have become law. As of 2026, Illinois still does not offer state-regulated online poker, with opposition from the state’s large Video Gaming Terminal industry and concerns about retail casino revenue cannibalization continuing to complicate expansion efforts.
Online Poker’s Impact on Illinois
Online poker has played a major role in shaping Illinois’ modern poker scene. During the poker boom of the early 2000s, offshore sites allowed players across the state to deposit their own money and hone their skills from home. Many of Illinois’ most successful players like Connor Drinan, Mohsin Charania, and Gavin Griffin began their careers online before moving onto high-takes live events. The state’s active poker community has long relied on these international platforms to access real-money games. Even in the absence of state oversight, online poker continues to influence how Illinois players learn, compete, and stay connected to the global game.
Illinois Online Poker Updates in 2026
Illinois lawmakers continue to consider proposals that would legalize online casino gaming and poker, but no legislation has established a regulated market. Recent Internet Gaming Act proposals have included online casino licensing, taxation, operator partnerships, and provisions that could eventually allow Illinois to participate in interstate poker liquidity.
Progress continues to face resistance from Illinois’ large Video Gaming Terminal industry and concerns about revenue cannibalization. VGT operators and local businesses argue that online casino gaming could shift gambling revenue away from bars, restaurants, truck stops, and other establishments that rely on terminal income. Some retail gaming interests have also raised concerns that expanded online gambling could reduce visits to physical casinos. These competing interests have helped keep iGaming and online poker legislation from advancing despite repeated proposals.
Serious iGaming Efforts 2017-2018
In 2017, Illinois passed a Senate bill to legalize online poker and casino games, but the House version stalled. Rep. Michael Zalewski kept pushing in 2018 with H.479. After PASPA was overturned, gambling supporters revised SB.7 to include daily fantasy and sports betting. Despite bipartisan support, the session ended too soon. Rep. Rita led hearings in August and October 2018 on gambling expansion, focusing on new casinos, video gaming terminals, and sports betting, but igaming lacked clarity on licensing and taxes. The second hearing in early October was held in Springfield and focused heavily on sports betting.
Illinois Embraces Gambling
As mentioned, Illinois long ago authorized betting on horse races, and the lottery became legal in the mid-1970s.
In 1990, the state took a giant step forward by passing the Riverboat Gambling Act, authorizing casinos on riverboats. It opened an entirely new revenue stream for Illinois, as much of the state is bordered by rivers – the Mississippi, Wabash, and Ohio Rivers. And the Kankakee River runs from the west to the northeast along the top third of the state. The first riverboat opened in Alton just one and a half years after the law passed. Illinois has since expanded beyond its original riverboat model, with newer land-based casinos and developments such as Bally’s Chicago reshaping the state’s commercial casino market.
Illinois added more gambling in 2009 when the legislature authorized video gaming terminals, also known as VGTs, throughout the state. That part of the gambling industry has grown to offer more than 46,000 VGTs at more than 8,400 licensed locations throughout the state.
Ten years later, Illinois lawmakers considered new revenue streams. As many other states legalized sports betting – some in person and some also online – Illinois wanted a part of that massive industry. It just opened up across the United States in 2018, when the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) per a lawsuit filed by the governor of New Jersey. That monumental ruling prompted lawmakers across America to propose sports betting laws, and Illinois was not left out.
The Illinois Sports Wagering Act of 2019 legalized sports wagering at Illinois casinos, horse racing tracks, and online. The market has since grown into a significant source of regulated gambling activity and state tax revenue.
The gambling laws currently allow for “charitable games” per the Charitable Games Act, and poker is often conducted under this section of the code. Poker is one of the 14 games classified as “games of chance,” along with pull tabs, craps, gin rummy, and keno,” and certain organizations can host poker games to benefit a charitable organization.
Key Organizations for Illinois Poker
ICGA. The Illinois Casino Gaming Association is a trade group representing the interests of many of Illinois’ casinos. The group’s site provides valuable research material for those interested in the Illinois gambling industry.
Illinois Gaming Board. The state gaming board’s official site is the authoritative source for legal and regulatory details regarding gambling in Illinois. Get information on meetings, measures, help with problem gambling, self-exclusion, and a wealth of statistical information at the IGB website.
ICPG The online home for the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling is a central location providing access to a 24-hour helpline, speakers, and resources for educators, families, and players. The ICPG opposes the expansion and regulation of poker laws in the industry.
Play Online Poker Responsibly in Illinois
Even though online poker is not yet regulated in Illinois, responsible gambling remains crucial for anyone participating in social games, sweepstakes platforms, or exploring potential future options. Being proactive about your limits, understanding the risks, and accessing support when needed can protect both your enjoyment and well-being.
Here are some resources available to players in Illinois:
Illinois Council of Problem Gambling: Offers confidential helplines, treatment programs, and educational tools for individuals and families affected by gambling.
Gambling should be fun, not stressful. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.
Famous Illinois Poker Players
Illinois has produced an impressive lineup of tournament poker players, from WSOP bracelet winners and WPT champions to high-stakes regulars competing around the world. According to the latest Hendon Mob rankings, these are the top 10 live tournament earners associated with Illinois:
The top 10 Illinois live poker earnings through 2026, according to the Hendon Mob, are:
Brandon Wilson – $16,544,461
Connor Drinan – $11,846,359
Michael Moncek – $8,304,984
Mohsin Charania – $6,626,615
Aaron Massey – $6,611,059
Jason Wheeler – $5,782,448
Ryan Tosoc – $5,734,702
Gavin Griffin – $5,098,978
Kevin Rabichow – $4,620,757
Ravi Raghavan – $4,538,947
FAQ
Why Are There No Regulated Online Poker Sites in Illinois?
Illinois lawmakers have introduced several proposals to legalize iGaming and online poker, but none have passed. Opposition from Video Gaming Terminal operators and concerns that online gambling could take revenue away from retail casinos and other gambling businesses have contributed to the delays.
Can You Play Online Poker for Real Money in Illinois?
Illinois does not currently offer state-regulated online poker sites. However, offshore poker sites continue to accept Illinois players, while those looking specifically for U.S.-regulated online poker can travel to a state such as Michigan and play while physically located there.
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Illinois?
The minimum age for casino gambling, live poker and sports betting in Illinois is 21. Some other forms of gambling, including the Illinois Lottery, are available to players aged 18 and older.
Are Poker Winnings Taxable in Illinois, and How Are They Reported?
Yes. Poker winnings are generally considered taxable gambling income for federal and Illinois state income tax purposes. For 2026, federal law limits gambling loss deductions to 90% of winnings if you itemize. Players should keep accurate records of their wins and losses and report gambling income on the appropriate federal and state tax returns. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Play Online Poker in Illinois
Illinois does not currently offer state-regulated online poker, and repeated iGaming proposals have yet to overcome opposition from competing gambling interests. Players still have access to live poker at Illinois casinos and offshore online poker platforms, while Michigan provides a nearby option for those specifically looking for state-regulated online poker.
Future legalization remains possible, but for now, online poker and broader iGaming expansion remain unresolved issues in Illinois.
Jennifer Newell is the Editor in Chief at Legal US Poker Sites. She has two decades of experience in the iGaming industry. She is a respected poker media member, contributing to publications and websites like USA Today, PokerStars, and PokerScout. Her knowledge spans gambling legislation and the broader online gaming world. She has spent years advocating for diversity, most notably gender equity in the traditionally male-dominated poker sphere.
Sources & Citations For This Article on Illinois Online Poker
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