18+ Illinois Online Gambling
- IL Sports Betting – Offshore: 18+, Domestic: 21+
- IL Casinos – Offshore: 18+, Domestic 21+
- IL Poker – Offshore: 18+, Domestic 21+
- IL Bingo – Domestic 18+, Offshore: 18+
- IL Horse Race Betting – Domestic 18+, Offshore: 18+
- Illinois Lottery - Domestic 18+
Illinois is a plush state that offers a plethora of betting opportunities to local players who are at least 21. 18+ Illinois online gambling isn't offered by any state-regulated vendors, but several recommendable offshore sportsbooks accept players under 20 in the Prairie State.
Online gambling sites that are based overseas can legally accept members across the entire country, including Illinois. This means that online betting at 18 in all US states is possible, but just because the option is there doesn't mean that all outlets are reputable.
That's why we've created this primer – to direct Illinois-based gamblers to the best and most recommended betting sites that allow members who are 20 and under to join. Keep reading to engross yourself in the following passages get on the path toward the premier 18 and up betting sites on the web.
Best Site For 18+ Online Gambling In Illinois – Bovada LV
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Is Bovada Legal In Illinois?
Anyone who is at least 18 years old and standing in Illinois can legally sign up with Bovada LV as a member and partake in casino gambling, poker, or sports betting online. Bovada is located in Costa Rica and is licensed for international eGaming by Curacao. For over a decade, Bovada has been the top betting site in Illinois for gamblers eighteen and older and still holds that status in 2024.
- Anyone 18 In IL Can Sign Up At Bet At Bovada
- Deposit With Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum, More!
- Gamble On Pro, College, And Illinois Sports
- Wager With The Bovada Betting App In IL
- Sports Betting, Casino, And Poker Bonus Cash Offers
- Betting Prohibited In NY, MD, NE, NJ, and NV
Best Illinois Internet Gambling Sites For May 2024
Is Gambling Legal In Illinois At 18?
Yes. Anyone 18 and older in IL is permitted to purchase a lottery ticket, bet on horse races, or win some money playing bingo. There are domestic casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks in IL, but they are off-limits to anyone under the age of 21.
If you are willing to do your betting online, anyone in Illinois can gamble at the age of 18 using the offshore casinos, sportsbooks, or poker rooms that we recommend. This is due to the location of international betting sites, which places them outside the scope of US or IL gambling laws.
These venues are only required to follow their local gambling laws, which is why they can accept an 18 or over bettor from a region that is 21+. These online gambling sites are licensed to offer their services around the globe to online players and are legal to use at 18 in IL.
Is Online Gambling Legal In Illinois?
The only form of online gambling that the Illinois state legislature has approved is sports betting, which is permitted over the web and via mobile sportsbook apps. The minimum age to bet on sports online in Illinois is 21 years old.
Online casinos and poker rooms are prohibited from operating domestically in IL, even though they are permitted at in-person facilities. The only way to bet on sports, gamble on casino games, or play poker online for real money is with a site that is based overseas.
Joining an offshore betting site doesn't violate any current gambling laws. The online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker rooms that we suggest you join are licensed to operate by respected gambling commissions and operate inside counties where betting is authorized.
18+ Casinos In Illinois
There are both retail casinos and Native American-controlled casinos located throughout Illinois that are open to 21 and older clientele. Players who are 18 and up but not yet 21 years old do have options through the legal online casinos in Illinois discussed below.
What’s peculiar about the Tribal casinos in IL is they are retail and regulated by the state despite operating on Native American reservations. This differs from the norm, as most states with tribal casinos have either granted them a gambling monopoly or they operate in tandem with retail venues. Neither is the case in IL, as all options are state-regulated regardless of who is operating them.
The following casinos are currently servicing the Land of Lincoln, however, please take note as to whether the venue is operating in a temporary facility awaiting construction of their permanent home.
Retail Casinos In Illinois
Tribal Casinos In Illinois
Online Casinos In Illinois For 18 And Up
There are 18+ online casinos that legally welcome players in IL, but they are not based within the state. No matter where you are in the United States, state regulated casino gambling over the web is not a common option that is offered. Locally licensed web-based sports betting has spread to many states in the USA, but that popularity hasn’t influenced most regions to adopt online gambling in other forms.
That situation changes dramatically when you include the online casinos that cater to IL from offshore destinations. Gambling sites that are based overseas can accept members in Illinois starting at the age of 18. IL gambling laws do not forbid or even mention offshore casinos.
The online casino sites that have earned our highest rankings have done so through years of superior service in IL. We are members of these gambling sites and they are the only online casinos that we use while in Illinois.
Each of them is licensed by a recognized gaming commission and resides within a respected country where online gambling is legal. We invite readers in IL to click on each of the online casinos we feature here to take a tour of all the real money games you can play at 18 years old.
Most Trusted 18 And Up Illinois Online Casinos For May 2024
Illinois Casino Apps For Players 18+
Despite the absence of state-licensed online or mobile gambling options, there are still some fantastic 18+ casino apps legally available to players in IL. These applications are not found in any of the app stores because they are web-based and do not require the download of software in order to use. All you have to do is click on one of the links on this page using your smartphone or tablet to access the casino of your choice, and you'll be able to register for an account, deposit and withdraw funds, and play any real money casino game your heart desires.
You will be able to bookmark these casinos on your device, but you will not be required to download an app in order to enjoy the games. These IL casino apps are simply mobile optimized versions of their full casino suite available via laptop or desktop PC. These are the online casinos that have been offering their services to US players online for over a decade, so they've got the years of first hand knowledge in the market to know precisely what players are looking for in an innovative, sophisticated and high quality mobile casino experience.
If I'm being totally honest, I was pretty skeptical when these apps first emerged. I didn't think that I'd actually be satisfied playing a casino game that fit into the palm of my hand. I am man enough to admit when I'm wrong, and I was definitely wrong in that assumption. These apps are well designed, compatible with all of the leading mobile web browsers, and deliver a very satisfying and enjoyable gaming experience.
Casino Age In Illinois
The minimum age to enter a casino in IL and play a real money table game or slots is 21. If you are between 18 and 20 and living inside IL, you can gamble at any of the online casinos listed on this page. Since these sites operate offshore and hold legitimate business and regulatory credentials, legal gambling can occur almost anywhere using computers and/or mobile devices.
Are Casinos Legal In Illinois?
Yes, Illinois permits the existence of retail casinos, and there are several that are open for business today. IL is unique in that it allows for brick-and-mortar casinos to operate on Native American reservations, but those venues are entirely controlled and regulated by the state.
In most cases, tribal casinos operate without state interference save for simple regulatory oversight to ensure fair play and fiscal legitimacy. Illinois casinos require a minimum age of 21 to enter and play real money games. At these locations, bettors can expect to find games of slots, roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, and electronic gambling machines.
Are Online Casinos Legal In Illinois
The state's domestic casinos are not permitted to offer their services online to players in IL. Domestic operators do not offer casino websites in many states, but there is the potential for the activity to become more popular since online sports betting has become normalized in the USA.
While locals wait for domestic online casino gambling, offshore betting sites are already offering real money games to Illinoisans who are 18 and over. Any of the casino sites listed here are cleared to accept 18+ players in IL and allow them to partake in online gambling legally.
This scenario is made possible by the lack of any laws prohibiting offshore casino sites from doing business in Illinois or the United States. The online casinos we recommend are licensed to operate internationally over the web and exist inside counties where gambling websites are legal.
18+ Sports Betting In Illinois
With so many prominent professional and college teams residing in Illinois, betting on sports is incredibly popular in the Prairie State. Domestic sportsbooks are available in IL, but none are allowed to let anyone aged 18-to-20 place a wager online, on a mobile device, or in person.
Local sports betting in IL is limited to 21+ gamblers, but offshore sportsbooks allow legal wagering by anyone aged 18 or older. International sports betting sites are licensed to accept American gamblers at the age of 18, regardless of what the local minimum requirement is set to.
While there are hundreds of web-based options that will allow eighteen-year-olds to gamble, we suggest sticking to the 18+ online sportsbooks that we recommend for a safe and secure experience and a guaranteed payout. They've been serving the IL market for years and continue to provide superior service to locals.
18 And Up Online Sports Betting In Illinois
Illinois made online sportsbooks legal in 2022, and they debuted in January 2023. Players immediately flocked to their newfound local options, but anyone between the ages of 18 and 20 has been left out of the party due to the local minimum sports betting age requirement of 21.
There are some legal solutions for gamblers 20 and under in Illinois looking to bet on sports online. International sportsbook sites allow gamblers in IL to legally become a member and bet on pro and college games without violating federal or state gambling laws.
We’ve created a list of our most recommended online sportsbooks for IL-based players. They are each based in legal gambling jurisdictions and possess licenses to offer sports betting services over the web to 18 and older players in IL and across the United States.
These overseas sportsbook sites have been accepting bets in Illinois for over ten years and still represent the best online sports betting options despite the presence of local opportunities. Not only is the minimum age to bet on sports set to 18 but there are also odds created for betting on entertainment and politics.
Illinois Sports Teams
No matter what type of sport, college or professional, you’ll find a championship contender in IL. The state has representation from all major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), but the focus shifts to collegiate athletics once you get outside of Chicago.
Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites For May 2024
Is Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?
Domestic sports betting is legal in IL. There are opportunities for local sports bets to be placed at retail locations, online, or using mobile sports betting apps. Domestic sports betting in Illinois is limited to patrons who are 21 years of age or older.
Offshore sportsbook sites can accept bets inside of IL from players who are 18 and up. This is legal because international sports betting sites do not operate inside the USA and are only required to obey their local gambling laws.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?
Online sports betting in IL from a local vendor became legal in 2022, with the first web-based wagers being accepted in January 2023. This allows anyone 21 or older in Illinois to gamble on professional or collegiate athletics remotely, anywhere in the state.
But what about the 18+ sports betting market in IL? Luckily, sports betting sites located internationally are present in the state and offer services that are superior to domestic options in many ways.
First, there's the obvious three-year-earlier starting point for sports betting at 18. Second, their sportsbook bonus offers deliver more promo cash than domestic venues provide. Do you want to bet on the next Presidential election? That can't be done locally, as international sportsbooks are the sole provider of political odds.
Another huge advantage overseas sports betting sites hold is their ability to accept cryptocurrency deposits and payout in Bitcoin and other popular altcoins. Domestic books across the country have yet to adopt crypto, so take advantage and see which types our favorite sites accept.
What Sports Betting Apps Are Legal In Illinois?
Sports gambling apps in Illinois are offered locally and by offshore betting applications. State-regulated sportsbook apps are available to download on Android and Apple devices, but players must be at least 21 years old to bet. We prefer the use of offshore sports betting apps in the Land of Lincoln for many reasons, but perhaps the most important is the acceptance of players at the age of 18.
In addition to mobile sports betting apps, international gambling sites also allow for mobile access to their online casinos and poker rooms (where applicable), all using the same membership. Using a mobile web browser like Google, Chrome, Opera, or Safari, remote gambling can occur using the top betting apps listed here. What's great is that no download is required because offshore sportsbook apps are connected to using mobile web browsers.
Click on any link provided in this guide, and your mobile phone will be transformed into a handheld gambling machine that can be used anywhere in Illinois at the age of 18.
18+ Online Poker – Illinois
State-regulated online poker in IL is legal and offered in 21+ card rooms around the state. Locally operating domestic poker sites are not permitted in the Land of Liberty, but there is potential for the future, considering the rip gambling climate the state is currently experiencing. Online poker in Illinois can be played for real money using any online card room we list here.
PCs, Macs, laptops, and any other web-ready device in Illinois can connect to our best poker sites and play a real money game. Each online poker website that we prefer features a slightly different collection of games and rules, so check out each one to see which one matches your needs the most.
When making a deposit, members can choose to accept a poker bonus. Unlike promos offered for sports betting and casino gambling, there are no strings attached to poker promos. Bonus cash is added to accounts after each hand count threshold is crossed, so the more you play, the more they pay - win or lose!
Best 18 & Up Online Illinois Poker Rooms For May 2024
Is Poker Legal In Illinois?
Yes. Poker is legal in Illinois, using both offshore and domestic operators. Here are a few key differences in the legalities of using an offshore 18 and over poker site versus a 21 and up local room based in the state of Illinois.
- Domestic Poker Rooms In IL: State gambling laws allow for the presence of legal poker rooms in Illinois. Players aged 21 and up can enter an IL card room and ante up at the poker tables. At this time, there are no online poker sites that are allowed to operate domestically.
- Offshore Poker Sites In Illinois: Legal online poker in IL can only be played at an offshore betting site. Any of the sites you'll find on this page are based offshore and legal for 18+ players to sign up with. No laws at the state or federal level suggest that joining and gambling with an offshore betting site is illegal.
Is Online Poker Legal In Illinois?
Yes, real money hands can be played at online poker sites in IL at the age of 18, but local card rooms are not allowed to offer their services over the web or via gambling apps. The only way to play poker online in Illinois for real money is with a gambling site that offers its services from an overseas location.
Not all international online poker rooms are amenable to 20 and under players, but the ones we do business with accept 18+ gamblers in IL. Our top gambling sites hold licenses to offer eGaming internationally from regulated countries or gambling commissions.
These sites offer popular games of Texas Hold'em, 5-Card Draw, Stud, Hi-Lo, and poker tournaments for beginners and experienced players. Games of poker can be played on any device that can connect to the Internet with a web browser on board.
Other Options For 18+ Gambling In Illinois
IL features a wide variety of gambling options within its borders, but not many for the 20 and under crowd. Here are some atypical 18-friendly betting options for players in the Prairie State.
- 18+ Horse Race Betting Online – Local online racebooks and offshore sports betting sites will allow for betting on horse races at eighteen years old. Horse race betting is one of the most common domestic 18+ gambling options in the United States.
- 18+ Political Betting Online – No domestic sportsbooks will offer election odds, but offshore betting sites specialize in political prop bets for races occurring at the federal and local levels. If you want to bet on the next President, Governor, Congressperson, or Supreme Court Justice, you can do so at 18 with any IL sportsbook listed here.
- 18+ Entertainment Betting – Betting on the British Royal Family, reality television odds to win, pro wrestling prop bets, and gambling on celebrities are just a few genres that fall into the category of entertainment. Local sportsbooks don't create entertainment odds, making them exclusively available at offshore betting sites.
- 18+ Online Bingo – While there is no option to play online bingo domestically, electronic bingo gambling games are offered at some of the online casinos featured here. These online real money games of bingo more closely resemble slots because they are single-player unlike actual games in halls.
Mobile Betting Apps In IL
Domestic mobile sports betting debuted in IL in January 2023, and locals have downloaded these apps in droves since then. Anyone 21 and up in the state can bet on sports on any up-to-date Apple or Android by downloading one of these domestic sportsbook apps. These sports betting apps allow for gambling on most professional and college games, including the programs that are associated with Illinois-based universities.
There are no other mobile gambling options that are regulated by the Illinois government, but that could change if lawmakers begin to notice the revenue that poker and casino apps are collecting in nearby states like Michigan and West Virginia.
There are, however, plenty of mobile gaming options in Illinois available at 18 years old for all major betting types when shopping offshore. Any site we recommend here can be pulled up on smartphones and tablets just by clicking one of the posted links.
A mobile web browser like Opera, Safari, Chrome, and others are all you need to transform your device into a handheld sportsbook, poker room, or casino. If you’re 18+ and in Illinois, click and gamble right now at any site featured here and witness your smartphone or tablet transform into a gambling device that can be controlled with touch button navigation via a single finger.
- IL Sports Betting Apps: Offshore (18+), Domestic (21+)
- Mobile IL Casino Apps: Offshore Only (18+)
- IL Poker Apps: Offshore Only (18+)
- Mobile Illinois Bingo Apps: Offshore Only (18+)
- IL Racebook Apps: Offshore (18+), Domestic (18+)
🎲 Illinois Gambling History
1927
- Horse Race Betting Becomes Legal In Illinois
1971
- The Illinois Lottery Is Established And Real Money Games Of Bingo Are Made Legal
1990
- IL Legalizes Riverboat Gambling. Ten Riverboats Are Permitted To Offer Casino Gambling While In Motion.
1999
- Riverboats Are No Longer Required to Be In Motion. Existing Riverboats Become Dockside Casinos.
2009
- Electronic Gambling Machines Are Approved For Installation In A Number Of Establishments.
2011
- Legislation Is Passed Permitting The Construction Of Land-Based Casinos And Racetracks. The New Law Also Permits Slot Machines.
2019
- Sports Betting In IL Is Made Legal. In-Person Sportsbooks Debuted In 2020, And Mobile Sports Betting Apps Began Operation In 2022.
Where Can I Gamble In IL Locally?
State-licensed sportsbooks operate in IL locally via all current options - in-person, online, mobile, and offshore. Betting on sports with a domestic IL sportsbook requires a minimum age of 21. Offshore sportsbook sites are based overseas and can offer online sports betting to 18 and older players because that is what the law requires in their home jurisdiction. The online sportsbooks that we endorse here are all 18-friendly and accept members in IL.
There are ten dockside casino in IL, and several more venues constructed on land. The minimum age to enter any IL casinos is 21. These gambling venues features games of slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, poker, and electronic betting machines. Many of these locations also feature a retail sportsbook. If you plan on having an extended evening of gambling fun, consider getting a room at one of the luxurious hotels that are attached to some of these casinos.
21 and over poker players in Illinois have several rooms offering real money hands across the state. Some are standalone rooms while others reside within IL casinos. Some casinos in IL offer dealer-based table games of poker and not a full-fledged room where you can play against opposing gamblers. Check the website of each IL poker outlet before traveling there to make sure they offer the games you prefer.
Four horse race tracks reside in IL. 18+ gamblers can visit one of these locations and bet on the races. These venues also double as racinos, offering casino games and slots, as well as sports betting. While horse race betting's minimum age is 18, you have to be 21 to casino gambling or bet on sports.
Major Cities In IL Where Gambling Is Legal At 18
- Chicago Casinos: There are a number of casinos in Chicago catering to the largest population pool in the state. The satellite cities of Aurora and Joliet also feature casinos near Chicago, providing locals that are 21 and over a bevy of option for winning some cash.
- Aurora Casinos: The Hollywood Casino Aurora is the largest gambling venue in the area, catering to players who are 21 and older, near the west side of Chicago. Slots, table games, sports betting, and poker are available to local patrons.
- Joliet Casinos: Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel and the Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet are the two major gaming institutions in the area. Both casino resorts require a minimum age of 21 to enter and partake in the real money games.
🌎 Nearby States With Legal 18+ Gambling
- 18+ Gambling In Missouri – Lottery, Bingo
- 18+ Gambling In Iowa – Lottery, Horse Race Betting, Bingo
- 18+ Gambling In Wisconsin – Lottery, Bingo, Some Casinos
- 18+ Gambling In Indiana – Lottery, Bingo, Horse Race Betting
- 18+ Gambling In Kentucky – Casino Gambling, Poker, Lottery, Bingo, Horse Race Betting, Sports Betting
18+ Illinois Betting FAQs
Additional Illinois Gambling Information
- The Official Website Of The Illinois Gaming Board – The regulatory agency that oversees IL’s domestic gambling market.
- The Illinois Council On Problem Gaming