Illinois Gambling
The Illinois online gambling market is well-developed, headlined by a robust online sports betting industry. While online casinos and poker remain prohibited, residents have access to legal online sportsbooks, the state lottery, daily fantasy sports, and horse racing betting.
Continue below for a complete overview of the Illinois online gambling landscape, detailing what’s legal, the key regulations, and how to play safely.
Legal Illinois Gambling Sites
21+ and present in IL. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Illinois Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age to play) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under the Illinois Gambling Act |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Operates under sweepstakes law; 2025 bills sought to ban but stalled |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited; multiple legalization bills have failed |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under 2019 Sports Wagering Act |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | IL Supreme Court deemed DFS a legal contest of skill |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | IGB issued C&D letters in 2025; operators shifted to peer-to-peer model |
| Online Lottery Sales (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Illinois Lottery offers online sales |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Regulated by Illinois Racing Board |
Illinois Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Illinois.
State law authorizes only land-based casinos, sports betting, and horse racing wagering; it contains no provision for interactive slots or table games.
Illinois lawmakers have introduced bills like HB 2239/SB 1964 in 2023-25 and HB 3080/SB 2499 in 2025 repeatedly, proposing to allow the state’s land-based casinos and racetracks to apply for online gambling licenses.
Proponents point to the potential for significant tax revenue, citing the success of the Michigan online gambling industry nearby.
Despite these efforts, no Illinois online gambling bill has successfully passed both chambers of the legislature.
Obstacles have included competing legislative priorities and concerns from video gaming terminal (VGT) operators about potential cannibalization of their revenue. For now, online casinos remain off-limits in Illinois.
Legalization Outlook
Industry-backed proposals envision a 15-25 % tax and up to three skins per casino licensee, but lawmakers continue to prioritize twerks to the laws governing video gaming terminals (VGTs) and sports wagering over full-scale online gambling.
Legal Alternatives
While players wait for Illinois to legalize online gambling, sweepstakes casinos (see below) are the next-closest alternative.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Illinois
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a legal gray area under Illinois law.
Despite increased scrutiny in Illinois and elsewhere, sweepstakes casinos remain a widely accessible alternative to online gambling. They offer casino-style games like slots, blackjack, and roulette online but leverage sweepstakes laws by offering a “no purchase necessary” option to skirt the statutory definition of gambling.
Threats Facing Sweepstakes Casinos in Illinois
Lawmakers have considered proposals to ban sweepstakes casinos, but bills like SB 1705 and SB 2636 have failed to gain traction.
Practical considerations for players:
- Most sweepstakes casinos require players to be 18+ and provide ID to redeem “Sweeps Coins” for cash prizes
- Typically, players acquire Sweeps Coins by participating in promotions or via sweepstakes bonuses for purchasing non-redeemable “Gold Coins”
- Future legislative sessions or Attorney General actions could revive an outright ban on sweepstakes casinos in Illinois
- Users should follow legislative updates and withdraw their balances promptly if a bill to ban sweepstakes casinos gains traction in Illinois
Illinois Online Poker
Real money online poker is illegal in Illinois.
Much like online casinos, state law does not permit real-money online poker sites to operate. All attempts to legalize online poker in Illinois have been part of broader iGaming legislative packages that have consistently failed to pass.
Legalization Outlook
The the prospect of legal online poker in Illinois remains uncertain, any future legalization efforts would likely involve licensing the state’s existing casinos and racetracks to offer online platforms, similar to the models proposed in past legislation.
For example, HB 2239 and HB 3080 both included provisions to authorize online poker alongside casino-style gambling. Both bills would have expressly authorized interstate compacts like MSIGA so Illinois poker sites could share player pools with other states like Michigan and New Jersey.
In the meantime, sweepstakes poker sites remain a viable alternative in Illinois.
Illinois Online Sports Betting
Online sportsbooks are legal and regulated in Illinois.
Illinois legalized sports wagering in 2019, and the first licensed betting apps launched in 2020. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) regulates online sports betting and issues licenses to qualified operators.
Major national operators, including FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, and ESPN Bet, are all licensed and active in Illinois.
Bettors must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the state’s borders to place a wager, which is verified using geolocation technology.
Wagering on in-state college teams is permitted, but only in-person at a retail sportsbook and only on the outcome of the game (no player props).
Read more:
Illinois Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports sites are legal but unregulated in Illinois.
Major DFS apps like FanDuel and DraftKings operated in a legal gray area for years but received clarity in 2020 when the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that fantasy sports contests are games of skill and not “gambling” in Dew-Becker v. Wu.
The legislature has considered bills that would impose fees and consumer protection regulations on fantasy sports operators, but all efforts have failed to date.
As a result, daily fantasy sports platforms remain unregulated in Illinois. Players should exercise caution in choosing where to play since DFS apps self-impose consumer protection standards, security, and responsible gambling protocols.
Fantasy Pick’em Apps in Illinois
Fantasy sports apps that offer pick’em-style contests (where users predict whether athletes will achieve MORE or LESS than their projected stat totals) are legal but unregulated in Illinois.
Pick’em apps blurred the DFS-sports-betting line until April 2025 when the Illinois Gaming Board and Attorney General sent cease-and-desist letters to operators deemed to be offering illegal online sports betting in Illinois.
In response, all major fantasy pick’em apps withdraw their player-vs-house games and relaunched peer-to-peer formats that they argue fall squarely under the Dew-Becker skill standard.
Prominent operators like ParlayPlay and PrizePicks have remained operational in Illinois since then and have received no pushback from local regulators.
Early drafts of upcoming legislation include a DFS registration fee and cap on entry fees. Meanwhile, operators are lobbying for a carve-out that codifies prop-style contests while respecting in-state college betting restrictions.
Illinois Online Lottery
Online lottery sales are legal and regulated in Illinois.
Players 18 or above and physically located within state lines can use the official Illinois Lottery website or app to buy tickets individually or via subscriptions for recurring draws.
Online purchase options include:
- Powerball and Mega Millions
- Lotto
Lucky Day Lotto - Pick 3 and Pick 4
- FastPlay (instant win games with fixed or progressive jackpot prizes)
Online Horse Racing Betting in Illinois
Online horse racing betting (advance deposit wagering) is legal and regulated in Illinois.
The Illinois Racing Board issues licenses to advance deposit wagering apps (ADWs) and provides ongoing oversight.
Licensed Illinois ADWs offer pari-mutuel wagering exclusively on races held in-state, nationwide, and abroad. Bettors must be 18 or older and physically located within state lines.
Legal online horse racing betting launched in Illinois in 2009 under §3.29 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act.
Illinois Gambling Regulators
Several agencies are responsible for the oversight of gambling in Illinois:
- Illinois Gaming Board (IGB): The primary regulator for casinos, video gaming terminals (VGTs), and sports wagering. The IGB is responsible for licensing, compliance, and enforcement.
- Illinois Department of the Lottery: A state-run entity that oversees and administers all lottery games, including online sales and retail operations.
- Illinois Racing Board (IRB): Regulates both live and online pari-mutuel horse race wagering in the state.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Illinois
Multiple problem resources are available in Illinois for individuals seeking help with problem gambling. The state maintains a comprehensive self-exclusion program that allows individuals to ban themselves from all casinos and online sportsbooks.
- Statewide Self-Exclusion Program: Managed by the IGB, this program allows individuals to self-exclude for a period of five years or for life. Enrollment can be done online or in person.
- Illinois Department of Human Services: Provides information and access to treatment for gambling addiction.
- Are You Really Winning Helpline: The state’s primary problem gambling helpline. Call 1-800-GAMBLER, text ILGAMB to 833234, or visit AreYouReallyWinning.com.