Illinois Gambling Laws – What You Need to Know

Like many other states in the US, Illinois allows specific gambling products on its territory. At the same time, not all forms of gambling are considered legal in the state. Illinois is one of many states where the latest changes concerning gambling start to make an impact on the current gambling situation.

Illinois is a state where gambling has a long history. Throughout the years, specific gambling products have been legal for a long time. On the other hand, other gambling activities have been legalized recently. Check this article about gambling in Illinois to find out what forms of gaming activities are allowed in the state. Learn about the Illinois gambling laws that determine the legal status of the gambling products in the state.

Gambling in Illinois – Legalized Gambling Products

Gambling in Illinois is partially legal. This means that some gaming products are allowed, while others are still not. The Illinois gambling laws strictly define which gaming activities are legal and which are not. For instance, almost all forms of gambling are legal on the territory of the state as long as they are run in land-based establishments. Besides, land-based gambling has to be operated only in licensed establishments.

Throughout the territory of the state, there are many land-based casinos that operate legally. Moreover, Illinois is also famous for its riverboat casinos that are also a part of the gambling scene in the state. For instance, there are around 7 of them on the territory of the state. The most popular ones are “Casino Queen” and “Hollywood Casino Aurora”. Those riverboat casinos share more than 10,000 slot machines and nearly 500 tables. IL players have been allowed to gamble on such types of “flotation casinos” for a long time.

An interesting fact is that online gambling is still going through some changes. As you may know, many other states started to legalize different forms of gambling online. Illinois gambling laws also try to follow the latest trends and some gambling types are starting to emerge on the iGaming scene in the state.

Sports betting is another popular type of gambling which is known to IL punters for a long time. On the other hand, the Illinois lottery has a long history and enjoys great interest from IL players. Moreover, throughout the territory of the state, many poker rooms also run regular poker tournaments. Around the state, there are nearly 14 poker rooms. However, currently, none of them is allowed to run online poker sites where IL punters can play for real money.

As for sports betting, this segment is currently legal in Illinois. However, the regulatory changes came into an effect relevantly soon in 2019, when the bill for betting on sports was passed. However, keep in mind that betting on horse races is legal in Illinois since the 1920s. It is the other types of sports betting activities that were legalized recently.

Among the traditional gambling activities in the state is the Illinois lottery. It was first established in 1974 and nowadays continues to provoke great interest among IL players. In 2010, the Illinois lottery started selling tickets for Powerball and Mega Millions too. IL players can purchase their lottery tickets online. However, playing online lottery games in other online lotto sites is considered illegal.

Gambling in Illinois – Legal Aspects

As you already know, gambling in Illinois is strictly regulated. Illinois gambling laws are established to protect the gambling environment in the state from fraudful activities and to protect the players in the state. This is the reason why gambling products are taken into consideration separately. Thus a better control over the specific gambling activities can be implied.

In general, gambling in Illinois is illegal, especially if it does not fall under the scope of the established practices and requirements by the gambling regulatory institutions and laws of the state. The different forms of gambling activities that are legally allowed on the territory of the state are strictly regulated and have to meet the requirements.

Article 28-1of the Illinois Criminal Code specifies the definition of a gambling offence. This piece of legislation also outlines the gambling activities that make an exception and therefore can be considered legal if we are talking about gambling. The laws in the state strictly define the legal Illinois gambling age. Besides, sports gambling in Illinois, as well as casino gambling, are carefully observed and the respective institutions imply the regulatory tools to establish control over the most popular types of gambling activities.

Illinois Legal Gambling Age

Like in many other states, in Illinois players must have the minimum legal age to be able to gamble or participate in any forms of gambling activities that are allowed throughout the territory of the state. The minimum Illinois gambling age, however, is different depending on the specific gambling type. For instance, for bingo and lotto, the minimum Illinois gambling age is 18. At the same time, IL players must be 21 years of age or older to play in casinos.

A minimum Illinois gambling age also applies for sports betting. Sports gambling in Illinois is also very popular but punters must be at least 21 years of age to gamble on horse-racing. Violating the minimum gambling age restrictions is considered a class A misdemeanour. This is why players must be very careful and should not violate the established gambling laws. Otherwise, they might face serious charges, even imprisonment.

Gambling Regulation in Illinois

The regulation of gambling in Illinois is conducted by the respective gambling regulatory bodies in the state. The Illinois Gaming Board is the major institution that deals with all gambling activities on the territory of the state. The board is also responsible for issuing licenses and looking for the strict implementation of the gambling laws.

The Illinois Gaming Board controls all types of gambling activities in the state, including casino gambling, video gambling, sports wagering as well as bingo and lottery games. The main piece of legislation that helps the board to control sports gambling in the state is The Sports Wagering Act (230 ILCS 45). On the other hand, The Illinois Gambling Act (230 ILCS 10) is the main legislative frame that helps regulate casino gaming activities in the state.

The Illinois Gaming Board is also responsible for issuing gambling licenses. On the official site of the institution, IL players can find the full list of gaming establishments and gaming operators that were issued a license from the regulatory institution. There is even information about those who are not approved and have not been granted a license.

History of Gambling in Illinois

Gambling in Illinois has been popular in the state for a long time. Throughout the years, different forms of gambling activities have been legalized or considered illegal. Sports gambling in Illinois dates back to the 1830s when the first horse racing wagers took place in the state. An interesting fact is that the first riverboat casinos began to operate throughout the 1840s. However, during these years the legal gambling in Illinois had a controversial aspect. Later, the Civil War put an end to unregulated activities.

In the 1970s, horse racing was revived in the state, and the authorities decided that this segment should be regulated somehow. During those years, the first forms of legal gambling acts started to take place. In 1974, the Illinois Lottery was also established. Later in 1990, riverboat casinos were officially legalized with the Riverboat Casino Act. In 2012 other forms of gambling were also legalized – bar video poker and slots.

Online Gambling in Illinois

Like the gambling laws in other states in the US, online gambling in Illinois currently endures changes. Until recently, all forms of online gambling in Illinois were illegal. Nowadays, only specific gambling forms are allowed online. For instance, Daily Fantasy sports are not allowed since December 2015 when the Illinois Attorney General declared them illegal.

On the other hand, online casino games are also illegal in the state. Although there are licensed online operators that can provide online gambling services, they are not allowed to promote online casino games to IL players. The only type of gambling that is legalized online in Illinois is horse racing. Moreover, betting on other types of sports online in Illinois is still restricted. Betting on horse racing online is legal only in the licensed operators. However, some other US states already allow the top casino sites in the US to start offering their services online.

Gambling Situation in Illinois – Conclusion

At the end of this article about the Illinois gambling laws, we might conclude that the situation in the state is similar to that in many other states in the US. The Illinois gambling age is the same as the one in nearby states too. Good news is that as whole gambling in Illinois is possible and many gambling types are allowed on the territory of the state. However, there are strict regulations and restrictions concerning legal gambling in Illinois. Sports gambling in Illinois is one of the segments that may endure dramatic changes shortly as many other states start to legalize different gambling types online.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gambling in Illinois?

In case you need to know more details regarding the Illinois gambling laws and the IL legal gambling, then check the section below. Here, we have picked the most frequently asked questions about gambling in Illinois. Besides, we have provided you with brief answers to offer you the necessary information.

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