Illinois Casinos – Best Gambling Venues to Visit
Illinois, or the heart of the Midwest, has become one of the most popular gambling destinations in the United States. The state boasts a thriving casino industry with several world-class gaming facilities across over 20 cities. In this article, we will take a closer look at the best Illinois casino destinations, the available gambling options, and everything else the operators have to offer.
To make the choice of an Illinois casino easier, we included several sections featuring a map of all the gambling facilities in the state, as well as the best Illinois casino venues and their unique features. In addition, we added a FAQ section with the most frequently asked questions, related to the gambling industry in Illinois, US.
Illinois Casino Map
Having mentioned the gambling industry in Illinois, our article will offer you a brief overview of the casino map in the Prairie State. There you will find the exact location of every Illinois casino, especially if you come from outside the state and want to find the best venue for gambling.
The state of Illinois can offer you quite a lot of betting facilities. Most of them are located around big cities, like Chicago, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations. You can also find Illinois casinos located on the river shore near smaller towns, which offer you plenty of outdoor activities and beautiful night views.
Types of Casinos in Illinois
Illinois has two primary types of casinos: land-based and riverboat casinos. The land-based ones are located on dry land and can offer a more extensive range of amenities, including hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment options. The riverboat casinos, on the other hand, are situated on waterways, and while they are not required to cruise, they must remain docked.
The Best Casinos in Illinois
Although Illinois is not the state with the highest number of casinos in the US, there are 25 gambling venues on its territory, which are located across 21 cities throughout the state. Some of these places stand out with their impressive selection of gaming options, high-rated visitors’ evaluations, and magnificent premises that are worth visiting.
Going through all the Illinois casino destinations, we made a list of the best venues in the state, featuring first-class gambling options and all the extras you may look for to match your gaming criteria. So, if you are searching for a classy place for betting, check out the top recommendations below and choose the right option for you.
- 🌟 Rivers Casino (The largest Illinois casino)
- 🎰 Harrah’s Metropolis Casino (Luxury gaming amenities and accommodation)
- 🎙️ Hollywood Casino Aurora (Best for live events and entertainment)
- 🏇️ Grand Victoria Casino Elgin (Top choice for table games)
- 🛎️ Argosy Casino Alton (Three floors of gaming action)
Another thing we should mention here is that all the above-listed Illinois casinos are safe and secure to gamble. This means that you can play safely without worrying about your financial safety since the venues comply with the Illinois gambling laws.
Rivers Casino
Rivers Casino in Chicago is the newest and largest gambling facility in the state. Located in Des Plaines, it features more than 1000 slot machines and 50 table games. The great gaming selection allows you to choose among the most popular slot titles, blackjack, roulette, casino poker, baccarat, and dice games, which will keep you entertained 24/7 daily.
Apart from the impressive gaming options, Rivers Casino has magnificent amenities, featuring several dining options and bars. The modern restaurants will easily cater to your culinary needs, and the classy Lotus cocktail lounge will offer you a sophisticated selection of cocktails. Alongside the great variety of food and drinks, the DJs at the facility will make your night out unforgettable.
Harrah’s Metropolis Casino
The next on our list is Harrah’s Metropolis Casino. Compared to the other Illinois casino destinations, this one will offer you amazing gaming facilities with an impressive diversity of over 800 slot machines and 25 table games. Together with the many great games, the casino in Metropolis, Illinois, will offer you progressive jackpots and video poker, as well as an array of exciting promotions.
In addition, the Illinois casino hotel provides its customers with luxury accommodation, where you can spend the night and make the most of your exciting vacation in the Prairie State. The premium building is on the picturesque Ohio River in Southern Illinois. During your stay at Harrah’s Metropolis Casino, you can also enjoy a special selection of dining options at the Bridges Dining Company or the Riverfront Grill.
Harrah’s Metropolis Casino is a part of the world-class entertainment resort chain Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos. The magnificent building is one of the most popular Illinois casino hotels, offering its visitors 258 luxury rooms, modern amenities, and comfort facilities. Another gambling venue of the famous brand that we have reviewed is the Harrah’s Casino in Laughlin, Nevada.
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Hollywood Casino Aurora is located on the Fox River in Aurora and offers over 1000 slot machines and 26 table games. Aside from the huge collection of slots, the facility provides players with other gaming options, such as roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, and dice games. If you are a sports fan, you can also take advantage of the sports betting options available at the casino.
Alongside the impressive 41.384 sq/ft gaming floor, the Hollywood Casino Aurora admission is free, and so is the parking space for your vehicle, which every driver would appreciate. Besides, you can enjoy the delicious food menu at the cozy restaurants on the casino’s territory, as well as the classic cocktails at the bar and the live local music during the weekends.
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
One of the best riverboat casinos in Illinois is Grand Victoria Casino Elgin. It is located approximately 40 miles west of Chicago, and it offers customers more than 700 slot machines and a variety of table games for every passionate gambler. Additionally, the gambling venue provides players with acclaimed promotions and giveaways, as well as live sports betting action.
Together with the spectacular river view and wide range of gaming activities, Grand Victoria Casino owns an award-winning Buckinghams Steakhouse & Bistro, which will offer you an unforgettable fine-dining experience, including your favorite type of food and drinks. You can make a reservation on the casino’s website, offering cancellation up to 24 hours before check-in.
Argosy Casino Alton
Located on the Mississippi River in Alton, Argosy Casino offers customers a great selection of games, including over 900 slots, roulette, blackjack, craps, and table games. Together with the exciting casino experience, players at this Illinois casino can bet on their favorite sports to make the most of their gaming adventure.
In addition, Argosy Casino features several dining options, including a buffet and a sports bar. The area around the casino offers its visitors plenty of outdoor activities and local attractions for tourists from outside the state. Unlike its competitors, the gambling facility does not offer any lodging, however, you can easily find a hotel nearby.
Other Gambling Options in Illinois
Apart from the top five Illinois casino destinations mentioned above, there are some other gaming options in Illinois. These include land-based poker and bingo, the Illinois lottery, and sports betting. In addition, the state also has several racetracks that offer horse racing. In case these gambling options are not enough for you, you can check out the casinos available in the neighbouring states, such as the Indiana casinos, for instance.
Gambling Laws in Illinois
Before you start to gamble, you need to read the gambling laws in the state of Illinois carefully. The US state has strict gambling regulations, including the minimum age requirement, which is 21 years old. Additionally, all local casinos must be licensed and regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board.
What is more important, however, is the fact that online gambling in Illinois is prohibited, except for sports betting, which was legalized in 2019. It is only available through licensed operators and is limited to within the state. In the table below, we listed all legal gambling activities in Illinois.
| Land-based Casinos | ✅ |
| Land-based Sports Betting | ✅ |
| Land-based Poker | ✅ |
| Illinois Lottery | ✅ |
| Land-based Bingo | ✅ |
| Online Sports Betting | ✅ |
| Online Casinos | ❌ |
As online gambling in Illinois has been a controversial topic for years, it is important to know what is legal and what isn’t before participating in any form of gambling. The US state was among the first to legalize riverboat gambling in 1990, and since then, it’s been constantly expanding its gambling options. Currently, you can take advantage of all we listed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
To give you as much information as possible in this blog post, we included a FAQ section with the most frequently asked questions, related to the casinos in Illinois. Below you can find the most important things you need to know before starting to gamble in the US state, as well as a quick navigation to all the answers to your questions.
Are there casinos in Illinois?
Yes, there are. As we already mentioned in our blog post, Illinois is a very popular gambling destination in the United States. Across the state, you can find some top-rated casinos offering various betting options, high-class accommodation, and fine dining for local citizens and tourists from outside the state.
Are there many casinos in Illinois?
There are more than 20 casinos and pari-mutuel facilities in Illinois. If you want to find the location of a particular casino in the state, you can check out the map of all gambling facilities, spread across Illinois. The map will help you choose the land-based or riverboat casino you want to play at.
What types of casinos are there in Illinois?
According to our research, you can find two types of casinos in the state of Illinois. These are land-based and riverboat casinos. As you can guess by their names, the first type is situated on dry land, while the second is located on waterways. Usually, land-based casinos offer larger gambling facilities, various dining options, and hotel accommodations.
What is the best casino in Illinois?
As we already mentioned above, there are over 20 casinos across the Prairie State. To help you find the right place for you, we made a list of the best casinos in Illinois, including their main features, like game selection, facilities, and other extras they offer.
Is gambling legal in Illinois?
Gambling in the state can be practiced at the age of 21, however, you must get to know the gambling laws in Illinois first. To help you with this matter, we made a table with the allowed betting activities in the state. Although online casino gaming in Illinois is prohibited, you can take advantage of the other options.
