The Short Answer
Illinois does not have legal, regulated online poker. The state has embraced gambling expansion in recent years — 15 commercial casinos, video gaming terminals in bars and restaurants, and legal mobile sports betting — but online poker has not been part of that expansion.
Illinois players who want to play online poker access offshore operators. The PokerSites.org review team's top picks for Illinois players in May 2026 are BetOnline Poker and Bovada Poker.
Illinois is often grouped with New York as one of the "most likely next states" for iPoker legalization, primarily because the infrastructure (licensed casinos, mobile sports betting) already exists.
Best Offshore Poker Sites for Illinois Players (May 2026)
1. BetOnline Poker — Best Overall for IL Players
- 100% deposit match up to $1,000 on first crypto deposit
- Crypto withdrawals cleared in 18–36 hours
- Daily tournaments with guarantees from $1K to $50K
- Cash games running 24/7 from micros to high stakes
Visit: Read our full BetOnline review
2. Bovada Poker — Best for Recreational IL Players
- 100% deposit match up to $500
- Anonymous tables prevent opponent tracking
- Zone Poker (fast-fold) available
- Integrated sportsbook and casino
Visit: Read our full Bovada review
3. Americas Cardroom — Best Tournament Value
- Venom tournament: $10M guaranteed
- 100% deposit match up to $2,000
- Strong mid-stakes cash game traffic
Visit: Read our full Americas Cardroom review
Illinois Online Poker Legal Status
Current Law
Illinois gambling law is governed by the Illinois Gambling Act (230 ILCS 10), the Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40), and the Sports Wagering Act (230 ILCS 45):
- The Illinois Gambling Act authorizes up to 15 commercial casinos (expanded from the original 10 under the 2019 gaming expansion). The Act does not address online poker or online casino gaming.
- The Sports Wagering Act (2019) authorized mobile and retail sports betting in Illinois. It is the state's first venture into regulated online gambling. The Act is narrowly limited to sports betting and does not extend to poker or casino games.
- Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/28) — Illinois gambling crimes target operators and those who profit from unlicensed gambling. Individual player-side enforcement for online poker has not occurred.
The Sports Betting Precedent
Illinois launched mobile sports betting in June 2020 and rapidly became one of the highest-revenue US sports betting markets. Key points relevant to the iPoker discussion:
- Illinois generated over $600 million in sports-betting handle per month during peak periods
- The state's tax rate (15% of adjusted gross revenue, increasing to 20% for the largest operators under 2024 legislation) is moderate compared to New York's 51%
- Licensed operators include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and Caesars — many of which also hold poker licenses in other states
The sports betting infrastructure (geolocation verification, regulatory framework, licensed operator relationships) could be extended to cover iPoker without building from scratch.
Legislative Outlook
iPoker-specific bills have been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly but have not gained significant traction:
- The primary obstacle is not political opposition to poker — it is legislative bandwidth and the absence of a strong lobby pushing for iPoker specifically
- The 2019 gaming expansion was a massive legislative lift (new casinos, sports betting, VGTs) and there is limited appetite for another gambling expansion bill in the near term
- Some legislators have discussed bundling iPoker with online casino gaming into a single igaming bill, similar to Michigan's approach
Most industry analysts consider 2028–2029 the earliest realistic timeline for Illinois iPoker, contingent on a broader igaming push.
Banking for Illinois Players
| Method | Availability | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin / crypto | All 3 recommended sites | Deposit: instant. Withdrawal: 18–72 hours |
| Voucher / P2P | Bovada, ACR | Deposit: 1–4 hours. Withdrawal: 24–48 hours |
| Credit/debit card | Limited success | Most IL bank issuers block transactions |
Cryptocurrency is the recommended method for Illinois players using offshore sites.
Live Poker in Illinois
Illinois has a solid live poker market centered around the Chicago metropolitan area:
- Horseshoe Casino Hammond (Hammond, IN — technically across the state line but serves the Chicago market) — One of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest. Spreads cash games from $1/$2 to $25/$50 and hosts WSOP Circuit events.
- Rivers Casino Des Plaines — The closest casino to downtown Chicago. Active poker room with daily tournaments.
- Hollywood Casino Aurora — Established poker room with regular tournament series.
- Grand Victoria Casino Elgin — Cash games and weekly tournaments.
- Bally's Chicago (opening phases) — The first casino within Chicago city limits, expected to eventually include a poker room.
Illinois players also have easy access to the Indiana casino market (Horseshoe Hammond, Hard Rock Northern Indiana) for additional live poker options.
Responsible Gambling — Illinois Resources
- Illinois Council on Problem Gambling — 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
- Illinois Department of Human Services — problem gambling referral program
- Gamblers Anonymous — gamblersanonymous.org
For the full PokerSites.org responsible-gambling policy, see our Responsible Gambling page.
Last reviewed: 14 May 2026 by Jason Murphy, Senior Editor. Next scheduled review: 14 August 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: PokerSites.org receives a referral commission when readers register with operators we link to. Our ratings are set before any commercial relationship and are not negotiable. See our editorial policy for the full disclosure.