From Chicago’s unique mix of traditional and modern agriculture, to taking in a game at venerable Wrigley Field or Soldier Field, to the exciting water exploration opportunities of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, Illinois has plenty to offer to travelers.
And for those who like a little action on the side during a vacation paradise, Illinois can deliver the goods. From casino gambling, to online and retail sports betting and live horse racing, there’s a plethora of betting opportunities at your disposal.
The legal gambling age in Illinois is 21.
Top Illinois Casinos: where can you bet and play slots in the Lincoln State
There are 15 land-based casinos operating in Illinois. Many are anchored riverboat casinos. Bally’s Chicago is slated to become the state’s 16th brick and mortar casino in 2026.
These are among the most popular casinos in the state.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines
- 3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018
- (847) 795-0777
- riverscasino.com/desplaines
There’s something for players of all levels among the 1,500 Rivers Casino Des Plaines slots, with denominations ranging from $0.50 to $100 a pull and everything from old-school reel slots to massive progressive jackpots. The casino slot area features a high limit room and a private cage window.
Table game options include blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette, along with card games such as Pai Gow Power, Pai Gow Tiles, High Card Flush and Mississippi Stud poker. The 22-table poker room offers Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Stud poker. Sports bettors will find a 26-seat bar inside the BetRivers Sportsbook. Wager with an actual person at the betting counter, or via one of their self-serve kiosks.
Dine in style at Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chophouse, grab a gourmet burger at Flipt, or get a quick sandwich at the Coffee Spot among nine on site eateries. The Event Center features such acts as Howard Jones, Air Supply and Kansas. If it’s a business meeting, wedding, or other social event you’re planning, there’s ample space to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Hollywood Casino Joliet
- 777 Hollywood Blvd, Joliet, IL 60436
- (888) 436-7737
- hollywoodcasinojoliet.com
Billed as the best casino near Chicago, Hollywood Casino Joliet provides access to over 1,100 state-of-the-art slot and video poker machines, including the most penny slots in Joliet. Play everything from classic reel slots to massive progressive jackpot games.
You’ll also find video poker games and 24 table games, including baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette and card games like Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud and Three Card Poker. The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Joliet offers sports wagering terminals and 14 kiosks located throughout the casino floor and pavilion for your convenience.
Find king and queen rooms at the casino hotel, with rates as low as $119.99 per night. Final Cut Steakhouse supplies a tasty fine dining experience. Casual fare is available at 99 Hops House and the Take Two Deli. For high rollers, there’s a VIP Lounge.
DraftKings At Casino Queen
- 200 Front Street, East St. Louis, IL 62201
- (800) 777-0777
- casinoqueen.com
Located in East St. Louis, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, DraftKings At Casino Queen is a riverboat casino offering 38,000 square feet of gaming space featuring 915 slots and 29 table games. There’s everything from low limit penny games to $25 high-limit reels. Along with classic table games like blackjack, roulette and craps, you can also explore options such as Mississippi Stud, Three Card Poker or Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
The DraftKings At Casino Queen Sportsbook features five betting windows, 38 betting kiosks and the best in-stadium food for your dining pleasure. Other dining options include the Bridgeway restaurant, the 3 Woks Noodle Bar restaurant, a That Chickn’ Place chicken stand, QBar and Front Street Coffee.
Both a 157-room hotel and a 133-space RV Park are adjacent to the casino. The smoke free hotel provides spectacular views of the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis, an indoor temperature controlled swimming pool, and fitness center. Room rates start at $139 a night.
For easy access to a night out in St. Louis, catch the MetroLink train from the East Riverfront station, which is located within walking distance of the casino property.
Hard Rock Casino Rockford
- 7801 E State St, Rockford, IL 61107
- (779) 269-9010
- casino.hardrock.com/rockford
Players at the Hard Rock Casino Rockford will find at their disposal 1,300 of the newest and most popular slots, including some of the biggest jackpot games of any casino in Rockford. There’s access to a high limit room for big-time players. Table games offer the choice of electronic versions, or the real deal. Play blackjack, craps, roulette and mini baccarat, along with Mississippi Stud, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
If it’s poker you desire, grab a chair at one of six tables offering limit and no-limit Texas hold’em. For sports bettors, the Hard Rock Sportsbook delivers two betting windows and five self-serve kiosks.
Six dining options include Brick’d Italian Kitchen, Street Tacos and the Constant Grind. The 2,000-seat Hard Rock Live venue has featured acts like Franie Valli, Wynnona Judd and Straight No Chaser. The Hard Rock Casino has discount deals in place to get special rates at nearby Rockford hotels.
Harrah’s Joliet
- 151 N. Joliet Street, Joliet, IL
- (815) 740-7800
- caesars.com/harrahs-joliet
Harrah’s Joliet is a riverboat casino near Chicago operated by Caesars Entertainment. The casino features 800+ slot machines, 150 video poker games and 20+ table games. The art deco theme offers 39,000 square feet of gaming space. There’s blackjack, craps, roulette and mini-baccarat. Poker players can access games of Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, High Card Flush and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
A 204-room hotel offers room rates for as little as $182 a night. Amenities include a fitness center, business center, meeting rooms and facilities for weddings. Three on site restaurants include fine dining at The Reserve, Mexican fare at Tortazo and classic American food at the Cross Street Grill. Grab a cold beer or a cocktail and dance the night away at Sheer.
Here is a list of all real money slots and online casino apps in the USA right now.
Illinois Horse Racing
The industry has taken a hit in Illinois. In the past eight years, three Chicago-area tracks have been shuttered – Arlington Park, Balmoral Park, and Maywood Park.
Two tracks continue to offer pari mutuel wagering in the state. Fairmount Park provides seasonal live thoroughbred racing and all-day simulcast wagering. Hawthorne Race Course delivers classic dirt and turf racing at Chicago’s hometown track, along with 12 off-track betting bars.
Advance deposit wagering is also available in Illinois.
Illinois Online Sports Betting
The state of Illinois legalized both retail and online sports betting in June of 2019. The first bets were laid in March of 2020.
Among the popular online sportsbooks operating in Illinois are Bet365, BetRivers, Fanatics, ESPN Bet, Caesars and Hard Rock Bet.
If you’re physically in Illinois and over the age of 21, you can open an account and wager at any of these online sites.
Illinois online sports betting markets: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, boxing, MMA/UFC, soccer, tennis, golf, auto racing, cornhole, futsal, Gaelic Games, rugby, cricket, chess, darts, surfing.
Illinois online sports betting types: Moneylines, point spreads, runlines, pucklines, totals, futures, parlays, same-game parlays, player, team and game props, live betting, micro betting, double chance, forecast, double result, grand salami, reverse forecast, round robin, teasers.
Illinois Online Casinos
Online casino gambling is not legal in Illinois. A second attempt to push through legislation to legalize online casino gambling in the state was initiated in February of 2025. The first attempt in 2023-24 failed to make it out of committee.
All The Best Illinois Casinos and Betting Sites
Best Online Sportsbooks in Illinois
- Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook Illinois
- Bet365 Sportsbook Illinois – best app
- BetRivers Sportsbook Illinois – promo code USBTRV
- Fanatics Sportsbook Illinois
- ESPN Bet Sportsbook Illinois
- Caesars Sportsbook Illinois
TOP Land-Based Casinos in Illinois
- Rivers Casino Des Plaines
- Hollywood Casino Joliet
- DraftKings at Casino Queen
- Hard Rock Casino Rockford
- Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel
(Bally’s Chicago is set to open in 2026.)
Horse Racing Tracks in Illinois
- Fairmount Park Racetrack
- Hawthorne Race Course
