Guide to Illinois Gambling Age: Casinos, Sports Betting & More

The current Illinois gambling age variety is wide, and the table below does a good job giving an overview of the age limitations placed on the many types of legal gaming options. The state is home to some of the nation’s most densely populated regions, Chicago which is one of the largest cities in the country, sits on the border of Lake Michigan and is home to two of the states most supported sports teams, the Chicago Bears playing in the NFL, and the Chicago Bulls playing in the NBA. Sports betting, and indeed many other formats are legal in Illinois – the following sections will touch on the specifics of legal gambling age in Illinois for each subtype.

The legal gambling age in Illinois varies significantly depending on which type of gambling you are actively involved. With an enormous range of land-based casinos and a progressive approach to sports betting, Illinois is one of the friendlier states when it comes to gambling authority restrictions. However, there is still serious room for improvement, the online gambling age and internet gaming space is still heavily restricted forcing residents to resort to offshore methods to fulfil their desire of playing online.

Legal Gambling Age in Illinois for Casino

There are several prime locations to enjoy chip based casinos in the state of Illinois. The legal gambling age in Illinois casinos is currently set at a standard threshold of 21 years. The primary reason that casinos do not allow 18 years inside like several other gambling formats is due to the alcohol sold on premises. The drinking age in the United States is set by the federal government, and in all states it is 21 years.

The casino experience for 21 years and over individuals is particular good in Illinois. There is an abundance of choice on the casino floor, and some of the country’s most fantastic gamblers choose Illinois as a top gambling destination due to the high-class luxury some of the top venues are able to offer. Whether you’re into classic card games or trying your luck on the slot machines, you’ll be sure to find something to whet your appetite at one of the fantastic Illinois casinos we’ve named in the list below.

Which Casinos In IL Accept 21 Year-olds?

There are many casinos in Illinois accepting 21 year olds. In fact, all the venues in this state have a casino age in Illinois policy that requires guests be at least 21 years old. You will not find any venues that violate the Illinois gambling age legal code. In some states there are land-based casinos allowing 18 year old patrons on premises, but this is not the case in Illinois, so you’ll have to wait until your 21st birthday before you can visit one of the fantastic locations listed in the table below. There were many candidates for this coveted list of the Illinois state top casino prize, the curated list below took into account several key performance indicators including size, quality and game variety. We can guarantee a visit to one of these locations will not disappoint on your next stopover in Illinois.

Sports Betting In Illinois

Sports betting is one of the gambling industry’s most lucrative and popular forms of betting. Nothing quite beats the excitement and tension of having a wager decided by the physical skill and precision of world-class athletes. In Illinois, sports betting is legal for those aged over the age of 21 years. These bets can be made at casinos, or indeed the venues where the sport is being played. Online sportsbooks still operate in a questionable area of legality. Following the watershed decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 to overturn the national prohibition of sports gambling online, states have now been able to take it upon themselves to bring about a licensed and regulated online sportsbook industry – thus far Illinois is not one of them. However, in the coming months and years, Illinois is expected to join the small group of progressive states supporting online sports betting.

US Online Gambling Age

Local laws determined by state lawmakers determine the Illinois gambling age for online casinos. With that being said, gambling and the online space is not a unified concept that sits well with the ageing gerontocracy in positions of power throughout the United States. For reasons both many and complex, there is a strong resistance to allow gambling to become an easily accessible service via the internet. The casino age in Illinois for land-based venues is 21 and over, but forget about enjoying online casinos in Illinois via regulated and legal means.

Of course, the fact that the state legal code prevents residents form engaging in online casino gambling does very little to prevent the activity happening in practice. We live in an incredibly connected world, the internet is relatively uncensored and someone playing in Illinois can easily connect and play at online casinos located beyond the borders of their state. This happens overwhelmingly so, and many people in Illinois enjoy offshore online gambling through this method. These services are based in jurisdictions where online casinos are legal, and they’re regulated by the local authorities in that jurisdictions. If you’re planning to use an offshore casino, be sure to research the service and take necessary background due diligence to have a safe gambling experience.

Online Poker/Poker Gambling Age

Poker has long been thrown into the same junket as regular gambling by those who fail to grasp the complexity of the game. Indeed, there is luck involved, but the general consensus amongst anybody who has played enough poker is there is a huge differentiating skill gap between amateur and professional players. In this sense, it isn’t really gambling, but a battle of intellect and grasp of game theory principles. In Illinois you won’t be able to play poker legally as the game has not been brought into the sphere of regulated gaming by the Illinois Gaming Board. The same applies for internet gaming, and online poker is illegal in Illinois.

Daily Fantasy Sports

The Daily Fantasy Sports enjoyed by several large jurisdictions across the United States is not something that is reciprocated in Illinois. This state takes a tough stance against Daily Fantasy Sports and hasn’t decided to allow their legalization. This is a strange stance considering general sports betting is legal – but in time, things are expected to progress towards and area of legality. So whilst this fantasy picks variation of classic sports gambling is not a regulated and legal activity in Illinois, at least in the meantime you’ll be able to place sports bets on classic market selections.

Legal Age to Play the Lottery in Illinois

There are many fantastic legal lottery gambling options in Illinois, and you’ll be able to participate in Illinois Lottery from the age of 18. The abundance of Illinois Lottery gambling options, from scratcher instant win tickets to massive lotto draw games – you have many avenues to pursue to win big in Illinois. The lottery is not only a fun way to win some money, but also a valuable resource to the local communities who benefit directly from the funds raised by the popular games being played.

Illinois Gambling Laws & Future Outlook

The Illinois gambling authorities are well established and have developed clear guidelines over how this activity is regulated across the state. With a massive population, and home to one of the largest cities in the United States, Illinois has a growing population of potential gamblers. The next frontier being pushed for is the online gambling sphere, activists and lobbyists across the state are pushing for progressive laws that would extend existing sports betting and casino legislation into the online space. In light of a global pandemic, the time has never been more perfect time for Illinois to legalize online gambling and join the small group of forward-thinking states to take this leap.

Given the vast quantity of people living in Illinois, you can probably imagine the tremendous economic power of the local gambling industry. Lottery draw prizes are regularly in the 9-figure region, and casinos welcome tens of thousands of guests into their venues each and every day. The total tax applied to gambling winnings by the state of Illinois is 5%, and you will incur this amount in addition to the tax applied by the federal government.

The legal gambling age for this state varies depending on which discipline you are participating in. Gambling in Illinois is always going to be a multi-faceted political issue due to the interests and economic stability it provides to the tribal communities. If casinos and operators were able to offer online services, much of the revenue enjoyed by the tribal groups would be wiped out – thus destroying decades old appeasement measures that have been put in place to right the wrongs of history. Even so, economic forces rarely are kept at bay, and as the internet and technology makes it easier than ever to gamble, the long-term outlook of a monopolistic casino market is unsustainable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Throughout this page we have endeavored to bring you the latest information regarding the legal situation of gambling in Illinois, for some of our readers you may find more useful information below with our most frequently asked questions.