Casinos in Illinois

History of Gambling in Illinois

Illinois has one of the most storied commercial gambling histories in the Midwest, built on a foundation of riverboat gaming that stretches back to the early 1990s. The Illinois Riverboat Gambling Act, signed into law in 1990, authorized wagering aboard riverboats traversing the state’s navigable waterways. The first legal casino under this framework opened in 1991 in East St. Louis, at what is now Casino Queen — marking the beginning of a regulated gaming industry that would grow into a significant source of state tax revenue.

The riverboat model came with strict conditions in those early decades. Casinos were required to conduct “cruising” trips on actual waterways, a mandate that was eventually relaxed to allow dockside operations as the industry matured. Perhaps most consequentially, the original legislation imposed a hard cap of ten riverboat casino licenses statewide, a ceiling that shaped the competitive landscape for nearly three decades.

That ten-license cap was lifted by the Illinois Gaming Expansion Act of 2019, a sweeping piece of legislation that fundamentally reshaped gambling in the state. The 2019 act authorized up to six new casino licenses — including one for the city of Chicago — and permitted existing licensees to expand or relocate to land-based facilities. It also legalized sports wagering, creating a new category of gaming that launched in March 2020. The expansion represented the most significant transformation of Illinois gambling law since the original riverboat act, with analysts projecting hundreds of millions in new annual tax receipts.

Casino Properties

Rivers Casino Des Plaines is the highest-grossing commercial casino in Illinois by revenue, a distinction it has held consistently since opening in 2011. Located at 2601 E Fargo Ave in Des Plaines, just minutes from O’Hare International Airport, Rivers offers more than 1,100 slot machines, roughly 60 table games, and a dedicated poker room. The property includes multiple restaurants and bars and draws a large volume of traffic from Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Its Rush Street Gaming ownership brings a polished urban-resort atmosphere that sets it apart from older riverboat-era properties.

Hollywood Casino Aurora sits on the Fox River at 1 New York Street Bridge in Aurora, about 40 miles west of Chicago. One of the original Illinois riverboat licenses, it has operated in various forms since the early 1990s and today offers slots, live table games including blackjack, craps, and roulette, and a dedicated food and beverage program. The Penn Entertainment brand brings the recognizable Hollywood theme throughout the facility. Aurora’s location makes it accessible to players from the western suburbs and the broader Chicagoland region.

Harrah’s Joliet at 151 N Joliet St is one of two Caesars Entertainment properties in the Joliet corridor. Operating under the Harrah’s flag, the property offers slots and table games alongside a hotel tower, making it a destination option for overnight visitors. The Caesars Rewards program — one of the most widely recognized loyalty programs in American gaming — is active here, allowing players to earn and redeem tier credits and reward credits across hundreds of Caesars properties nationwide. Joliet’s position on the I-80 corridor means it draws visitors from both Chicago and the broader northern Illinois region.

Hollywood Casino Joliet at 777 Hollywood Blvd offers a second major option in the Joliet market. Also part of Penn Entertainment’s portfolio, it rounds out the concentration of gaming options that has made Joliet one of the more competitive local casino markets in the state. The property features slots, live table games, and dining options consistent with the Hollywood Casino brand standard.

Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin at 250 S Grove Ave sits along the Fox River in the city’s downtown and serves the northern suburbs and communities stretching toward Rockford. The property features several hundred slot machines, table games, and a restaurant. Elgin has been a gaming destination since the early riverboat era and the Grand Victoria remains the anchor of that local market.

Casino Queen Hotel in East St. Louis at 200 S Front St holds a unique place in Illinois gambling history as the site where legal casino gaming first launched in the state. Situated directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, the property draws visitors from both sides of the state line. Today it operates as a full hotel-casino with slots, live table games, and event space. The Casino Queen brand has expanded in recent years with additional facilities, though the East St. Louis property remains its flagship location.

American Place Casino — Waukegan

Among the properties authorized under the 2019 Gaming Expansion Act, American Place Casino in Waukegan at 4011 Fountain Square Place is worth noting separately as an emerging facility. The property opened an interim casino in 2023 while a permanent facility is under development, making it one of the newer entries into the Illinois commercial casino landscape. Located in Lake County near the Wisconsin border, it targets a market that previously had limited nearby gaming options. The permanent American Place facility, when complete, is expected to be a full resort-scale development.

Players Club Programs

Illinois casinos generally offer competitive loyalty programs given the competitive nature of the market. At Rivers Casino Des Plaines, the Rush Rewards program provides players with tier-based benefits including free play credits, dining discounts, hotel rates, and priority access to events. The program operates on a points-accrual model tied directly to slot play and table game activity.

Caesars Rewards at Harrah’s Joliet is among the most recognized programs in North American gaming. Members accumulate tier credits and reward credits simultaneously — tier credits determine membership level (Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Plus, Diamond Elite, and Seven Stars), while reward credits convert to Free Play and other perks. The program’s breadth means credits earned in Joliet can be used at Caesars, Horseshoe, and Harrah’s properties across the country.

Penn Entertainment’s mychoice program covers both Hollywood Casino Aurora and Hollywood Casino Joliet. Like Caesars Rewards, mychoice operates on a tiered structure with elite-level members accessing expedited service, exclusive promotions, and complimentary hotel stays. Players who visit multiple Penn properties in the region can consolidate their earning into a single account.

At all properties, signing up for the players club before beginning play is the standard recommendation. Enrollment is free and ensures that all qualifying gaming activity earns points from the first session.

Legal Framework and Responsible Gaming

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is the state agency responsible for regulating all commercial casino gaming. Established under the 1990 Riverboat Gambling Act, the IGB issues and oversees casino operator licenses, conducts background investigations, enforces compliance, and publishes monthly revenue data for each licensed facility. Contact and regulatory information is available at igb.illinois.gov.

The legal gambling age in Illinois is 21 for casino gaming. Casinos are required to post responsible gaming materials, and Illinois maintains a voluntary self-exclusion program allowing individuals to ban themselves from all licensed gaming facilities statewide. Players who wish to enroll can contact the IGB directly or approach the players club desk at any Illinois casino.

Sports wagering, legalized under the 2019 act and launched in March 2020, is available both at retail sportsbooks located within licensed casinos and through mobile platforms operated by licensed providers. Several Illinois casinos operate affiliated retail sportsbooks on-site. Online and mobile sports betting is available statewide to adults 21 and older.

Illinois does not currently authorize online casino gaming — slots, table games, and poker played over the internet remain unlicensed and unregulated in the state as of 2026. Players seeking casino-style gaming are directed to the licensed land-based facilities listed on this page.

For problem gambling assistance in Illinois, the confidential helpline is available at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), operated around the clock.