Published on by Chief Editor
Fact checked by Sadonna Price

Live Casinos in Illinois - IL Live Dealer Online Casinos & Bonuses

The Illinois casino scene is anything but straightforward, as is the case with many states in the Midwest. The Prairie State players can legally play live games in one of the land-based casinos or riverboats.

List of Live Online Casinos for Illinois Players

Sort
Filter Casinos
Mobile Friendly
Casino Games
Game Provider
Payment Method
Clear All

Wild Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: $5,000 Welcome Bonus
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • Great selection of slots
  • High-quality live dealer games
  • Excellent welcome bonus
  • Crypto-friendly

Ignition Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: $3,000 Welcome Bonus
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • 300+ games
  • Crypto-friendly casino
  • Live dealer jackpot
  • Bonus galore for different verticals

Cafe Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: 350% up to $2500
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • Accepts cryptocurrencies
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Loyalty program
  • Kahnawake Licence

BetUS Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: 150% up to $3,000
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • Reputable online casino with 26+ years’ experience
  • Wide range of deposit bonuses for sports bettors and casino players
  • Outstanding customer support
  • Several different cryptocurrencies accepted for deposits and withdrawals

Las Vegas USA Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: 400% up to $10,000
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • Free deposits and withdrawals
  • Android app available
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Download and instant play casino
43 casinos found based on your search.
Illinois Live Dealer Casinos

Contrary to that, real-money online gambling is still illegal. That is why players need to wait for a more favorable legal climate before they can play in live casinos online in Illinois.

Until then, they can try their luck in sweepstakes online casinos. Another option includes offshore casinos, as they are yet to be regulated by IL law. 

Online gambling is not legal in Illinois, including live dealer games. Legal forms of gambling in the state include horse racing, commercial or riverboat casinos, social and sweepstakes casinos, state lottery, online sports betting, and daily fantasy sports.

Live Casino Laws

Illinois gambling history dates back to 1920, when the state first legalized horse betting. The Prairie State was the pioneer in offering a state-run lottery, introduced in 1974. The following year, the board passed the Horse Racing Act, bringing more regulation to the industry. 

Illinois was also one of the first states associated with riverboat gambling. Such casinos were approved in 1990 after the passing of the Riverboat Gambling Act, and Illinois issued 10 riverboat gambling licenses. This Act gave the green light to commercial casinos as long as they were on the water. The casino boats had to enter the water every two hours during their first decade of operation. In 1999, a change in the law permitted the riverboats to stay at the docks.

Since 2012, Illinoians have been able to purchase lottery tickets online. Whereas in 2019, Governor JB. Pritzker signed a bill that legalized online sports betting. 

Unfortunately for live gaming aficionados, this bill didn’t include anything about online casinos and gambling. Thus, players will have to stick to legal options such as social and sweepstakes casinos, commercial and riverboat casinos, or try their luck in one of the offshore sites

All gambling establishments, online and land-based, are regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board. Whether you want to play live casino games at brick-and-mortar or offshore sites, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the following laws: 

Best Live Dealer Casinos in Illinois

Even though the Prairie State doesn’t have state-regulated online gambling, players can join an overseas site and play live dealer games.

Interestingly, they can also head to any land-based casinos if they look for a legal alternative. We’ll discuss both in great detail below.

Online Live Casinos in Illinois

Illinois Live Online Casinos

According to the latest gambling news, online casinos are still deemed illegal. Operating a site within state borders is strictly prohibited. The only legal online gambling options include:

  • Slots
  • Online lottery
  • Sports betting
  • Social and sweepstakes casinos
  • Daily fantasy sports

Social and sweepstakes casinos have been the only option for players who want to play casino games online legally. These operators use two types of currency: gold coins and sweeps coins. The former allows you to play free games, and the latter can be used to play real money games since they are won, not purchased.

Since online gambling hasn’t been legally addressed, this creates a loophole allowing some people to believe that playing on offshore sites shouldn’t be considered illegal. Even though unlawful gambling is a class A misdemeanor, no player has ever been prosecuted.

Maybe online licensed casinos don’t exist in the Prairie State, but that doesn’t mean that live casino fans don’t have other options.

Numerous offshore live casinos operate outside the state but accept residents from Illinois. These sites hold licenses from reputable online gambling jurisdictions, making them trustworthy and reliable.

Aside from excellent game selection, these casinos offer rewarding bonuses and an authentic live casino experience.

Land-Based Casinos With Live Cameras in Illinois

Land-based Illinois Live Casino

We have already spoken about riverboat casinos as a legal gambling form in Illinois. These mobile casinos are similar to their land-based counterparts, except they must be on the water to comply with the law. Their facilities also need to be outside of the Lake Michigan area unless the area has a population of at least three million. Since 1999, they have been permanently moored at the docks.

Currently, there are only 10 of them, and they are a mixture of riverboats and land-based casinos.

In terms of game selection, riverboat casinos are on par with land-based casinos. These gambling destinations offer various live casino games, including blackjack, baccarat, slots, and even live poker.

Furthermore, these venues go beyond the gambling floor as they are often hotels featuring restaurants, bars, gift shops, and other amenities.

Harrah’s casinos in Metropolis and Joliet, Hollywood casinos in Joliet and Aurora, Casino Queen, and Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin are some of the most popular land-based gambling venues in Illinois.

How to Register for Online Live Casinos in Illinois?

To play live dealer games, you’ll need to register regardless of the site you choose. However, the registration process is a breeze, and you need to follow our step-by-step guide. Here’s the rundown:

  1. Pick an operator from the list we have provided. They all offer live dealer games, so you can’t go wrong with whoever you select.

  2. Hit the Register or Sign-up button.

  3. Follow the instructions by providing your name, email, and address. 

  4. Create a strong password. 

  5. Click on the email you received from the casino to verify your account and complete the registration process.

  6. Log into the account.

  7. Go to the Cashier and deposit the desired amount of money.

  8. Now you are ready to pick any game you like and have fun.

When it comes to live dealer games in social casinos, the choice is currently limited to blackjack only. On the other hand, live dealer enthusiasts can visit any of the brick-and-mortar venues or riverboats. These establishments have popular live casino games on offer, including:

In fact, poker is probably the most popular among them, as you can find multiple variations of this casino classic. Players can enjoy Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Spanish 21, and High Card Flush.

Another option available to Illinoians is offshore casinos. Many of them accept people from Illinois and are home to a slew of live dealer games. Besides the live games mentioned above, some casinos even go the extra mile. They feature multiple variations of classic live games and game shows, such as Monopoly Live, Dream Catcher, Sweet Bonanza, and many others. 

Useful Guides for Illinois Players

Illinois online casinos can be challenging to understand, especially with all the laws that govern their use, so here are some excellent, easy-to-read, in-depth guides to get you started.

Conclusion 

Although legalizing online gambling is still a pipe dream, live gaming aficionados still have some options. Fortunately, players can enjoy their favorite pastime by joining one of the offshore gambling sites we have recommended.

We have scoured the internet to compile a list of top-notch operators offering a wide selection of live games from renowned software providers. So, take your pick, and good luck!

FAQ

Are live dealer casinos legal in Illinois? Online gambling has not been regulated yet, so players can’t find any live dealer casinos in the state. On the flip side, Illinois doesn’t prohibit its players from playing on offshore sites, where multiple live dealer games operate. And those who want to stick to legal gambling can head to one of the land-based casinos/riverboats.
Are there any licensed land-based casinos with live dealer games in Illinois? Of course! Illinois is home to several land-based venues that offer live dealer games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and poker.
What is the legal gambling age in Illinois? Players need to be at least 18 years old to participate in lottery and horse race betting and 21 for casino-style games.
What are the best live dealer casinos in Illinois? You can’t go wrong with any of the casinos we have recommended. We have made sure they are among the best offshore sites for games and the bonuses they offer.

About the Author

Author Hi all! My name is Jayson Peter, and I am the Chief Editor here at Casino USA. I have always been a huge fan of casinos, but I noticed that there are not a lot of websites out there that discuss the gambling industry in enough detail, so that’s how the idea for CasinoUSA.com was born. With my extensive knowledge of the industry and the help of my team, I am ready to give you an insight into the exciting world of casino gambling in the United States.