Chicago Casinos: How To Gamble Online & In-Person in Chicago, Illinois

Shawn West
July 8, 2024

State-regulated casinos and entertainment venues are still very new in the city of Chicago, but there are plenty of gambling options available at several online betting sites. Whether you want to play slots, table games, poker or bet on sports or races, there are plenty of options available.

But which one should you choose? Chicago gamblers should find an online casino that is safe, secure and dependable, with a wide variety of gaming options and a high-quality user experience. Our experts have gone through the available online casino operators in the Windy City and came up with a comprehensive list of the best sportsbooks that offer online casino gaming in Chicago.

SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE 9.8	ONLINE SINCE 1996	Expert Review Read Review	BONUS $500 Cash Bonus	CLAIM BONUS CLAIM BONUS
SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE 9.6	ONLINE SINCE 2001	Expert Review Read Review	BONUS 20% Cash Bonus	CLAIM BONUS CLAIM BONUS
SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE 9.6	ONLINE SINCE 2002	Expert Review Read Review	BONUS 30% Cash Bonus	CLAIM BONUS CLAIM BONUS
SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE 9.8	ONLINE SINCE 2001	Expert Review Read Review	BONUS $250 Free Bet	CLAIM BONUS CLAIM BONUS
SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE 9.5	ONLINE SINCE 1996	Expert Review Read Review	BONUS 100% Cash Bonus	CLAIM BONUS CLAIM BONUS
SPORTSBOOK	TRUST SCORE 9.9	ONLINE SINCE 2011	Expert Review Read Review	BONUS $750 Cash Bonus	CLAIM BONUS CLAIM BONUS

Resources:

Offshore Sportsbooks Betting Sites Guide

Land-Based Chicago Casinos

There are several casinos and entertainment venues physically located in the Chicago area for people wishing to gamble in person.

Blue Chip Hotel Casino

Blue Chip Casino is located in Michigan City, Indiana, about 50 miles east of Chicago. The casino features over 1,700 slot machines, ranging from classic reel games to modern video slots with various themes and bonus features.

Blue Chip Casino also offers a variety of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several poker tables and they host various tournaments throughout the year.

Grand Victoria Casino

Grand Victoria Casino is located in Elgin, Illinois, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. The casino features over 1,000 slot machines, ranging from classic reel games to modern video slots with various themes and bonus features.

Grand Victoria Casino also offers a variety of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. If you’re a fan of poker, this casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year. The casino’s in-person sportsbook also allows players to place bets on a variety of sporting events, including professional and college sports.

Harrah’s Casino

Harrah’s Casino is a popular gaming destination located in Joliet, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago. The casino features over 1,100 slot machines, ranging from classic reel games to modern video slots with various themes and bonus features.

Harrah’s Casino also offers a variety of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year.

Hollywood Casino Aurora

Hollywood Casino Aurora is a popular gaming destination located in Aurora, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. The casino features over 1,000 slot machines, ranging from classic reel games to modern video slots with various themes and bonus features.

Hollywood Casino Aurora also offers a variety of casino table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year. The casino’s sportsbook allows players to place bets on a variety of sporting events, including professional and college sports.

Hollywood Casino Joliet

Hollywood Casino Joliet is an excellent casino destination located in Joliet, Illinois, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. This Joliet casino & hotel features over 1,100 slot machines, ranging from classic reel games to modern video slots.

Hollywood Casino Joliet also offers a variety of table games, including popular options such as blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker. The casino has a dedicated poker room with several tables and hosts various tournaments throughout the year.

Horseshoe Casino

Horseshoe Casino, located in Hammond, Indiana, is a popular gaming destination just a short drive from downtown Chicago. The casino boasts over 100,000 square feet of gaming space, making it one of the largest casinos in the Midwest.

Horseshoe Casino offers a vast array of gaming options, including over 1,500 slot machines with various themes and denominations. The casino also features more than 100 table games, including classics like blackjack, roulette, baccarat and craps, as well as newer games like Three Card Poker and High Card Flush.

Rivers Casino

Rivers Casino is a popular gaming destination located in Des Plaines, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The casino features over 44,000 square feet of gaming space and offers a wide variety of games for players to enjoy.

Players can try their luck at over 1,000 slot machines, which include classic games, video slots and progressive jackpots. There are also over 50 table games available, including blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and multiple poker variants. In addition to traditional gaming options, Rivers Casino offers a state-of-the-art sportsbook, where players can place bets on a variety of sports events.

The Best Online Casinos in Chicago

After evaluating dozens of online casinos available to Chicago natives and looking at a variety of different features, our experts have found the 10 best options available.

At the end of the day, offshore sportsbooks are the best option as they have a proven track record, spanning over a decade in most cases. We recommend the following when making your casino choice:

BookMaker – Best overall Chicago online casino
BetOnline – The top Chicago site for online slots
Bovada – The best poker site in Chicago
Heritage Sports – The top-rated casino for customer service
BetAnySports – Sports site that also offers a large menu of casino games
JustBet – Offers the best slot tournaments in Chicago
BetUS – The largest bonuses for gamblers in Chicago
WagerWeb – Offers some of the highest bonuses in the city
Everygame – Outstanding selection of slot and table game options
SportsBetting.ag – Some of the highest limits for Chicago casino games

List of the Best Online Casinos in Chicago

Each platform on our top 10 has different strengths and weaknesses. In our reviews below, we discuss what put them near the top of our rankings and what kept them from scoring higher.

1. Best Overall Online Casino in Chicago: BookMaker

BookMaker

Established 1996

Visit Bookmaker

9.8

Best For

Professional Bettor 9.0

Trust 9.8/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.2/10

Odds 9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$500 Cash Bonus

Claim Bonus

Key Features

Bookmaker.eu earned the top spot in our rankings making it the best casino for Chicago gamblers. The site offers a wide variety of RTP (return to player) slots and table games in its casino section. Some of the slots offer RTP of as much as 97%. You won’t find a figure that high at any other sites.

Users get to enjoy the options that can be found at other online casinos such as slots and live dealers but one thing that sets BookMaker apart is their casino tutorials section which offers bettors the chance to learn the strategies of games and put those strategies into place to win real money.

BookMaker offers several promos and an outstanding loyalty program for existing customers. It has a long history of secure handling of transactions and will refund fees you might be charged on Bitcoin transactions.

2. Top Chicago Casino Site for Slots: BetOnline

BetOnline

Established 2001

Visit BetOnline

9.8

Best For

Bonus Hunter 8.5

Trust 9.8/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.8/10

Odds 9.2/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$250 Free Bet

FREE250 Claim Bonus

Key Features

If you enjoy playing slots, then BetOnline should be your first stop in Chicago’s online casino scene. Their online casino offers more than 350 different variations of slot machines, including titles from different software vendors.

Another perk available at BetOnline is the live dealers’ section which allows for a diverse variety of play options that should satisfy everyone. BetOnline’s poker platform is also part of one of the busiest poker networks in the U.S. which allows for multiple tournaments with prizes as high as $500,000.

BetOnline also has an outstanding sports site and many options for high-limit table games. There are also many BetOnline promo codes for new and existing customers that offer a full experience, including sports, esports and a racebook.

3. Best Chicago Poker Room: Bovada

Bovada

Established 2011

Visit Bovada

9.9

Best For

Mobile Bettor 9.0

Trust 9.9/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.8/10

Odds 8.9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

$750 Cash Bonus

BTCSWB750 Claim Bonus

Key Features

Bovada Casino boasts the busiest poker room in all of America. It also has the full casino experience in addition to a sportsbook that features more prop betting options than any other. There’s also a racebook and an impressive selection of table games. If you want, you can also bet on politics and entertainment at Bovada Casino.

Table games and slots offer high RTP with a library of over 200 titles out of which at least 120 are slots. Another strong offering from Bovada is the live dealers’ area with up to 34 different options to enjoy, making it one of the leaders in the industry in that aspect.

Bovada Casino also has competitive bonuses which you can take advantage of with a Bovada promo code and a loyalty program that is one of the best in Chicago. In fact, if you use Bitcoin (or other altcoins) you can get a 125% welcome bonus.

4. The Best Customer Service for Chicago Online Casinos: Heritage Sports

Heritage Sports

Established 2001

Visit Heritage Sports

9.6

Best For

Seasoned Gambler 8.6

Trust 9.6/10

Banking 8.6/10

Bonuses 8.2/10

Odds 9/10

Customer Service 9/10

Betting Limits 9.7/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

20% Cash Bonus

Claim Bonus

Key Features

Heritage Sports is one of the top overall casinos online in Chicago, especially when it comes to taking care of its customers. It offers 24/7 customer service and, thanks to its time as an invite-only gambling site, it also gives a VIP experience to its valued customers.

Heritage Sports offers some great promotions, including an 8% monthly rebate on your losses and the live casino offers live dealers which are available 24/7. When it comes to slots, Heritage Sports has specialized in 3D content to enhance the user’s experience.

For roulette enthusiasts, you’ll find both the American and European versions and for those new bettors looking to dabble and learn, there is a tutorial section. Another great perk is the ability to play the games for free without wagering money.

5. Most Diverse Casino Experience: BetAnySports

BetAnySports

Established 2002

Visit BetAnySports

9.6

Best For

Seasoned Gambler 8.9

Trust 9.6/10

Banking 9/10

Bonuses 8.7/10

Odds 9.6/10

Customer Service 8.5/10

Betting Limits 9.8/10

CURRENT PROMOTION

30% Cash Bonus

BMR30 Claim Bonus

Key Features

As the name suggests, BetAnySports focuses on the sportsbook side of the business and is one of the top ones in the city. Despite the name, BetAnySports is also a full-service online casino where users can find all the core games offered at other offshore sportsbooks.

Their casino is divided into three different sections, each one hosting unique features. Another great perk is that BetAnySports offers both online and downloadable titles.

While other competitors might focus on quantity over quality, at BetAnySports you will find reputable software providers like BetSoft, RealTime Gaming and Visionary iGaming. New users also have their choice of different sign-up bonuses to help them get started on the right foot.

Is online gambling legal in Chicago?

Like the rest of Illinois, gambling is legal in Chicago according to the state’s gaming laws. This is a recent development. Gambling has been on the track toward legalization for several years and Illinois sports betting just became fully legal online, without first having to register in person at a physical location, in March of 2022.

As long as the customer is 18 years old and physically in the state of Illinois, they can play their favorite casino games at any offshore casinos available to Chicago customers.

Most forms of gambling, including slots and table games and poker. Sports and race betting, are legal in Chicago.

Chicago’s History of Gambling Laws

Chicago has a long history of gambling, both legally and with black market locations. As early as the 1800s, there were card rooms scattered throughout the city, if you knew which door to knock on.

Now, Illinois has moved toward legalizing gambling throughout the state, passing a gambling law in 2019. The first legal bets were placed in the state in March 2020, just before the pandemic shut everything down. It’s been a slow process since, but fully legalized online gambling has now been available since March 2022.

Chicago Online Casinos Banking

Online casinos in Chicago have a number of different payment methods for playing your favorite casino games. Customers can pay by credit card, debit card or bank transfer, although with offshore sportsbooks, there are often fees associated with that. Most casinos offer bonuses for using crypto or e-wallets, which are designed to bypass national boundaries.

How to Play at Chicago Casinos

Getting started with online betting sites in Chicago is quick and easy. Here’s a walkthrough of the steps involved to get an account and start gambling:

Step 1: Register For a Gaming Profile

First, you have to make your casino selection and navigate to that particular site. On the home page, there should be a “Join” or “Register” button. Click on that to begin the registration.

Step 2: Provide Your Details

Fill out your personal information and click on the “Create Account” option.

Step 3: Fund Your Account

Now that your profile has been set up, you can add funds to gamble with. Go to the cashier page on the site and select your payment method. Enter the amount you want to deposit and the account information. Be sure to enter any promo codes necessary to collect your welcome bonus.

Step 4: Play Your Favorite Games

Once you are funded, you’re ready to play. Find the game you wish to play. Most casinos have different gambling tables based on experience, skill and limit, so choose the appropriate match for you.

Online Casinos in Chicago in 2024 & Beyond

Now that gambling is fully legal in Illinois, the rush is on. About a dozen esNow that gambling is fully legal in Illinois, the rush is on. About a dozen establishments allow gambling in the state — mostly casinos and racetracks. At least that many are in some stage of applying to be approved to offer gambling as well, with casinos, tracks and sports arenas all joining the fray.

While Illinois now has several in-state options, many gamblers opt to stick with the offshore sportsbooks as their casino choice, due to them having a long history of safe, secure operation and having built a dependable reputation while also offering your favorite casino games such as video poker, hundreds of crowd-favorite slots and other gambling tables.

Conclusion

As part of the approval of gambling in Illinois, betting on sports is also now legal in the state with some exceptions. Local colleges were carved out of the original bill, so gamblers couldn’t bet on college basketball or football games involving Illinois schools (this includes the University of Illinois, Northwestern, Loyola and others). That law has been amended so that you can now bet on local schools in person, although it’s still banned online.