The law in the State of Illinois as it relates to gambling is quite clear. In some states, whether or not the present law applies to playing poker, or in particular, playing poker online may be subject to at least some interpretation, however the law of Illinois speaks very plainly on the subject:
'Section 28-1. Gambling.
(a) A person commits gambling when he or she:
(1) knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value, unless excepted in subsection (b) of this section;
(2) knowingly makes a wager upon the result of any game, contest, or any political nomination, appointment, or election' (1)
Illinois Online Poker Laws: Recent News. Illinois made online gambling news early in 2012 when two residents were charged with running an online gambling business. In May of 2012, State Senate President John Cullerton caused a stir by introducing legislation to regulate various forms of online gambling, including poker. Cullerton's legislation. With a population approaching 12.9 million, the 'Windy City' of Chicago houses more residents than 15 US states and many of them love the idea of legal real money Internet poker in 2020. Information on how to play poker in Illinois, including an interpretation of the laws, info on home games and online poker and where to find legal games. US Poker Site 2020 Poker Site Reviews.
So subsection (1) would be the one that applies to poker, including online poker, as if you reside in Illinois and you are playing online poker for money then you are clearly playing a game for money.
What about the exceptions contained in subsection (b)? Well the list is a rather long one, but none of it includes playing poker unless it is at a charitable event or is specifically sanctioned by the state, which would exclude all forms of online poker since online poker is not currently sanctioned and regulated.
So basically, if the State of Illinois does not approve it specifically, it is illegal under state law, which applies to all forms of unauthorized gambling, not just poker.
I have read some people say that while state law does prohibit the setting up of gambling sites on the internet, it doesn't specifically address whether playing on such internet gambling sites would be illegal. However, given that any gambling in Illinois that is not officially sanctioned is illegal, and gambling online surely consists of gambling, and this is definitely not state sanctioned, then it is very clearly not legal at all.
As is the case in other states though, just because playing online poker is against the law, this does not stop a lot of people from doing it, and they don't worry about this as long as the law isn't being enforced, and it's not being enforced in any state right now, including in Illinois.
Advantages of Playing Online Poker in Illinois. You will now be able to play online Poker not only on your computer or laptop, but thanks to lots of the above named and listed Illinois Poker sites now offering mobile Poker sites you can log on from anywhere in the US State or Illinois and play Poker for free or for real money on your cell phone or any type of mobile device!
Illinois Online Poker Prospects
Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the United States, with a population of almost 13 million people. So this represents a very large potential market and could expand tax revenue in the state at a level that exceeds states like New Jersey and Nevada.
So with this money on the table, and given the fairly progressive attitude that the state has toward gambling, in 2013 a bill was presented that not only expanded the allowable number of casinos in the state, but also contained provisions to allow online gambling , including poker, to be legalized as well. (2)
The online gambling part of the bill ended up being stripped away during the debate that ensued, and eventually the entire bill became scrapped.
So there are two main issues here, expansion of casino gambling and expanding into regulating online gambling, and while the two may occur together, there may be more resistance to online gambling and that may take longer. There also may be more resistance to online gambling in general than there may be to just offering online poker as some states have done, although so far the focus has been on online gambling, and it's true that this would provide more of the needed tax revenue that is being sought.
It may be a year or two before we see online gambling being regulated here, but there seems to be a strong enough will to see it happen to make Illinois one of the leading prospects in getting a bill passed in the foreseeable future.
Live Poker in Illinois
Fortunately, for those who crave live poker, there is a fair bit of action in and around the State of Illinois as far as live table action goes. A lot of this is centered around the Chicago area, but live poker rooms exist in other parts of the state as well, in addition to a good amount not far away in neighboring states such as Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.
Within Illinois itself, there are a total of seven poker rooms: The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin (12 tables), Harrah's Metropolis Casino in Metropolis (4 tables), the Hollywood Casino Joliet in Joliet (5 tables), the Par A Dice Casino in East Peoria (5 tables), Harrah's Joliet in Joliet (8 tables), the Hollywood Casino Aurora in Aurora (15 tables), and Jumer's Casino in Rock Island (6 tables). (3)
So in spite of these poker rooms all being on the smaller side with most being very small, with five of the seven containing a half a dozen tables or less, there still are opportunities out there, although nothing really beats the convenience of playing poker right in the comfort of your own home, and fortunately, no online poker room that offers play to residents of the United States has a problem accepting players from Illinois.
Online Poker In Illinois
Given that people in Illinois can choose to play at any site accepting Americans, here is our two top picks for you if you live in Illinois and are up for some online poker, which you can start enjoying right now in fact if you wish:
- Ignition Poker is an excellent place to play these days, especially with a great mix of real money traffic and bonuses. In fact, they offer a massive welcome bonus of 100% of your first deposit up to $1,000. They also give you a free $5 chip to use at their casino, which features hundreds of slots, table games and more.
- America's Cardroom is another of our top picks who warmly welcome residents of Illinois, and they also feature some great poker action at any time of the day or night, whenever you are ready they are, as well as all of their players who are just waiting for you to join in on the fun. New depositors receive a match of their first deposit in bonus cash, to the tune of up to $1000 in free money.
References
(1) Illinois Compiled Statutes, 720-5 Article 28-1
(2) Illinois Online Poker Laws
(3) All Live And Online Poker Rooms In Illinois
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Can You Play Online Poker in Illinois?
Illinois is known as the 'Land of Lincoln' and home to the Windy City. This gambling-friendly state provides tons of options for those who love to play. However, Illinois law does not permit casinos to stay open 24*7. This means the only way for the poker aficionados to find the best poker site 2020 is to enjoy online poker in IL.
Illinois has taken the necessary steps to become a gambling powerhouse. But failed many times. That means till date, the legislators of Illinois have not passed a law officially that would allow iGaming and poker site providers to operate within the state's limit. Illinois is on a list of states seriously taking into account the merits of real cash online poker and gambling. Maybe we will see IL internet poker and gambling bills come by the next coming year. in 2021.
For the poker fanatics within the Illinois borders who can't wait for online poker to become a reality, they can choose from our advised offshore gambling sites. Whether you are a poker pro or completely new to casino games, you will get an incredible experience by trying our poker rooms - typically for online poker free play.
However, the Illinois citizens looking to get in on the real money poker action will likely need to wait a little bit longer. To understand the background of online poker, you need to dive into online gambling and online poker laws in Illinois.
Summary of Illinois Gambling & Poker Laws
Illinois makes it a crime to operate a game of chance over the web. The only exception to this is the Illinois Lottery and horse racing. The state of Illinois is one of the few states that use the phrase 'online poker' in state law. You can check Item 12 of Article 28, Section 1. This says:
'It is illegal for any Illinois resident to operate an Internet website that allows a person to play a game of skill or chance for money or other things using the internet.'
This means that the lovers of online poker in IL can be charged for playing poker online if found gambling illegally. However, no user has been persecuted yet for playing games online with an offshore gambling company.
We advise you to take expert legal advice in case you have any queries regarding Illinois' gambling statues. Let's go in-depth with Illinois Gambling & Poker Law 2020.
- Online Poker/Gambling Many attempts have been made to legalize online poker and online gaming in Illinois. But all failed. The state is currently working on the expansion to regulate poker and casino online and in licensed land-based casinos.
- Live Poker Live poker is allowed in all physical existing and new casinos in Illinois. The poker rooms provide cash tournaments and games.
- Casinos As per the Riverboat Gambling Act, just 10 fully-functional casinos are permitted to be established on riverboats. Lawmakers are planning to expand the number in the state.
- Sports Betting Online sports betting is totally legal in Illinois as long as they are located within state lines. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation in June 2019 that allows this activity in the state.
- Fantasy Sports Although the legality of daily fantasy sports in Illinois is a bit of a grey area, top DFS websites like FanDuel, DraftKings, Fantasy Draft, and Yahoo operate in the state.
- Esports A 2017 bill for DFS carried over into 2018 and stays open for consideration. Esports gambling is available at countless online sportsbooks and even dedicated esports bookies.
- Other Gambling Options Pari-mutuel betting, lotteries, horse racing, charitable bingo, raffles, poker runs, video games, Native American gaming, jar games, and pull-tabs are all legal in Illinois.
History of Poker and Online Poker in Illinois
Illinois, mainly Chicago, has had a long colorful history of gambling. Betting activities in Illinois date way back to before Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Ruins from Cahokia signify that gambling was taking place as early as 600 A.D.
The state has been focusing on the legalization of Illinois online poker and other internet gaming forms since 2013. In that year, the state legislators debated on gambling expansion that permits land-based casinos outside of the riverboat requirements. They wanted to include online gambling in the bill to keep up with states considering the same concept.
However, worries from the governor and many lawmakers prompted those sections to be eliminated from the bill. In 2013, Senators Terry Link and Donne Trotter introduced an online gambling provision in SB1739.
An informal court hearing was held on online gambling in 2014, but just a little progress was made. On May 31st, 2017, the Illinois Senate passed a bill legalizing online poker. The Illinois House must now approve the bill of Representatives to be signed. The state is no closer to resolving the expansion of live casinos today as they were in 2014. Bills are filed yearly, but unfortunately, they continue to fail.
Illinois implemented online gambling as a whole in 2017. The live casino expansion issue finally gets resolved in 2018. Later, H.479 was introduced and failed again. But it rose back to life in 2018. Thanks to the Illinois House Representative Michael Zalewski, who pushed it again in 2018.
Online Poker in Illinois
At the federal level, all the laws, including the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (2006), deal with those operating and managing the gambling sites.
Although Illinois does have serious anti-gambling statutes on the books, charges have never been imposed against anyone in the country caught for playing cards and other gaming online with an offshore firm.
If you desire to play online poker in Illinois, Choose from our online poker rooms list. They are not just safe but also offer the most protected experiences.
Is Online Poker Legal in Illinois?
Illinois State has no explicit mention if online poker rooms is a legal or illegal activity. Only legal activities in Illinois include horse racing, lotteries, charitable gambling, and pari-mutuel wagering.
Illinois law makes it illicit for a company to run online sites that let players bet on games of chance or skill. However, you will not face any legal persecution if you switch on your computer and play poker from the inside border of Illinois. The state presently criminalizes playing online poker in Illinois for real money outside its confines.
But there is one exception to the Illinois law. Games of chance or skill that do not require a player to put up a buy-in to take part are legal. Websites that provide freeroll online poker tournaments would be legit under Illinois law.
The state recently focused on expanding the number of places, types, and ways of gambling thanks to the 2019 2019 Illinois Gambling Act. The new law, 2019, legalized sports betting in online bookies and physical sportsbooks. However, it does not legalize online poker or other types of online casino games.
Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, West Virginia, or Pennsylvania currently allow players to enjoy legal and regulated online poker for real money. This means Illinois is close to opening the online poker market but has not legalized the exciting game yet. Online poker in Illinois is a fun way to pass the time. Therefore, start your poker-playing online journey today right from your home by picking a site from the list of top-rated gambling firms.
Where Can I Play Online Poker Legal in Illinois?
Illinois has stringent laws regarding gambling. In comparison to other states, they actually include provisions mentioning real money gaming over the web. You will be able to play poker for free online if you reside in Illinois.
There are tons of desktop and mobile poker sites online that accept Illinois players. With a mobile poker website, you can just login from anywhere in the US state and enjoy online poker in Illinois for real money or free. However, not all are created equal. Few of them are untrustworthy, and your money is also at a big risk.
It's worth choosing the best online poker sites that offer incredible gaming action, speedy payouts, excellent bonuses, and a trustworthy experience. Major online poker brands that you can choose to play poker include:
These firms have earned a good reputation for honesty and integrity. Regardless of the poker rooms, you choose to partner with a brand that offers fair poker games, prompt payment methods, and robust customer support.
Where Does Illinois Offer Legal Online Gambling?
Today, gamblers have access to numerous poker sites online regulated in the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Few of them accept players from the United States.
Remember, all of the sites that are based offshore in other jurisdictions do have any online gaming regulatory system in place. Thus, make sure the online gambling site has obtained the necessary license and good reputation.
The best poker sites for money also incentivize new players and lure loyal customers using rewarding poker bonuses.
Will Illinois Regulate Online Poker
Illinois is the main candidate to legalize and regulate poker due to the big-budget problems and a huge population. There have been regular attempts to pass legislation that would allow a licensed internet poker in the State. The latest effort was the gambling expansion in 2019.
Maybe the lawmakers understand the perks of online gambling and poker sites. It seems that Illinois seems to be getting an internet gambling bill and online poker bill slowly. But only time will tell at this point.
Illinois will be one of the states considering the regulation of real money online poker and other online gaming in the upcoming years. That means the idea of state-regulated online gambling and legit Internet poker websites in IL in 2020 may become a reality.
US Poker Laws 2020 - Illinois FAQ
Below are the top 5 commonly asked questions and their answers regarding online poker in IL:
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Can I Play Online Poker in Illinois for Money?
Can I play online poker in Illinois is the most common question in the mind of poker players across the state. The answer is a little bit cloudy. That means the legality of playing Internet poker for real money remains in the gray area for IL residents.
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The state has stringent gambling laws and banned users from creating a new account. If you are able to, you will only be able to just play free money games.
If you desire to play real money online poker, you might face many problems in creating a new online poker account.
What is the Minimum Age for Gambling in Illinois?
The minimum age to gamble in Illinois is eighteen. If you are 18 or older, you can freely buy lottery tickets, bet on races, and engage in gambling. However, you need to be 21 years old for casino betting.
In Illinois, it also includes Poker. These same rules apply to online gambling and online poker in Illinois. Ensure you stay in compliance with the regulations in your local area.
Can I Play Online Poker On a Mobile in Illinois?
Nowadays, poker fanatics are looking to play a wide variety of poker games everywhere they head out. There are tons of real money mobile poker sites and best poker apps. They allow you access and play poker on a wide variety of mobiles on-the-go.
Users can even receive real money bonuses along their way. Mobile poker apps built by the expert developers offer an incredible experience at your fingertips. Download mobile poker apps 2020 and start playing internet poker anytime and anywhere.
Can I Play PokerStars in Illinois Using Real Money?
Playing online poker in Illinois for real money is illegal. You cannot access the real money games on PokerStars if you reside within the state borders. However, if you want to taste the PokerStars software from Illinois, you can use the PokerStars Play free platform.
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How Does an Online Poker Site Know Where the User is Playing from?
Online poker sites use tons of methods to verify that users are currently accessing the site from a place that legally permits internet poker play.
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The majority of them consider your IP address. Few of them blend that IP address with other techniques such as triangulation via cell phone towers. This helps them determine that your cell phone is currently in your control and in a legal state.
