Illinois Online Poker Legislation
The law does not exempt poker games played at home if the winner takes money or anything of value. With the state’s favorable view of casino gambling, we anticipate that state-based Illinois online casinos are likely to emerge in the near future. In 2009, the Illinois legislature passed the Video Gambling Act. The Illinois Senate has just passed a bill allowing regulated online gambling, including poker, within the state. It still needs to meet with the approval of the House of Representatives first before becoming law, but we're cautiously optimistic about the possibility of legalized online poker in Illinois. Illinois does specifically mention online poker, but not online poker players. Item 12 of Article 28 Section 1 specifically forbids anyone in Illinois from “ operating an internet site that permits a person to play a game of chance or skill for money of other things of value by means of the internet”.
Illinois makes no explicit mention if online poker is legal or an illegal activity. Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering are legal in Illinois. There are five horse racing tracks in the state. Lotteries were legalized in the early 1970s, and bingo, raffles, and charitable gambling are allowed as well.
Illinois was one of the early adopters of casinos, though they are legal on riverboats only. The Riverboat Gambling Act was enacted in 1990s, the second of its kind in the United States, and Illinois was able to grant up to ten casino licenses. Each casino can offer everything from slot machines to table games like poker. The first one allowed a riverboat to open as a casino in the city of Alton in 1991. As of 2017, there were 10 in operation throughout the state.
The most recently legalized form of gambling in Illinois is video gaming terminals, which went into effect in 2009 and allowed bars and restaurants to apply for licenses.
Latest Developments Regarding Online Poker in Illinois
Illinois has been considering legalizing online poker and other forms of internet gaming since 2013. In that year, legislators debated a form of gambling expansion that allowed land-based casinos outside of the riverboat requirements. They wanted to compete with neighboring states, and they included online gambling in the bill in order to keep up with states considering doing the same. However, concerns from numerous lawmakers and the governor about online gambling prompted those sections to be removed from the bill, the entirety of which ultimately failed before the end of the year.
While Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey launched their online poker and casino game endeavors, Illinois stayed away from the subject for several years after 2013. Without enough legislator support and without sufficient revenue numbers showing success in the three states undertaking online gambling, there was not enough fodder to garner support from a majority of lawmakers.
That changed in 2017, however. Several members of the Illinois House and Senate introduced a series of bills to address online poker, online casino games, land-based casinos, and daily fantasy sports. The Senate’s online gaming bill passed through committee and through the full Senate by May of that year with a 42-10 favorable vote. However, the H.479 bill on the House side could not even find enough support to make it through the House Executive Committee.
While some thought H.479 was dead for the year in Illinois, it rose back to life in 2018 as a still-viable bill. Its sponsor, Illinois House Representative Michael Zalewski, intends to push it again in 2018, though it may take a different form in a larger gambling expansion bill. Zalewski feels that there is enough support in both houses to pass such a bill in 2018, and he insists on a sense of urgency for it in order for Illinois to keep up with states like New Jersey and now Pennsylvania, which will be entering the online poker and gaming market sometime in 2018.
The first few months of 2018 saw no movement, but Zalewski intended to handle more serious issues in the first of the year before gathering supportive members of the state legislature to push for a comprehensive gambling expansion bill.
Illinois is thought to be one of the few states with a very good chance of legalizing online poker in 2018.
Illinois Laws Pertinent to Online Poker
Gambling laws from the Illinois legislature are combined into a reference page, all taken from Chapter 38 of the Illinois Code.
It starts with a definition of gambling that encompasses numerous components, but the broadest and primary one is that
“a person commits gambling when he or she knowingly plays a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value, unless excepted.”
One of the pieces of that gambling definition, however, seems to pertain to online sports betting and gambling. It states that a gambler “knowingly establishes, maintains, or operates an internet site that permits a person to play a game of chance or skill for money or other thing of value by means of the internet or to make a wager upon the result of any game, contest, political nomination, appointment, or election by means of the internet.” There is an exception to this rule as it pertains to the lottery. It sounds very much like the first half of the wording refers specifically to online gambling, and it makes a special point to include games of chance and skill, so no exception could be made for poker in this case.
Oddly enough, however, one of the exceptions to the rule could include online poker and casino games due to confusing wording about payments. The exception is written as: “Games of skill or chance where money or other things of value can be won but no payment or purchase is required to participate.” One could argue that the payment is simply a part of the prize pool and not a separate payment to play poker. This would create a problem with sites collecting rake, but players may find relief in this subsection.
One thing that is clarified is the meaning of internet:
“An interactive computer service or system or an information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, and includes, but is not limited to, an information service, system, or access software provider that provides access to a network system commonly known as the internet, or any comparable system or service and also includes, but is not limited to, a World Wide Web page, newsgroup, message board, mailing list, or chat area on any interactive computer service or system or other online service.”
As for gambling that is definitely legal in Illinois, there are regulations in Chapter 230 for each of the following:
- Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975
- Riverboat Gambling Act
- Raffles and Poker Runs Act
- Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act
- Bingo License and Tax Act
- Charitable Games Act
- Native American Gaming Compact Act
- Video Gaming Act
Online poker is not specifically addressed by state statutes or by the Illinois Gaming Board. However, the law has never been tested, as law enforcement officials have never intently pursued online poker players or site operators.
Disclaimer: This is not written by an attorney and is not or should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult an attorney for help interpreting these laws as they pertain to any given situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can I play online poker from Illinois now?
Answer: Yes. Tens of thousands of online poker players log on to a number of sites from within Illinois’ borders. There are sites like Ignition Poker and BetOnline that offer online poker to them, and neither the players nor the operators have experienced any problems with law enforcement cracking down on the internet games.
Question: What happens if Illinois legalizes online poker?
Answer: At that point, some sites may leave the state, though they may wait until Illinois enacts the legislation and the gaming regulator drafts its official online poker regulations. When legalized online poker launches in Illinois – which could be up to a year from the passage of a new law – there will be licensed online poker providers that partner with casinos to offer games from sites like 888poker and PartyPoker. It is hard to predict how the process will be handled, but Illinois is moving slowly in even writing the latest proposal.
Question: Will PokerStars be allowed in an Illinois regulated market?
Answer: That is unclear. Early versions of online poker and internet gaming bills put a five-year moratorium on “bad actor” sites that operated in the United States after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006. This would keep PokerStars out of the market for the first five years. However, since PokerStars’ return to the US via New Jersey, the site has proven to be a competitor but not a dominant site that squeezed out any other operators. There is no way to know about PokerStars’ future in Illinois until a bill is produced and passed.
Gaming Resources in Illinois
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:
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.
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?
Michigan Online Poker Legislation 2018
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.
Michigan Online Poker Legislation 2019
Can I Play PokerStars in Illinois Using Real Money?
Illinois Online Poker Legislation
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.
How Does an Online Poker Site Know Where the User is Playing from?
Michigan Online Poker Legislation
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.
Illinois Online Poker Legalization
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.