Is an Online Casino Legal in Illinois?
The US federal government established in 2006 that all online casino gambling was illegal with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. However, as we all know each state is different and has the authority to change these laws on a state level. In 2019, Illinois legalized online sports betting which is a step in the right direction for gambling laws in the state.
With that being said, it's already legal to play Illinois lottery online, and it's good to see that Illinois is heading in the right direction by legalizing sports betting online. This shows an intent to make all online gambling legal. Many other states still make sports betting online illegal so it's a positive sign that Illinois is leading the way in allowing gambling online to be legalized. Keep an eye out in the near future for amendments to the online gambling laws as we are confident that Illinois will start to slowly legalize online casino gambling. Check out our review of Pennsylvania casinos online to see if you can access real money casinos legally in a different state.
For those hoping for online casino action in Illinois, all is not lost. As you'll find out below, social and sweepstakes casinos fall under different laws and do not require a purchase to play, these types of online casinos are considered legal and are very much available across the state.
Can you legally play at Illinois sweepstakes casinos and social casinos?
If you’re based in Illinois, then you simply can’t legally play with real money at the best US online casinos. While this might be disappointing, there’s nothing stopping you from playing at Illinois social casinos and sweepstake casinos. This means that you can play anything from online slots to table games anywhere from Chicago to Springfield and beyond!
All of this is possible because Illinois sweepstake casinos and social casinos don’t actually feature anything in the way of gambling. You don’t play with real money at these online gaming sites, but instead play with a kind of virtual credit.
This means that Illinois social casinos and sweepstakes casinos are exempt from the kinds of gambling laws that govern regular real money casino sites. Just remember that you will usually have to be at least 18 years old to play at any sweepstakes or social casino sites in Illinois.
All about Illinois social casinos
We’ve found that there are so many social casino apps and sites out there and they are all great fun. You can’t play with real money at social casinos, but simply use a kind of virtual credit to play these games against friends and family.
Most social casinos will have no shortage of colorful slot games and you might even find a fair amount of table games like roulette, blackjack and baccarat.
The social casino will simply give you virtual credit to play these games and then you will get the opportunity to win some more, get more through some of the promos described below, or even purchase some credit.
Don’t forget that you can also win prizes at many social casino sites just for taking part. All of this adds up as a great way to play from Illinois.
Confused? Then here are the key ingredients of all good social casinos:
- Play for fun
- Can be played in Illinois
- Includes online slots and even table games
- Use virtual credit rather than real money
All of the top social casinos will have lots of special offers that keep you topped up with virtual credit. This means that you should rarely have to suffer having to actually purchase any credit but can simply take advantage of some of the following offers:
Most social casinos will give you credit just for registering a new account
Log into your social casino account each day and you might find your account balance has been topped up.
Lots of social casinos host special contests on social media channels like Facebook where you can win virtual credit just for taking part.
Tournaments, challenges, races and battles
Here you have to compete against other gamers and if you finish top the leaderboard, you could win a massive amount of virtual credit.
Our favorite sweepstakes casinos and social casinos in Illinois
1.
5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE + 30 Sweepstake Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
Get $5 extra in FREE play
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
7,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Your guide to Illinois sweepstakes casinos
There are a growing number of new sweepstake casinos in the US and you can play at most of them right here in the Prairie State. Sweepstakes casinos all let you play for free, but you can sometimes enter promotional sweepstakes contests where you can win some prizes.
Most sweepstakes casinos feature two kinds of virtual credit. One kind may be called something like ‘gold coins’ and these can only be used to play games where you don’t win any prizes. The other kind might be called something such as ‘sweepstakes coins’ and with these, you can enter the promotions where there are sweepstakes prizes up for grabs.
It’s important to note that while you can purchase gold coins, you can never purchase any kind of virtual credit that could lead to you winning prizes through sweepstakes competitions.
Here are the basics of playing at sweepstakes casinos:
- Play for free
- Legal to use in Illinois
- Use two kinds of virtual credit
- Win prizes in sweepstakes contests
What you can win at Illinois sweepstakes casinos
We think that it’s well worth picking up all of the different promo codes for sweepstakes casinos. This is because the free credit that you get with these deals can be used as a way of winning some amazing prizes.
For example, we have seen lots of sweepstakes casinos that serve up gift cards for the lucky winners that you can use at top retailers. Plus, other sweepstakes casinos love to award prizes that include some pretty cool branded merchandise.
Don’t forget that there are a growing number of sweepstakes casinos that even let you win cash prizes as part of their promotions. Just remember that it isn’t your gameplay that causes you to win these prizes, as you can win them just by taking part.
Here’s a reminder of the prizes that you could be winning at sweepstakes casinos:
- Cash prizes
- Gift cards
- Branded merchandise
Best sweepstakes casino and social casino bonuses in Illinois
1.
5% Rakeback
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE + 30 Sweepstake Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: 9.99
3.
Get $5 extra in FREE play
Players from Virginia accepted
4.
7,000 Gold Coins + 10 Sweeps Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins
Players from Virginia accepted
How we test the best social and sweepstakes casinos in Illinois
At CaptainGambling.com we conduct rigorous testing of all the Illinois social and sweepstakes casinos online with our review system just like we did for our Iowa casino list. We have a very specific set of criteria that we use to judge the overall quality of these Illinois casinos online. So, let's take a look at some of these criteria so that you can keep them in mind when checking out our Illinois casino list:
Licensing: Our reviews cover the legitimacy of the licenses that these Illinois casinos online hold. Although the need for state-specific licenses is redundant when it comes to social and sweepstakes casinos, we still like to make sure that the correct US auditors have completed relevant testing - just take a look at our "is PokerStars safe?" guide for a good example.
Security: Social and sweepstakes casinos need to provide their users with a strong degree of security. We analyze the encryption technology on these sites as well as a number of other aspects that contribute towards your overall security.
Website usability: These Illinois casinos online should not be a pain to use. This is why we test out the overall navigability of these sites and test to see how easy it is to find what you are looking for.
Payments: Although payment is not required to play at these types of Illinois online casinos, we review what payment methods are available for you to make a purchase (should you wish) and how to complete your withdrawals. We also test the security of these payment methods so you can safely deposit and withdraw at any best casino in Illinois.
Customer support: When we compile our Illinois casino lists with the best operators we always consider the quality of their customer service first. We look for how you can contact the support teams on these sites and how professional their services are.
Welcome bonuses: we test out the quality of any sign up offers that might be available while also giving you the highlights on ways to keep your virtual currencies topped up, too.
Range of casino games: Our online casino reviews will of course tell you what casino games you can find on these sites and who has provided the software as well.
Mobile apps: These days players love having even more convenience which is why we review the mobile apps of these online casinos.
Our social and sweepstakes casino recommendation: Stake.us
Once you've established whether you plan to play for fun or for real cash prizes, you'll be able to make use of our online reviews and find yourself a stop social or sweepstakes casino. For those of you just starting out on your journey, we can recommend beginning your search by taking a closer look at Stake.us.
The sweepstakes casino is ideal for those looking to play for fun or real cash prizes. Currently, you will find over 300 casino titles available to play, including a wide selection of slots powered by software giants Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming. The in-house development team has also been busy, creating roughly 20 unique titles covering Keno, video poker, Dice, and beyond.
The registration process is incredibly simple, allowing you to register by entering a few basic details or by linking your social media accounts. Regardless of how you decide to register, be sure to enter our exclusive promo code to unlock 5% Rakeback on all casino losses. Once entered and you've submitted your details, you'll be free to make use of the daily login bonus and unlock your first batch of Gold Coins and Stake Cash.
Gold Coins can be used across the full portfolio and do not hold any real-world value. Stake Cash can be used on promotional titles or entered into competitions and can later be converted into merchandise, vouchers, or digital currency.
Conclusion: Find a top online social and sweepstakes casino today
So, as things stand, real money online casino action is still out of the question in Illinois. However, you've got some fantastic social and sweepstakes casino alternatives to enjoy. The very best offer a legal and entertaining way to enjoy casino action without ever having a dime leave your pocket. Of course, the bonus of choosing a sweepstakes casino is that you have the potential to walk away with real-world prizes, too. Currently, Stake.us is offering the most complete sweepstakes casino experience; however, we've got plenty of reviews ready and waiting for you to make your way through at CaptainGambling.com.
Real money online casino Illinois FAQ
👍Is an online casino legal in Illinois?
Knowing for sure how legal online casinos are in any state in the US can be a bit of a gray area. At CaptainGambling.com we fill in the blanks of this knowledge to help you better understand whether or not you can use online casinos in Illinois. You won’t have any doubts about the legal status of online casinos in the Prairie State.
❓How do I find the best online casino real money Illinois?
With so many online internet casino options to choose from, it can be difficult to know exactly what operators you can trust. That is where we step in as our Illinois casino list and reviews will help you to make an informed decision about who the best online casino Illinois is. We save you hours searching the internet to provide you with a platform to easily pick out the best real-money online casino Illinois offers.
🔏Are online casinos Illinois safe to use?
There will always be new online casinos that you should avoid. This can be tricky to do on your own which is why we have created our Illinois casino list to help point you in the right direction of the most reputable and secure sites. We will never lead our readers astray in this regard, as our casino reviews are unbiased and thorough in their pursuit of the truth about these online casinos in Illinois.
✍How do I create an account with the best online casino Illinois?
At CaptainGambling.com we want to equip you with all the knowledge on how to create your account with the best online casino in Illinois. We give you a detailed look at what most operators will require you to do in order to join their sites successfully with our comprehensive list of casinos in Illinois.
Other Illinois Gambling Guides
