Online gambling in United States (Illinois)

Only listed operators are authorised

The IGB states that the online and retail sportsbooks in its directory are the only operators authorised to conduct sports wagering in Illinois. The current list contains 10 online brands.

Online and retail are different records

The directory separately identifies retail-only entries, including Bally Bet, Fanatics at Hawthorne, Hollywood Casino Joliet and Wind Creek Chicago Southland. Atlas does not represent those retail-only entries as online-brand authorisations.

Sports wagering: authority, age and location

Section 25-25 makes sports wagering lawful only when conducted under the Act and applicable rules. A person placing a sports wager must be at least 21 and physically located in Illinois. This sports-wagering authority does not authorise casino or poker products.

Remote internet casino and poker scope

The IGB enforcement guidance distinguishes Illinois licensed gambling categories from unlicensed internet casino platforms. The remote internet casino and poker labels here are read with Criminal Code section 28-1 and the Illinois Gambling Act venue requirements; they do not prohibit licensed in-person poker or override statutory exceptions.

September fantasy-rule proposal, not proof of commencement

Public Act 104-468 introduced an IGB fantasy-contest framework distinct from sports wagering. The retained 4 September release describes proposed implementing rules proceeding through JCAR. That historical release does not establish final adoption or an effective date.

Statutory fantasy transition depends on effective rules

Sections 25-120 and 25-120.3 distinguish fantasy contests from sports wagering and generally require an IGB fantasy operator licence. The section 25-120.3(b) transition applies to operators already offering contests before the amending Act and runs until 90 days after implementing rules take effect. A temporary permit additionally requires a timely application and fee, subject to Board rules. No calendar transition expiry or individual permission is inferred because this review did not establish the final rule effective date.

22 October video-gaming proposal is a separate scope

The retained 22 October release describes proposed video-gaming self-exclusion and cashless-wagering rules that must pass through JCAR before taking effect. That dated release does not establish their current commencement. Video gaming at licensed terminals is not a permission for remote internet casino or poker.

Internet prohibition has specified exceptions

Criminal Code section 28-1(a)(1) covers playing games of chance or skill for money or value unless excepted; section 28-1(a)(12) addresses operating internet gambling sites. Item (a)(12) expressly excepts the activities in (b)(6), (6.1), (8), (8.1) and (15), covering the specified lottery, raffle and compliant sports-wagering activities. Subsection (b) contains additional participant exceptions. These provisions must be read together; no blanket claim that all internet gambling or every game called poker is prohibited is made.

Casino wagers require presence at the licensed venue

Illinois Gambling Act section 3 authorises only gambling conducted under that Act. Section 11(8) requires a casino-game wagerer to be present on the licensed riverboat, in a casino or at an organisation gaming facility and bars proxy wagers for an absent person. Section 11(10) prohibits a person under 21 from wagering under the Act. This venue-based authority is not remote internet-casino permission.

Approved venue poker is distinct from remote poker

Section 4 of the Illinois Gambling Act includes poker within the definitions of a Board-authorised gambling game and table game. The Act defines gambling operations by reference to a riverboat, casino or authorised organisation gaming facility. Accordingly, the remote-poker prohibition recorded here must not be presented as a prohibition of all licensed in-person poker.

Fantasy conduct is a distinct statutory exception

Section 25-120.4(a) provides that a fantasy contest conducted under the Act does not constitute gambling, including for Criminal Code Article 28. Subsections (b) and (c) require participants to be at least 21 and impose in-state presence and geolocation conditions, subject to the Board exception stated in subsection (c). This does not convert casino, poker or an unlicensed contest into a lawful fantasy product.

Internet sports wagering is a licensed channel

Section 25-30(d)(3) expressly permits an organisation licensee holding the required master sports wagering licence to conduct sports wagering over the Internet or through a mobile application. The licence class, branding requirements and other statutory conditions still apply. This is a sports-wagering channel, not a general online-casino or poker authorisation.

Current IGB rulemaking source boundary

The current IGB sports-wagering law-and-rules page read on 29 October did not establish a final fantasy-rule commencement date. Its rulemaking index is not used here to assign a fantasy transition deadline or individual permission.

Adopted-code index does not establish fantasy commencement

The adopted Part 1900 index read on 29 October did not establish a final fantasy-rule commencement date. A missing index entry is not proof that no rule exists, and this index is not used to infer a calendar transition expiry or an individual fantasy permission.