When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn Online poker in Illinois is now available through a number of legit offshore platforms that operate in the state. There are even a few poker rooms that will allow you to gamble with crypto.
From cash games with live dealers to video poker titles, you can access it all through the sites listed below. And yes, there are bonuses for signing up too.
- All
| Best Crypto Poker Site |
CoinPoker |
150% deposit bonus up to $2,000 |
150% deposit bonus up to $2,000
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CoinPoker
|
Play Now
Copied
TECHO
Copy
|
Ignition |
100% Poker Bonus + 100% Casino Combo Bonus |
100% Poker Bonus + 100% Casino Combo Bonus
|
Ignition
|
Play Now
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
|
Americas Card Room |
New Player Bonus Up To $2,000 |
New Player Bonus Up To $2,000
|
Americas Card Room
|
Play Now
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
|
Black Chip Poker |
100% up to $2,000 |
100% up to $2,000
|
Black Chip Poker
|
Play Now
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
|
BetOnline |
100% Bonus up to $1,000 |
100% Bonus up to $1,000
|
BetOnline
|
Play Now
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
|
Bovada |
100% Bonus up to $500 |
100% Bonus up to $500
|
Bovada
|
Play Now
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
|
Ya Poker |
100% up to $2,000 |
100% up to $2,000
|
Ya Poker
|
Play Now
NO CODE REQUIRED
|
- Show Full Guide
Comparing Top Sites for Online Poker in Illinois
No two platforms that offer real money online poker in Illinois are quite the same. Check out the differences in the table below to see which one best suits you.
| Poker Site | Best Known For | Rakeback | Peer-to-Peer Tables |
| CoinPoker | Dedicated Crypto Poker Rooms | ✅ | ✅ |
| BetOnline | Mobile-Friendly Gameplay | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bovada | $5 Minimum Deposits | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ignition | Anonymous Tables | ❌ | ✅ |
| SportsBetting.ag | Fast Crypto Payouts | ❌ | ✅ |
| Everygame | 36% Rakeback | ✅ | ✅ |
| Juicy Stakes | $0.02/$0.04 Min Stakes | ✅ | ✅ |
Reviews of the Best Casinos for Online Poker in Illinois
We’ve played at all of the best sites for online poker with real money in Illinois, and here’s what we found.
1. CoinPoker – Best Illinois Poker Site for 2024
- Payout time: 2 – 24 hours
- Established: 2018
- License: Curaçao eGaming
- Headquarters: Curaçao
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 9.9/10
CoinPoker is a unique Illinois poker site in that it’s focused on cryptocurrency. Launched in 2018, the platform was built by poker players for poker players and it shows.
CoinPoker has a wide range of poker live tables with regular tournaments that all operate on the Ethereum blockchain. This makes it both secure and anonymous.
The site supports major cryptocurrencies and offers super fast transaction speeds. You can even buy and bet with CoinPoker’s native coin CHP. There are three welcome bonus offers and 33% rakeback for all users.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 10/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 9/10
- User Experience: 9.2/10
- Payment Methods: 9/10
- Customer Support: 10/10
Pros 
- Crypto poker site operating on the blockchain
- CSOP tournament with $1 million guarantee
- High player traffic with 24/7 tables
- 33% rakeback for all users
Cons 
- Must download app to play
2. BetOnline – Best Illinois Online Poker Site for Tournaments
- Payout time: 0 – 15 business days
- Established: 2004
- License: Panama
- Headquarters: St. John’s, Antigua, and Barbuda
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 9/10
Launched in 2004, BetOnline is one of the largest online poker sites in the US. Based in Panama, this casino is part of the Chico Poker Network, ranked third-best in the country for traffic. This means that there are lots of games on 24/7.
There are daily cash games and tournaments featuring Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 7-Card Draw, and other variants. There’s no shortage of game formats available including Sit and Go and Knockouts.
You can fund your poker site account using USD and cryptocurrencies and withdrawal speeds for crypto are lightning fast. Another great feature here is that there are tables with minimum stakes of $0.05/$0.10.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 9/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 8/10
- User Experience: 10/10
- Payment Methods: 8/10
- Customer Support: 10/10
Pros
- Downloadable apps for Android and iOS
- Great choice of poker tournaments
- No fees on crypto payments
- Part of the Chico Poker Network
Cons
- $10k wagers required for Silver VIP
- Fees on USD deposits and withdrawals
3. Bovada – Exclusive Customization and Tables Formats
- Payout time: 1 – 15 business days
- Established: 2011
- License: Curacao
- Headquarters: Curacao
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 9/10
If you’re just starting out playing online poker in Illinois, you’ll find lots of helpful and free resources on Bovada. These include video tutorials and strategy guides to help you master the basics of Hold’em and Omaha.
Bovada is part of the PaiWangLou poker network which ranks 5th in the US for traffic volume. There’s an average of 12,000 daily players, and more on Sundays when a $200k guaranteed tournament is held.
You ‘ll also find several unique table features, such as Anonymous Tables, that will help you keep your identity hidden from other players. Banking options include crypto and card payments.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 9/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 7/10
- Payment Methods: 9/10
- User Experience: 9/10
- Customer Support: 10/10
Pros
- Plenty of poker variants
- $200k Sunday weekly tournament
- Jackpot SNGs with $100 buy-in
- Zone Poker reduces waiting time
Cons
- High fees on USD payments
- No downloadable mobile app
4. Ignition – Loyalty Points for Every Poker Wager
- Payout time: 1 – 15 business days
- Established: 2013
- License: Curacao
- Headquarters: Curacao
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 8/10
Ignition is a sister site of Bovada’s and forms part of the same poker network, PaiWangLou. Ignition is ideal for novices or casual players who will find plenty of beginner-friendly features such as strategy guides.
Anonymous Tables also let you mask your identity from other players while Zone Poker transfers you to another table after you’ve folded to keep wait times to a minimum.
You’ll find plenty of cash games with super low minimum bets of $0.02/$0.04. Banking options are fairly standard and include crypto support along with card payments although these come with fees.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 9/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 8/10
- Payment Methods: 7/10
- User Experience: 8/10
- Customer Support: 9/10
Pros
- Mobile-friendly poker site
- Choice of welcome bonuses
- Plenty of beginner-friendly features
- 12,000 online players on average
Cons
- Fewer benefits for experienced players
- 11%+ fees on USD transfers
5. SportsBetting.ag – Illinois Online Poker Site with 9 Player Tables
- Payout time: 0 – 15 business days
- Established: 2003
- License: Panama
- Headquarters: Panama
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 8/10
SportsBetting.ag is another real money online poker in Illinois site that forms part of the Chico Poker Network. This network has as many as 4,000 players online at any one time.
The game variety is great while it’s one of the few sites to offer nine-player tables in addition to six-player tables. Stakes mostly fall into the range of $0.05/$0.10 and $5/$10.
New poker players get a generous welcome bonus while existing players have several ongoing promotions to choose from. This includes a high-value Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 offer and Poker Reload Bonuses with minimum deposit limits of $50.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 9/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 7/10
- User Experience: 9/10
- Payment Methods: 8/10
- Customer Support: 9/10
Pros
- $10m GTD MTTs
- Sunday’s main event offers $150k GTD
- Accepts 15+ cryptocurrencies
- RNG verified by GamingLabs
Cons
- No rakeback offered
- USD payments subject to processing fees
6. Everygame – Tournaments include $10,000 Sunday Myriad
- Payout time: 1 – 15 business days
- Established: 1996
- License: Curacao
- Headquarters: Antigua and Barbuda
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 8/10
Everygame, formerly Intertops, is one of the smaller sites for playing online poker with real money in Illinois. Forming part of the Horizon Poker Network, this platform sees a maximum of 300 players at any one time.
The poker site’s main event is the Sunday Myriad which guarantees a prize pool of $10,000. This and other multi-table tournaments are the most popular feature.
Everygame scores highly for its poker promotions, including draws for packaged trips to live events like WSoP and Aussie Millions. There is a fixed rakeback rate of 36% and a No Flop No Drop policy – if your hand doesn’t reach the flop, no rake is deducted.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 7/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 7/10
- User Experience: 8/10
- Payment Methods: 9/10
- Customer Support: 10/10
Pros
- Supports tracking software
- High rakeback rate of 36%
- No deposit processing fees
- Unique poker promotions
Cons
- Fewer cash game players
- Site could use an aesthetic upgrade
7. Juicy Stakes – Daily Freerolls and Other No Deposit Bonuses
- Payout time: 1 – 15 business days
- Established: 2009
- License: Curacao
- Headquarters: Curacao
- Available in State: Yes
Our Verdict 7/10
Juicy Stakes is another platform that forms part of the Horizon Poker Network. Even though this site is newer than Everygame, it features a similarly old-feel website and a limited number of active players.
Fortunately, it also shares other similarities with Everygame, including a 36% fixed rakeback rate and a mobile-friendly platform with no need for software downloads.
With a relatively small player pool, there a very few crowded tables. During peak times, up to 25 tables are available featuring Pot-Limit Omaha, and No-Limit Hold’em among others. Several tournaments are also available every day, including SNGs and MTTs.
Features Overview
- Poker Game Variety: 7/10
- Promotions & Rewards: 7/10
- Payment Methods: 9/10
- User Experience: 7/10
- Customer Support: 9/10
Pros
- Well-suited for seasoned players
- No deposit processing fees
- $10,000 GTD Sunday Myriad
- Daily freerolls and promotions
Cons
- 50% fewer points with 36% rakeback
- Low level traffic
Illinois Online Poker Bonuses
All of the best Illinois online poker sites offer bonuses designed just for poker players like you. Many of these offers are general casino bonuses that allow you to use your bonus credit to play poker or other casino-style games.
Below, we’ve listed the main types of promotions that you’ll come across at many of the top online poker sites.
Welcome Bonuses
The welcome bonus can only be claimed when you sign up for a new account. The offer could include anything from deposit match bonuses to free tickets to tournaments. These are typically the highest value offers at IL online poker sites.
Ongoing Promotions
As you can guess, ongoing promotions are offers that you can claim regularly. These could be reload or deposit match bonuses or even missions that you need to complete to earn rewards.
Deposit Match Bonuses
The deposit match bonuses requires you to make a deposit and the poker site will match your deposit by a certain percentage. So, a 100% deposit match would see a $50 deposit matched with another $50 in site credit.
No Deposit Bonuses
A super rare offer, no deposit bonus codes let you play poker using credit without making any deposit of your own. This offer is like free money so expect it to be low in value, and like we said, extremely rare.
Free Roll Bonuses
A free roll bonus allows you to enter an Illinois online poker tournament without paying the entry fee. These are quite common bonuses and will sometimes be offered as part of a welcome deal or as a prize in a small tournament.
Loyalty Bonuses
Loyalty bonuses are dedicated promotions that are designed to reward active players. These are often listed as part of a VIP program. The more games you play and money you bet, the higher up the program you go. And yes, the rewards get better as you move up the levels.
Types of Online Poker Games Available at Illinois Poker Sites
You can play several different poker variants for real money at Illinois online poker sites. The following three are the most popular right now.
Texas Hold’em Poker
This is the world’s most popular and well-known version of poker and is played on a table with two or more players. Each player is dealt two cards and must use up to five community cards to create the strongest hand.
Minimum and maximum bets are determined by the table rules, and the most popular versions of this game are Pot Limit and No-Limit Hold’em.
Omaha Poker
Several versions of Omaha Poker exist, including the original and Omaha Hi-Lo.
While similar to Texas Hold’em, Omaha sees players getting four cards each, but only two can be used in the final hand. Five community cards are also available, and players can use up to three of these to create the strongest hand.
7-Card Stud
7-Card Stud is a poker variant that doesn’t feature community cards.
Each player is dealt seven cards in different stages. Some of these cards are dealt face-up whilst others are kept hidden. If two or more players reach the showdown, the one with the strongest five-card hand wins.
Online Poker Tournaments in Illinois
Our Illinois poker recommendations feature the best online poker tournaments in the State. Most of these competitions require an entry fee, but freerolls are often made available to active or new players.
Sit and Go’s are generally the most popular type of tournament as they get started just as soon as there are enough players, but you can also find plenty of other mainstream formats.
You don’t need to be a seasoned player to participate in IL online poker tournaments with real money.
If you’re new to such competitions, you should look for tournaments with smaller prize pots, such as BetOnline’s Week Days Tournaments.
How to Sign up With Illinois Online Poker Sites
Getting started with online poker in Illinois is incredibly easy. All you need to do is sign up for a new account with one of our recommended sites. Follow the steps below to get started.
Pick an IL Online Poker Site
You can pick any of the sites listed above, but we’re going with CoinPoker. Just follow one of our links above and you’ll end up on the poker site home page.
Download and Install your Poker Software
For some poker sites you can play through the website, but in many cases you can download and install poker software to your PC or mobile device. Just follow the on-screen instructions.
Create your Account
You’ll need to fill out some info to get started. At CoinPoker, this is super fast as all you need is your email address, a username, and a strong password.
Make your Deposit and Claim a Bonus
Once your account is ready you’ll need to fund your account. Do this by opening your wallet. Pick your bonus and enter any info needed to make a transaction from your personal crypto wallet.
Look for Online Poker Tables
Head to the lobby and look for some cash games to join or even and tournaments that are currently underway. That’s all there is to it.
Payment Methods at Illinois Online Poker Sites
You can play real money online poker in Illinois using USD and cryptocurrencies. Below, you’ll find a list of the most popular banking options and a summary of their main pros and cons.
Pros & Cons of Illinois Poker Apps over Desktop
A few sites offering online poker with real money in Illinois give you the option of downloading an app for Android or iOS devices. Using these apps to play online poker comes with benefits and drawbacks.
Take a look at the pros and cons below to decide which option best suits you.
Pros
- Quicker loading times
- Access to the full range of bonuses
- Play from anywhere
- Responsive poker platforms
Cons
- Harder to play in noisier environments
- Apps take up precious disk space
- Smaller screens can be difficult to navigate
Is Online Poker Legal in Illinois?
In a word no, but that’s only with respect to state-licensed or US-based online poker rooms. Offshore poker sites, on the other hand, are accessible in Illinois.
With discussion on the Senate bill SB2064 postponed until 2024 or later, no Illinois online poker bill allows state authorities to license online poker site operators.
The following is an overview of State laws governing poker:
- Online poker – While online poker sites cannot be based or licensed in the State, residents can play safely on offshore casinos.
- Land-based poker – Playing poker at authorized establishments is legal.
- Gambling age – You must be 21 years or older to gamble legally at land-based casinos. Offshore casinos will let you sign-up as long as you’re 18 years or older.
How Illinois Online Poker Compares to its Neighboring States
The poker legal landscape in Illinois is very similar to those of its neighbors.
Missouri online casinos, for example, can only be based offshore since the State has yet to enact any laws that allow them or online poker. Land-based facilities, meanwhile, are allowed to operate.
A similar situation exists in the southwest, with Oklahoma online casinos. These sites can only be based and licensed offshore since the state only regulates land-based facilities.
Regulated Poker Sites vs Offshore Poker Sites
Online poker sites can be described as being either regulated or offshore, depending on where they are licensed. Regulated poker sites are licensed by state authorities, which, in this case, would be the Illinois Gaming Board.
Offshore poker sites, meanwhile, are based and licensed in foreign nations, such as Curaçao or Panama.
While both regulated and our recommended offshore poker sites are safe, they have several important differences as we’ve outlined below.
| Feature | Regulated Poker Sites | Offshore Poker Sites |
| Operating License | State-licensed* | Licensed by offshore authorities, such as those in Curaçao. |
| Player Pools | Players restricted to multi-state pools | No player pool restrictions |
| Player Bonuses | Smaller bonuses due to higher operating costs | Higher bonuses as offshore licenses tend to be cheaper |
| Poker Tournaments | Smaller and less frequent due to a limited number of players | More frequent tournaments with larger pots |
| Payment Methods | Only accept USD payments | Accept USD and various cryptocurrencies |
| Winnings Tax | 15% state and 24% federal tax | No tax withholding in effect |
*There are no state-licensed online poker sites in Illinois.
How to Choose the Best Illinois Online Poker Sites
We’ve listed the best online poker sites in Illinois, but you still need to choose one that best suits your needs. Here are a few things to look out for to help you make your decision.
- Variety of Poker Cash Games – The best Illinois online poker sites should have different types of cash games. Look for variants such as NLH and PLO with a variety of betting limits to suit your bankroll.
- Poker Tournament Frequency and Pots – There should be a good schedule of tournaments with varying pots. This crucial as you may want options depending on how much your poker game is improving.
- Unrestricted Gameplay – This means high traffic volume as part of an established poker network. More players means more opportunities for you to play and minimal wait times for seats to fill.
Sweepstakes Poker Online
A few online gaming platforms in Illinois provide sweepstakes poker instead of regular poker. These sites, including GGPoker, don’t let you deposit real money, but instead offer virtual currency that you can use to place your bets.
You can get this currency for free during promotions or buy it using your card. Many of these sites won’t let you withdraw any winnings as cash, but some may allow it if you meet certain criteria.
Tips for Playing Online Poker in Illinois for Real Money
Keep these tips in mind when you’re playing online poker in Illinois:
- Build your confidence – Make use of all available resources to learn how to play different types of poker. Some sites offer poker strategy guides or free play mode to help you put your skills to the test.
- Match your wagers to your skills – If you’re a novice player, you should stick to placing small bets. If you’re a seasoned player, think about joining higher-stakes tournaments or cash games designed for your skills.
- Know when to raise or fold – To win at poker, you can’t play every hand. Pros know when to play a strong hand and fold a weak one. When their hand is worth playing, they raise consistently both to dissuade other players and grow the pot.
- Check out the casino’s promotions list – All the best sites for online poker in Illinois offer welcome and ongoing bonuses that can increase the value of your bankroll or, sometimes, reward you even when you lose a game.
- Stay in control – As with any other form of gambling, you should only play poker with funds that you can afford to lose. Even though this game relies much more heavily on skill, the outcome of each game is still partly based on the luck of the draw.
Responsible Gambling in Illinois
While playing online poker in Illinois is fun, you should be aware of the dangers of problem gambling. The State offers several free services and online resources to help you identify the dangers and deal with any symptoms.
Illinois Responsible Gambling Resources
- Illinois Council on Problem Gambling – 1-800-426-2537
- Department of Health and Human Services Illinois Division – 1-800-843-6154
The Best Illinois Poker Site for September 2024 – CoinPoker
Picking the best online poker site in Illinois is no easy task as all the options listed above offer great a great poker experience. But if we had to choose one, then it would have to be CoinPoker.
CoinPoker checks all the boxes when it comes to online poker. Tournaments, monthly leaderboards, 33% rakeback, and dedicated poker bonuses – it’s got everything you need in one place.
And if you’re worried about games, there’s plenty of player traffic so you can find seats at tables 24/7. There’s even the chance to buy and bet with CoinPoker’s own coin – CHP.
Of all the Illinois poker sites listed above, we reckon CoinPoker is the one to rule them all. Check it out for yourself by hitting the button below.
How We Test and Review Poker Websites
150+ Gambling Platforms Reviewed
1,100+ Games Software Tested
200+ Monthly Hours of Research
375+ Promotions Verified
Playing online poker is becoming more popular by the day and you need to choose a reputable site that best matches your needs.
We here at Techopedia have an in-house review process that’s analyzed by our poker experts that covers each and every aspect of the most popular online poker sites in the world.
In particular we look at:
- Rakeback and other bonuses
- Game selection
- Player pool size
- Reputation and safety
- Payment methods
To find out more, take a look at our detailed guide on how we test gambling platforms and poker sites featured on Techopedia.
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Affiliate Disclosure: Techopedia may receive advertising commissions for visits to a suggested operator through our affiliate links, at no added cost to you. However, all our recommendations are unbiased and follow a thorough review process. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly and you must be of legal gambling age.
