Illinois Gambling Laws Guide
Of any hobby in the United States, there is nothing which comes under more fire than gambling. The confusing legal status of the act leaves many citizens caught in a limbo, unsure of their rights or what actions put them at great legal risk for simply attempting to take part in their hobby legally. This article will help you understand Illinois gambling laws and how they pertain to the state's residents.
While all US citizens are tied to federal laws like the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 1992 and the Federal Wire Act of 1961 which ban the facilitation of betting and gambling but do not attack the bettor or player, residents of Illinois also have legislation handed down from the state which further restricts policy related to gambling.
The goal of IllinoisGamblingLaws.com is to help Illinois residents interested in gambling understand their home state’s legislation when it comes to the issue of gambling, and to hopefully aid them in understanding their rights and responsibilities when it comes to enjoying their potential new hobby.
While many options exist, it is always a good idea to enter any situation as educated as possible.
Legality of Gambling in Illinois
Of all the states in the union, Illinois has what is perhaps the most encompassing and specific definition of gambling. In Article 28 of Illinois legislation outlining criminal offenses, chapter 38 section 28-1 provides several definitions of gambling which encompass most popular forms of wagering. Within section (a) of the passage, subsections (1) and (2) of the state law immediately define gambling as wagering money on any game of skill or chance, and making wagers on the outcome of any game, contest, or political race which effectively outlaws sports betting.
One interesting thing worth noting before continuing on is the exemption to these rules defined in sub-subsection (b) of this legislative document. This passage reads that games of skill or chance may be wagered on if “no payment or purchase is required to participate.” What this essentially does is de-criminalize the actual act of participating in any gaming just as long as it is not in a formal setting where someone could profit off other people’s playing. This law means that legally, running a gambling enterprise cannot be profitable. Not only does this put a damper on any casino operations based on land, but it also strongly discourages illicit gambling operations.
Where Illinois gambling laws gets interesting and unique is in what follows. Each of the 49 other states in the union have separate definitions for “gambling” and acts seen as “gambling promotion,” “advancing,” or even “bookmaking,” but not Illinois. In this state, both the participation in unlicensed gambling games and their facilitation are listed as the same offense with the same punishments.
Upon an Illinois resident’s first conviction of “gambling,” they will be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor which can carry a fine of up to $2500 and even possible jail time. Subsequent offenses can even be classified as a class four felony, which can lead to much steeper penalties.
Penalties For Illegal Gambling In Illinois
While according to the technical letter of Illinois state law, residents who are found guilty of merely participating in illegal gaming ventures could face the same step penalties as those who are operating games, this is not really how the law functions in day-to-day life.
Remember that these are antiquated laws, many of them written in the heyday of organized crime in Chicago when Al Capone was still bootlegging gin and tonics. While the language of the law is rather strong in an effort to weaken these criminal organizations by not only criminalizing them but discouraging their customer base, the intent of the law is not to treat an otherwise honest citizen found guilty of buying their way into a poker game as a major, career criminal.
If one were to dig through Illinois arrest records looking for an arrest solely for participation in gambling, they would spend a day with their nose buried in documents to no avail. No Illinois resident has ever been arrested for mere participation in gambling, the only time these charges have been brought up would be to compound the “gambling” counts against an offender who was found guilty of operating an illicit game.
If one who lives in Illinois has an interest of gambling, they should feel secure in pursuing it just so long as they do not get desperate enough to start up their own illicit gambling operation, for this action could lead not only to prosecution, but to heavy legal penalties.
Betting Laws In Illinois
Illinois Sports Betting Laws
Betting on sports within the state of Illinois is considered a criminalized activity. Although the law is more focused and intent on going after bookmakers, it does specifically define the act of betting as illegal, as well. However, no resident of Illinois has ever been arrested for the mere act of placing a bet. The best thing an Illinois resident who is interested in sports betting can do is practice discretion and avoid busy, attention-grabbing land based sportsbooks.
The state legislation does make an exception for pari-mutuel betting, which is legal at any of the numerous race tracks around the state.
Illinois Casino Gaming Laws
While these certainly fall the Illinois definition of “gambling” and are considered illegal, it’s important to draw attention, once again, to sub-subsection (b) of the state documents concerning gambling laws. If a resident is playing in a game which does not require a purchase for the privilege to play, then they are not guilty of gambling. While this rules out any land based, for profit casinos, it leaves some legal possibilities open.
Riverboat casinos are also exempt from these laws, so major casino chains such as Harrah’s are allowed to operate boats on the Ohio River where players may go to gamble.
Illinois Poker Laws
While some states leave openings in their definitions “gambling” to allow games of skill, under which poker could apply, Illinois is not one of those states. In accordance with state law, poker games fall under all the same regulations as games of roulette would.
However, not only are riverboat casinos exempt from these laws meaning that many of these boats may host legal poker rooms, but in sub-subsection (b) of these laws it states that any game of skill or chance is lawful just so long as no admission is charged to the game. This means that not only will private games among friends avoid legal attention, the law would have no ground even if it were to stumble directly upon such a game. So long as a resident holding his own poker game amongst friends does not charge admission for the privilege to play, they are perfectly within their rights to play as high or low stakes game of poker as they choose.
Legal Gambling Age In Illinois
One surefire way to make the issue of legal gambling in Illinois even more complicated is to put on the unnecessary stress of gambling underage. In simple terms, it’s just not worth it. Illinois gambling laws say the legal age to gamble in casinos for Illinois residents is 21, and it’s strongly advisable for residents to wait until they are of an appropriate age to do so in order to avoid legal fines, court dates and even a probation period.
If an Illinois resident is caught gambling underage, not only will they leave themselves open to legal issues, but more often than not the establishment with which they are gambling will not only ban them, but confiscate all their funds associated with the underage gambling, including any winnings the player may otherwise be entitled to. Some things in life truly are worth waiting for.
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General |
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| 18 |
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Lottery |
|---|
| 18 |
|
Casinos |
|---|
| 21 |
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Poker |
|---|
| 21 |
|
Pari-Mutuel |
|---|
| 18 |
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Bingo |
|---|
| 18 |
Where to Gamble in Illinois
On-Land:
Despite tough regulations on casino operations within the state of Illinois, there is one crucial clause under which a for-profit gambling business can still operate: Riverboat casinos. While these are far from the ideal scenario under which one who wants to pick up gambling as a hobby, they can do in a pinch for a social gambling experience. With the purchase of a ticket on one of these boats, Illinois residents can gamble for up to four hours at a time while enjoying a leisurely cruise out on the Ohio River.
Still, if one wants to gamble a little more regularly (not to mention conveniently) these are not a great option. For starters, the four hour time limit is very restraining, and if one wished to make regular trips, the boat tickets can add up quickly. Secondly, it’s hard to enjoy a gambling hobby for just a little bit of time out of your day if residents are forced to take four hour cruises every time they wish to play a hand of poker. We all know how a three hour tour ended up for Gilligan and the Skipper. Still, if a player in Illinois truly wishes for a casino experience, by virtue of being the only legal option, these Riverboats work best.
Online/Web-Based:
It has been well established that the state of Illinois is not in the business of convicting residents to prison sentences for merely gambling even if the letter of the law says it is unlawful to do so. Bearing this in mind, how is one to find a place to gamble that is both reputable and cannot be broken up by Illinois state troopers at a moment’s notice? Just like the answer to many other questions, this one is found on the internet.
While gambling websites that are established in the state of Illinois are highly illegal and will surely be shut down fast, there are a plethora of legal gambling websites for Illinois residents that are based overseas, and will happily accept the business of anyone in the United States. While the thought of trusting a foreign run internet company may make some US citizens nervous, they can rest assured that these legitimate businesses have been in operation for well over a decade and have spent all of that time serving Illinois residents and therefore perfecting their craft and product.
All the gambling sites listed on this page are not only legal in their home countries, but they come certified by reputable international gaming commissions, so all of their members are assured a fair deal. As gaming and betting culture in the United States continues to grow both in popularity and prominence, these websites grow in fame as well. Many major media networks based in the U.S. endorse these products, companies like CBS and the USA Today vouch for these gambling sites as credible and legitimate, so no resident of Illinois should be concerned about the legitimacy or fairness of the sites on this page.
Best Legal Gambling Site For Illinois Residents
Bovada Sportsbook
Sports Betting: All Chicago Teams + Others Featured!
The hardest part for Illinois residents when choosing a legal gambling network is deciding whether they are most interested in a top quality sportsbook, poker room, or casino. Luckily for members of Bovada, there is no need to choose because the best of all worlds is under one umbrella. Whether a player wants to bet on the Super Bowl, participate in a poker tournament or buy a coupe spins on a roulette wheel, this gambling site for Illinois residents has all these bases covered and more.
The best part about playing in the Bovada network is how easy and convenient it is to collect winnings. As anyone who has ever gambled online can attest, not all sites make the process easy, so when a gambler finally finds one, they will want to cling onto their membership for dear life. Not only does Bovada make withdrawals easy by simply mailing a check to your front doorstep, they will even go the extra mile and cover the fees associated for payouts as often as once a month. That means as often as twelve times in a year, Bovada members may collect their winnings on the house, and anyone who’s ever gambled, online, on a boat, in a box or with a fox can attest to what a fantastic deal that is.
Other Recommended Illinois Betting Sites
How To Get More Help...How To Use This Website
We at IllinoisGamblingLaws.com are not lawyers. While we stand by the information on this page as well researched and accurate, it should in no way be considered a legal consult or actual legal advice. If you have any further questions related to legal gambling in Illinois or find yourself in legal trouble related to gambling, you should contact a lawyer immediately. Our final advice, going to the Illinois legal code to research the gaming laws for yourself, will reveal the exact language of the Illinois gambling laws.