Best Online Poker in Illinois 2025 – Where to Play Online Poker in IL

With no regulated online poker rooms in Illinois, offshore poker sites have become the go-to for players looking for cash games, tournaments, and freerolls.

From $10,000 in combined welcome bonuses to rakeback deals as high as 36% and multi-million dollar prize pools, they offer everything from Texas Hold’em and Omaha to high-stakes MTTs and anonymous tables.

  • Icon Popular
  • Freerolls
  • Satellites
  • Rakeback
  • Mobile app
  • Anonymous tables
  • High traffic

150% Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000

9.8
5 Stars
10 USD
Min. Deposit
Instant
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Tether
Matic
+1

100% match deposit bonus of up to $1,000

9.8
5 Stars
25 USD
Min. Deposit
Within 24h.
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Visa
Master Card
Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Solana
Tether
Tron
MoneyGram
Check
Litecoin
Ripple
+9

Up to $20,000 Bonus

9.7
5 Stars
10 USD
Min. Deposit
Instant
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Visa
Master Card
Bitcoin
Ethereum
+1

300% Poker & Casino Welcome Bonus

9.6
20 USD
Min. Deposit
1-24 hours
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Visa
Master Card
Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Tether
Ethereum
Litecoin
Check
+5

New Player Poker Bonus Up To $2,000

9.6
5 Stars
10 USD
Min. Deposit
Instant
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Visa
Master Card
Bank Wire
Check
Bitcoin
Tether
Ethereum
Litecoin
+5

100% Deposit Match of Up to $2,000

9.7
5 Stars
10 USD
Min. Deposit
Within 24h
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Litecoin
Tether
Tron
Ripple
Visa
American Express
Check
+6

200% match deposit bonus of up to $1,000 + 25 free spins

9.7
10 USD
Min. Deposit
72 hours
Payout Speed
PLAY NOW
Visa
Master Card
Diners Club
Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Litecoin
+3

Illinois Online Poker Sites Compared

Many sites offer online poker in Illinois, but we have included some of the best. The table below compares these top casinos on the rack rate, software, and rakeback availability.

Online Poker Room Poker Rake % Poker Network Rakeback Multi Table Sit and Go Freeroll
CoinPoker 5% Independent ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
BetOnline 5.56% Chico Poker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Bovada 5% ($3 max) Paiwangluo Poker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
BC.Game Not specified BC.Game ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Ignition Poker 5-10% Paiwangluo Poker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
ACR 5-10% Winning Poker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Black Chip 5% ($3 max) Winning Poker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Everygame 5% Horizon Gaming and Poker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

Top Illinois Online Poker Sites Reviewed

Out of all the available US online poker rooms, these 8 made our shortlist for several reasons. Find out exactly why and explore what each has to offer in Illinois, including the main pros and cons we came across in our research.

1. CoinPoker – Unquestionably #1 Illinois Online Poker Site With a 33% Rakeback

  • Website: https://coinpoker.com/
  • Poker Network: Independent
  • Established: 2017
  • License: Anjouan Gaming
  • Deposit methods: Cryptocurrencies
  • Average Daily Poker Traffic: 2,000+

If you’re looking for a top-rated Illinois poker site that offers Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, 4-Card Omaha, and 5-Card Pot Limit Omaha games, CoinPoker should be high on your radar.

CoinPoker rakes a portion of all bets made on cash and tournament tables. The poker room then pays a 33% rakeback every Monday as CHP tokens in your account. So you need to use CHP for poker games, spend 100 CHP on rake fees over the course of the week, and you’ll receive 33 CHP the following Monday.

In addition, the CoinPoker welcome bonus matches 150% of your deposit up to $2,000. You must generate a total rake of just 2x the bonus value to unlock the full reward. The site also fares well on the tournament’s front, with progressive knockouts (PKO), knockouts, and re-entry events being the most popular formats. On top of that, the biggest pot ($7,750,000) in online poker history was won at CoinPoker, and there’s a video of that game:

Their flagship Crypto Series of Poker (CSOP) tournament series guarantees $1,000,000 in prize money. Other examples include promotions like the $15,000 monthly tournament leaderboards, $2,000 daily cash game rewards, and CoinMasters event with a $250,000 prize pool.

CoinPoker Our Rating: 9.8/10
Poker Game Selection 9.8/10
Rakeback 9.8/10
Poker Offers and Promos 9.8/10
Poker Tournaments 9.7/10
Deposit and Withdrawal 9.8/10

Pros

  • Low and high-stakes tables and tourneys are always available
  • 150% online poker welcome bonus up to $2,000
  • 100% secure online poker site with fully decentralized blockchain-powered poker games
  • Uses the KECCAK-256 cryptographic hash to guarantee RNG in shuffles
  • Has a regular 33% Rakeback reward system

Cons

  • Payment methods are limited to cryptocurrency for US players
CoinPoker US
9.8

2. BetOnline – Players Can Compete in Play & Win Leaderboards With Over $100k in Prizes

  • Website: https://www.betonline.ag/poker
  • Poker Network: Chico Poker Network
  • Established: 1991
  • License: Panama Gaming Commission
  • Deposit methods: Debit/Credit cards, Cryptocurrencies, Moneygram, Money Orders, Bank Transfer, Cashiers Check
  • Average Daily Poker Traffic: 2,000

BetOnline, a prominent platform within the Chico Poker Network, has been catering to online poker enthusiasts for over 20 years. Licensed in Panama, it offers a diverse range of poker games, including variants like Three Card Poker, Caribbean Poker, and Oasis Poker.

What attracts poker fans to this platform the most is the vast range of promotions and tournaments available. For newcomers, there is an exclusive 100% welcome bonus of up to $1,000 released in $5 increments for every $50 in rake.

Regular customers are greeted with promotions like Bad Beat Jackpot, a unique Daily Power Surge where they complete challenges on eligible cash games for rewards, and several tournaments, including rebuys, progressive knockouts, bounty builders, and other formats.

On top of that, customers who join BetOnline’s Telegram channel will unlock access to exclusive satellite tournaments, contests, leaderboards, limited-time promotions, and even new poker software features.

BetOnline Our Rating: 9.7/10
Poker Game Selection 9.7/10
Rakeback N/A
Poker Offers and Promos 9.5/10
Poker Tournaments 9.7/10
Deposit and Withdrawal 9.6/10

Pros

  • Sit and Go tournaments with the $100,000 Sunday Showdown
  • Bad Beat Jackpot tables with over $100,000 in rewards
  • Earn real cash rewards with live BetOnline progressive bounties
  • Collect $10,000 via Weekly Poker Powerball promo every Sunday

Cons

  • Welcome bonus requires a $50 minimum deposit
  • BetOnline doesn’t offer a rakeback bonus to poker players
BetOnline Poker US
9.8

3. Bovada – Offers the Warmest Welcome With a 100% up to $500 Welcome Poker Bonus

  • Website: https://www.bovada.lv/poker
  • Poker Network: Pai Wang Luo Poker
  • Established: 2011
  • License: Curaçao eGaming
  • Deposit methods: Cryptocurrencies, Credit/Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX,) Vouchers
  • Average Daily Poker Traffic: 2,000

If you play Illinois poker online at Bovada, brace for standard poker room favorites like No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha. The site also has Fixed Limit and Omaha Hi/Lo games that you can check out.

Bovada’s poker room offers a variety of games tailored to different skill levels. No Limit Hold’em is great for beginners, Pot Limit Omaha caters to intermediate players, and Fixed Limit Omaha Hi/Lo provides a challenge for seasoned players

There is no fixed rakeback like at some online poker sites in Illinois. However, new players can collect a 100% poker welcome bonus of up to $500, and they clear it by spending money on rake and buy-ins.

Bovada regularly hosts a range of tournaments, from Jackpot Sit & Go’s with prizes up to $60,000 to fast-paced Turbo events for poker pros. On select Sundays, you can join the $100K Weekly Guarantees or the Monthly Milly with a $1 million prize pool. And let’s not forget annual poker festivals, such as GSPO and the Black Diamond Poker Open.

Bovada Our Rating: 9.6/10
Poker Game Selection 9.6/10
Rakeback N/A
Poker Offers and Promos 9.5/10
Poker Tournaments 9.4/10
Deposit and Withdrawal 9.6/10

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly features like Quick Seat cash games and Anonymous Tables
  • 100% up to $500 new player welcome bonus (PWB500 redemption code)
  • Fee-free crypto deposits and withdrawals
  • First bank wire withdrawal is free of charge every 90 days

Cons

  • The vast majority of tournaments are Texas Hold’em
Bovada Poker US
9.6

4. BC.Game – Best Illinois Online Poker Platform with a 20% Rakeback Offer

  • Website: https://bc.game/game/bc-poker
  • Poker Network: BC.Game
  • Established: 2017
  • License: ALSI-202410011-FI1, Government of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Union of Comoros
  • Deposit methods: Cryptocurrency, Bank Transfer (Trustly), Astropay
  • Average Daily Poker Traffic: 2,480

BC.Game has recently launched BC.Poker – a dedicated online poker platform where players can access top poker games like Omaha, Short Deck, and Texas Hold’em. If you enjoy high-level competition, you’ll love BC.Poker’s multiplayer tournaments (MTT).

For example, a Weekly Grand Showdown allows you to win $500 for a $5 buy-in. Additionally, BC.Poker throws in regular Weekly Qualifier events across all supported game types with $0 buy-ins, thus significantly increasing your chances of scoring top rewards across exciting poker tournaments and contests.

In case you encounter any high-risk scenarios, BC.Poker has you covered with unique online poker insurance coverage. This special feature allows you to mitigate volatility, reduce potential losses, and insure your hands for a small fee, though we don’t know the exact amount. BC.Poker also offers a 20% rakeback rate, which is quite impressive for an online poker site.

BC.Game Our Rating: 9.4/10
Poker Game Selection 9.5/10
Rakeback 20%
Poker Offers and Promos 9.1/10
Poker Tournaments 9.5/10
Deposit and Withdrawal 9.2/10

Pros

  • Regular poker tournaments and weekly qualifiers with $0 buy-ins
  • The platform supports popular poker variants like NLHE, PLO, and AOF
  • Regular participation in poker games makes you eligible for free roll competitions
  • Poker insurance helps reduce losses and manage risk

Cons

  • Weaker selection of poker formats compared to other brands
BC.Game
9.8

5. Ignition – Top US Online Poker Website with $2,500 Weekly Poker Freeroll Tournaments

  • Website: https://www.ignitioncasino.eu/poker
  • Poker Network: Pai Wang Luo Poker
  • Established: 2016
  • License: Curaçao eGaming
  • Deposit methods: Cryptocurrency, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Voucher
  • Average Daily Poker Traffic: 2,000

At Ignition, you will find a slew of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Omaha Hi/Lo tournaments. The brand keeps up with modern standards and hosts no-limit, fixed-limit, and pot-limit events, as well as knockouts, satellites, weeklies with guaranteed prize pool, etc. The highlight events at Ignition are the Weekly Freeroll on Thursdays and a $200K GTD tournament every Sunday.

For experienced and serious players who love multi-table tournaments, there is a fast-paced and dynamic Zone Poker. Here, whenever you fold, you get a seat at a brand new table, and a fresh hand will wait for you there.

On the other hand, anonymous tables at Ignition can be a huge advantage for recreational players. This prevents long-term data tracking by opponents and helps level the playing field against more experienced grinders.

Lastly, the operator gives you a bonus for hitting a Royal Flush in Texas Hold’em cash games. If you use both hole cards and win the pot with at least three players dealt in, you’ll get 50x the big blind up to $200, with no rollover required. If your aces full of kings get cracked by four of a kind or better, you may qualify for a Bad Beat Bonus worth 100x the big blind up to $1,000.

Ignition Our Rating: 9.5/10
Poker Game Selection 9.5/10
Rakeback N/A
Poker Offers and Promos 9.4/10
Poker Tournaments 9.4/10
Deposit and Withdrawal 9.5/10

Pros

  • Anonymous table and quick seat gameplay available
  • Top-grade weekly online poker tournaments with over $200,000 in prizes
  • Extra rewards for rare hands, thanks to Royal Flush and Bad Beat Bonuses
  • $2,000 poker & casino sign-up bonus for fiat users and $3,000 for crypto deposits
  • You can download past hands without giving away real-time data

Cons

  • Ignition Casino charges a 15.9% fee or higher on credit card deposits
Ignition Casino US
9.8

Is Online Poker Legal in Illinois in 2025?

Online poker operates in a legal grey area in Illinois. Yes, you can play online poker in Illinois with options like sweepstakes at online poker sites, free downloadable poker apps, and offshore poker sites where you can play for real money.

However, Illinois legislators have not passed a law allowing iGaming and poker site providers to operate within the state’s limit. On the other hand, the law does not explicitly point out online poker as an illegal activity. In essence, no one has ever been prosecuted for playing online poker at offshore sites in Illinois.

Lewis Humphries
Sports Betting Expert
EXPERT INSIGHT
As offshore poker sites don’t fall under U.S. laws, it’s vital to register with operators licensed by reputable international authorities. This helps protect your money, ensures fair play, and gives you somewhere to turn if a dispute arises.

Online Poker Tournaments in Illinois

Here is a selection of the types of online poker tournaments that residents of Illinois can play at offshore sites.

Multi Table TournamentsSatellite TournamentsSit and Go TournamentsTurbo and Hyper-Turbo TournamentsRebuy and Add-On TournamentsKnockout Bounty Tournaments

These tournaments draw large crowds and are played by a massive pool of players. All participants must buy in at the same fee and receive equal starting stacks. Your objective in these tournaments is to win as many hands as possible to earn a seat at the final table.

In MTTs, usually, the top 10-15% of players win money, with the biggest payouts going to those who reach the final table. These events can run for several hours, so it’s important to manage your bankroll and stay patient. The good news is that Ignition often offers guaranteed prize pools, so the total pool stays fixed even if fewer players join.

These are qualifying events held before a main tournament. Satellite tournaments take place before a big event, and if you win or place in the top group of players, you earn a ticket. The WSOP (World Series of Poker) is an excellent example of an event where you can qualify through satellite tournaments.

This is one of the most popular online poker tournament types. As the name implies, sit-and-go tournaments are quick single-table events with 9 to 10 players. These mini tourneys usually take 1-2 hours, and If you want to play online poker in Illinois under this format, you just find a seat at the table and play until winning or until you are knocked out (sit and go).

SNGs are perfect for beginners because they’re simple and don’t take too long to play. Some versions, like double- or triple-up formats, let a set number of players (such as the top 3 out of 9) win the same prize amount.

Turbo and hyper-turbo tournaments are a popular choice for players on the lookout for fast-paced online poker action. In these tournaments, the blind levels increase much faster than in regular multi-table events. Therefore, players must make quicker decisions and play more aggressively. Hyper-turbo tournaments unravel even faster, usually completing within an hour.

Rebuy and add-on tournaments offer players a second chance if they bust out early. In rebuy tournaments, if you lose all your chips during the rebuy period, you can buy back in and continue playing. When it comes to add-on tournaments, you can purchase extra chips at a set point, even if you still have chips left.

In this type of tournament, players have a bounty placed on them at the beginning of the tournament. So less experienced players will have a lower bounty because they are easier to knock out, while the pros and experienced players will have a higher bounty because they are more difficult to knock out.

Some players only play these tournaments because they can make extra cash from the bounties, even if they do not win the actual event.

Poker Software Used at Online Poker Sites

Online Poker in Illinois is a competitive market, so it’s unsurprising to see top game providers claiming a portion of the market share. This table reveals these game providers and the poker variants they offer.

Poker Room Poker Network Games Provided
CoinPoker Independent Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, 5-card Pot Limit Omaha
BetOnline Chico Poker Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud
Bovada Pai Wang Luo Poker Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Zone Poker
BC.Game BC.Game Texas Hold’Em, Omaha, Short Deck
Ignition Pai Wang Luo Poker Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, Zone Poker
ACR Winning Poker Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Pot Limit Omaha, Sit & Go, Blitz Satellites, Jackpot Poker, 7 Card Stud
Black Chip Winning Poker Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo
Everygame Horizon Gaming and Poker Network Texas Hold’em, Omaha High Poker, Omaha Hi/Lo

How to Play Online Poker in Illinois

Now that you know how to play online poker in Illinois and the games and tournaments available, here are step-by-step instructions on registering an account with an Illinois online poker site.

  1. Step 1 - Visit the Online Poker Website

    The first step is to visit the CoinPoker website. Click the Sign In/Register button to create an account. Fill in the quick registration form by adding in your email, a nickname or poker alias, and your desired password, and then click the “Sign in/Register” button at the bottom of the form. You will receive an account verification email.

  2. online poker illinois

  3. Step 2 - Download the App

    Keep in mind that you will have to download the app (Windows/desktop or Android/mobile). Android users will need to download coinpoker.apk, click on “Download anyway,” and finish the installation. Unfortunately, iOS users will have to wait a bit longer until the CoinPoker iOS app is launched.

  4. online poker illinois

  5. Step 3 - Deposit Funds

    Click on Deposit to top up your account with funds, and choose your preferred payment method.

  6. online poker illinois

  7. Step 5 - Play Poker Games

    Once you have your funds in your poker account, you can click the Play Now button and choose your preferred poker format and game.

  8. online poker illinois

Illinois Online Poker History & Regulation

Poker is yet to be fully legalized in the state. Below, you can see some of the key bills and updates surrounding gambling legislation in the Prairie State.

expanding HB2239

January 2025 – Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. (D-Chicago) will try to expand the HB2239 bill, continuing to pursue this legislation toward legalizing iGaming again.

SB 1656

January 2024 – The Internet Gaming Act SB1656, sponsored by Sen. Cristina Castro, is reassigned to the Executive Committee. The companion House bill HB2239 contributed to the efforts to facilitate a regulated online poker market in Illinois throughout 2024.

HB 2339

March 2023 – Edgar Gonzalez Jr. continued the iGaming discussions during budget negotiations but said that HB 2339 was unlikely to pass in 2024 but that he would initiate conversations about the possible revenue, estimated to be $275 million in annual tax revenue.

HB 3142

March 2021 – The Bill HB 3142 introduced by Democratic state representatives Robert Rita and Jonathan Carroll, seeking to create the Internet Gaming Act (IGA).

SB 690

June 2019 – With its iconic sports teams and the third-most populous city in the U.S., it’s not surprising that Illinois was quick to legalize sports betting. The state officially legalized it on June 28, 2019, when Governor J.B. Pritzker signed SB 690 into law.

Top 5 Land-Based Casinos and Poker Rooms in Illinois

It’s not only about poker online gaming in Illinois. The state boasts some of the best in-person locations to play poker. Here are five of the best.

Grand Victoria CasinoHollywood Casino AuroraRiver Casino Des PlainesPar-A-Dice Hotel CasinoBally’s Quad Cities Casino

250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
20 Tables
Three-card Poker | Ultimate Texas Hold’em | Mississippi Stud | High Card Flush

1 W New York St, Aurora, IL 60506
7 Tables
Limit Hold’em | No Limit Hold’em

3000 S River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018
22 Tables
Texas Hold’em | Omaha | Stud Poker

21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL 61611

25 Tables

Ultimate Texas Hold’em | Mississippi Stud

777 Bally Boulevard, Rock Island, IL 61201

6 Tables

Texas Hold’em | Seven Card Stud | Omaha

Famous Poker Players from Illinois

As of March 11, 2025, various poker players have scored the most notable winnings across the major poker events. These avid poker sharks and whales, like Barry Greenstein and Joey Weissman, conquered the poker world by winning top prizes in the most popular tournaments and competitions.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the top 5 poker players from Illinois and their achievements:

  1. Joey Weissman – Won the 2025 PokerGO Cup
  2. Barry Roob Hood of Poker Greenstein – Won three WSOP tournaments and two World Poker Tour events
  3. Matthew Shepsky – Won $262,300 in the 2022 WSOP main event
  4. Connor Drinan – Won $322,264 in the 2020 SCOOP-75-H: PLO
  5. Joshua Reichard – Won $839.300 in the 2024 $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em $3 Million GTD

Best Online Poker Bonuses & Rakeback in Illinois

The range of bonuses available in Illinois online poker rooms differs from what you will get at online casinos because you usually have low figures and unique rakeback mechanics here. But there’s still plenty of chances to get something extra. The table below shows the options you typically come across when you sign up and play poker online.

Online Casino Bonus Bonus Code Bonus Terms Min Deposit Crypto accepted? Bonus expiry
CoinPoker 150% Up To $2,000 NA 2x bonus generated in rake $10 USDT ✔️ 30 days
BetOnline 100% up to $1,000 POKER1000 $50 rake to release $5 in bonus cash $50 ✔️ 30 days
Bovada 100% up to $500 PWB500 150 points to release $5 $5 USDT ✔️ 30 days
BC.Game 20% rakeback N/A Participate in monthly tournaments $10 ✔️ N/A
Ignition 200% up to $2,000 N/A 30 Ignition Miles unlocks $1 $20 ✔️ 30 days
ACR 100% up to $2,000 NA $1 for 27.5 points earned $25 ✔️ 60 days
Black Chip 100% up to $2,000 NA $1 for 27.5 points earned $25 ✔️ 60 days
Everygame 200% to $1,000 + 25 FS 1000EGP $5 in cash for every 83.335 FPP $25 ✔️ 90 days

What Poker Games Can You Play in Illinois

With a population of well over 12 million residents, it’s no surprise The Prairie State is home to some of the most known faces in poker, like Connor Drinan, Mohsin Charania, Aaron Massey, and Ryan Tosoc. Here, we review some of the most popular poker variants that have made these players household names.

No Limit Texas Hold’emOmahaPot Limit OmahaOmaha Hi-LoSeven Card StudFive Card Draw

No Limit Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant in Illinois, offering no-limit betting across four rounds. Players start with two hole cards and aim to build the best five-card hand as community cards are revealed: the flop (3 cards), the turn (4th card), and the river (final card). The player with the strongest hand at showdown takes the pot.

Omaha follows a similar structure to Texas Hold’em but gives players 4 hole cards instead of 2. In order to form a winning hand, players need to use exactly 2 of their hole cards and 3 of the community cards. After the last betting round, the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is a fast-paced variant where players get 4 hole cards but must use exactly 2, along with 3 community cards, to make a hand. The betting structure limits the maximum wager to the current size of the pot. Unlike No Limit Hold’em, PLO’s capped bets reduce the risk of sudden all-ins, making it a favorite among high-stakes grinders.

Omaha Hi-Lo, also known as Omaha/8, splits the pot between the highest and the lowest qualifying hands, making it a favorite among tactical players. A hand must have 5 unpaired cards ranked 8 or lower to win the low portion, while the high hand follows standard poker rankings. If no one qualifies for the low, the best high hand takes the pot.

In this game, smart hand selection is crucial because you’re aiming to win both the high and low pots, also known as “scooping”. You should focus on strong starting hands like A-2 or A-3 combinations, as they have potential for both sides of the pot.

Seven-Card Stud is a classic poker variant where players receive 7 cards: 3 face-down and 4 face-up. There are no community cards. The goal is to make the best five-card hand, with betting rounds after each new card is dealt. With no blinds but an ante required, the strategy revolves around reading opponents’ exposed cards and managing bets wisely.

Five-Card Draw is one of the simplest poker variants, making it a great choice for beginners. Each player gets 5 down cards and can swap out unwanted ones in the draw round. With no community cards, the game is all about reading the opponents, managing bets, and making the best five-card hand.

Online Poker Rooms Game Coverage

You must have a firm handle on the games available at Illinois poker sites before you start playing. Texas Hold’em is undoubtedly the most popular variant, but the Illinois poker rooms have several options. Learn more in the table below.

Poker Room No Limit Texas Hold’em Omaha Pot Limit Omaha Omaha Hi-Lo 7 Card Stud 5 Card Draw
CoinPoker ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
BetOnline ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Bovada ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
BC.Game ✔️ ✔️
Ignition ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
ACR ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Black Chip ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Everygame ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

Banking Options

Offshore poker rooms offer the best online gambling in Illinois, but this would not be possible without the support of reliable payment options. Crypto is available in all the poker rooms we review here, and other methods provide several unique benefits. Let’s look at what you can expect when you sign up.

Payment Method Pros Cons Popular examples
Crypto Fast payouts
No fee transactions
Crypto wallet required
May be affected by price volatility
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT
Traditional Used for many online transactions
Safe transaction processing
Fees may apply
Relatively longer payout times
Visa, Mastercard, Discover
eWallets Safe payment method
Quick payment processing
May not be available at some Illinois poker rooms eZeeWallet, Payz

Poker In The Other States

Related Poker Guides

Final Thoughts

Regulated online poker in Illinois has yet to be made available. However, players can enjoy games like No Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Five Card Draw at offshore online poker rooms that accept players from Illinois.

CoinPoker stands out as the top choice for online poker in Illinois, catering to both casual and serious players with popular variants like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. With a generous 100% deposit match bonus of up to $2,000 and a 33% rakeback in CHP tokens every Monday, players get plenty of value for their bankroll.

The platform also hosts major poker events, including the Crypto Series of Poker (CSOP) with $1,000,000 in rewards, alongside daily, monthly, and seasonal tournaments. Plus, by banning tracking software like Hold’em Manager and PokerTracker, CoinPoker ensures a fairer playing field for everyone. And that’s why it’s our number one recommendation for players in Illinois.

Editors' Choice

Sign up To Claim 150% Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000

  • The main CSOP tournament series guarantees $1,000,000 in prize money
  • Low and high-stakes tables are always available, 33% Rakeback
  • No KYC process, decentralized blockchain poker

Responsible Gambling

The question of when online poker will be legal in Illinois is anyone’s guess, but as we have revealed in this guide, offshore online poker rooms are bridging the gap. But when playing poker in Illinois, offshore, or elsewhere, you must protect yourself by playing responsibly. A range of resources are available in the state that you can use to educate yourself and those around you.

Online Poker Illinois – FAQs

Are offshore poker sites safe in Illinois?

Can I play online poker legally in Illinois?

What’s the best online poker site for tournaments in Illinois?

Do I pay tax on Illinois online poker winnings?

Can I access online poker on mobile in Illinois?

Do online poker sites offer bonuses to Illinois poker players?

What’s the legal age to play poker at offshore sites from Illinois?

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Lewis Humphries
Sports Betting Expert

Lewis is a seasoned sports writer and betting expert at ReadWrite. He has been written about sports, remote betting and sportsbooks for more than 10 years, with his work featuring in publications such as The Boot Room, Yahoo Sports and 90min. He writes most extensively about soccer, basketball, American football and boxing, but retains an interest in a huge range of sports.

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