Illinois Online Poker For 18+

Surrounded by the Great Lakes and America’s prairie lands, Illinois features many great vacation destinations and opportunities for leisure. If it is night life, history, or architecture you are after, Chicago offers all that and more, and features one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Nation. The Prairie State also offers online poker for 18+ players, but there are some legalities to consider.

IL offers domestic poker rooms, but they do not allow entry for those under 21 years of age. Chicago poker rooms may not be 18+ friendly, but there are online options for under 21 poker players in Illinois. In fact, Illinois is one of the 48 states allowing 18+ online poker through legal online poker sites operating outside of the United States.

Read through our online poker for 18+ guide to discover all legal aspects of playing poker at eighteen years of age. We’ll also include information on what players can expect to encounter at these betting sites, including bonuses, banking options, what types of poker games they have available, and more.

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Best Illinois Online Poker Sites That Accept Players 18 And Up In 2024

Poker SiteBonusRating/5USAVisit Site
1Bovada Poker Logo100% Max $5004.8Play Now Review
2ignition logo150% up to $1,5004.7Play Now Review
3BetOnline logo100% Max $1,0004.5Play Now Review
4SportsbettingAG Logo100% Max $1,0004.2Play Now Review

Is Poker Legal In Illinois For 18+ Players?

Illinois has set a minimum age of 21 years old to gamble or play poker at a domestic casino. While that may foil the plans of eighteen-year-old players that want to belly up to the felt and play a few hands for real money, there is still the option of using an offshore poker site.

The poker sites that we recommend allow for 18-year-old members, and are available to residents and visitors to the Illinois area. However, there are many legalities involved, and we’ve detailed them in the following section.

Is Online Poker Legal In Illinois For 18 And Up?

Regional poker rooms do not allow for poker apps or online poker for real money in the state of Illinois. Those in the Land of Lincoln that are looking to player 5-card draw or Texas Hold’Em online can do so with a poker site operating outside of the jurisdiction of the United States.

Regulations for playing at these offshore sites are not included or detailed in regional or federal gambling laws, thus allowing for a loophole that provides an avenue for Illinois residents to do so without concern for prosecution or arrest. There’s simply no law on the books to break.

Illinois’s Minimum Poker Age 

Domestic poker rooms in IL require a minimum age of 21 years old for entry. 18 and over poker players that want to play for real money will need to visit one of the top-rated poker sites that we list in this guide or travel to a nearby region that allows for 18+ players to participate. US states that have legalized 18+ poker may still provide obstacles, as many casinos serve alcohol, and don’t allow anyone inside that is under 21.

Retail Brick and Mortar Poker Rooms In Illinois

Illinois features domestic poker rooms throughout the state, but unfortunately, those services are only available to gamblers that are 21 years of age or older. Furthermore, there are no laws in place that allow for these poker rooms to provide for online play or downloadable applications that can access their services.

Over 18 Poker Tournaments Illinois

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Unfortunately, domestic poker rooms in IL do not allow 18-year-olds to participate. If you are seeking the best poker tournaments Chicago or the state of Illinois can provide for 18+ players, look no further than our list of top-rated online poker sites. A wide variety of tournaments are available at these sites, and feature grand prize pools that have reached up to $1 million in the past. There are also low-risk tournaments that can be entered for as low as $5. Have a look at the tournament schedule that is posted at these sites and get in on the action now.

IL Poker Deposit Options

money stack iconWhen making a deposit or a withdrawal online, cybersecurity is of the utmost importance. That’s why our favorite poker sites prefer Bitcoin (BTC) and other forms of cryptocurrency. Their transactions have high levels of encryption built into the process, and its unregulated status allows for quick withdrawals.

In fact, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are the only method of withdrawal that can be secured in less than 24 hours. Our top-rated online casinos realize that crypto has not been adopted across the board, so they also provide for the following financial options.

  • Deposit: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Money Transfer Services, Wire Transfers, Cashier’s Check, Zelle (Cash-to-Bitcoin Exchange), and Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tether)
  • Withdrawal: Cashier’s Check by Courier, Wire Transfer, Cryptocurrency

Illinois Online Bonus Poker Options

Poker statesFree money is probably the most enticing offer in existence, and that’s exactly what our top-rated trusted poker sites for 18 and up extend to new members. When signing up for the first time with a casino site, promotional offers are presented that match a percentage of the first deposit ranging from $250 on up to $1,000.

Oftentimes these offers are doled out in five to ten-dollar increments based on gameplay incentives such as rewards points. Because poker is a profitable game for casinos, online gambling sites typically do not attach stringent terms and conditions to these bonuses. Be sure to read through the fine print to make sure the offer is advantageous to you before accepting, as it is not a requirement of membership.

IL Mobile Poker Apps For 18+

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Gambling on iPads, iPhones, and Android devices is increasing in popularity, so it is important that online poker sites offer their services for smartphones and tablets. The online poker rooms that we recommend for Illinois residents do not feature downloadable applications.

Instead, they offer mobile poker through their web-based apps which can be accessed by clicking on the links we have provided in this guide using a current mobile browser on an up-to-date device. The web-apps allow for full access to their online poker rooms and look and act just like a downloadable app with push-button operation.

Live 18 And Up Poker In IL

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Due to the nature of poker rules, there is no advantage to having a live camera feed that allows online users to see the dealer. In order to experience live poker in the state of Illinois, you will have to visit one of the many domestic poker rooms listed above. These locations do not allow for gamblers under the age of 21 to enter, leaving online poker as the best option available for 18+. If in-person play is a must, then a home poker game, or a visit to another state will be required.

18 And Over Ilinois Poker FAQs

Yes, poker is legal in the state of Illinois. However, the minimum age to play domestically is 21. 18 and older poker players in the region can play for real money by visiting an online poker casino operating offshore.