• Online Blackjack Illinois Lottery Results
• Online Blackjack Illinois Lottery
• Online Blackjack Illinois Rules

In short; There is no federal law against playing blackjack online. There are some states where it is declared illegal however prosecution would be extremely rare and would most likely be against any establishment rather than the player.

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1. Illinois Blackjack Online Gamblers have been yelling blackjack while bellying up to the felt in the Chicago area for hundreds of years, setting the stage for Illinois and its fleet of riverboat casinos that it offers today. Illinois blackjack online.
2. Online blackjack, slot machines, and video blackjack all use random number generators. It is a Nevada state law that an electronic game with representations of cards or dice must be based on fair odds.

It is completely safe to play blackjack online for real money.

It’s often reported that playing blackjack online for real money is illegal in the US.

But is it really?

Let’s tackle this head on and resolve this confusing and commonly misunderstood issue.

Online Blackjack Illinois Lottery Results

So let’s get one thing straight:

Playing Blackjack Online is NOT Legally Prohibited in Any Way by Federal Law

There is no law whatsoever against gambling online at the federal level which is a myth that has been established most likely from a misinterpretation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 which states:

The Act prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law (termed “restricted transactions” in the Act).

This is basically saying it’s prohibited for banks to knowingly accept transactions that are a result of an illegal online bet.

It does not in any way state that it is illegal for a player to participate in gambling online!

Another reason why some people may think it is illegal is the confusion of the Federal Wire Act which is related to sports betting and does not apply to whether online blackjack is legal since they are considered different forms of gambling.

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If you want to try playing blackjack online for real money, we recommend US players to visit Bovada casino.

Are There any State Laws which Explicitly Allow Online Blackjack?

Another reason why it’s confusing to determine whether it’s legal to gamble online is the fact that most states actually don’t have any specific laws which apply to online gambling in general.

Online Blackjack Illinois Lottery

If there is no specific law prohibiting online gambling then it is considered legal.

However there are three states that have explicitly passed laws specifically for allowing online gambling which are:

Interestingly, Nevada has allowed for online poker but have prohibited online casino gambling.

States Where Online Blackjack is Technically Illegal

1. Illinois
2. Indiana
3. Louisiana
4. Montana
5. Nevada
6. Oregon
7. South Dakota
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin

There are 9 states that have prohibitions against online casino gambling however it should be noted that the real target of these laws are the online casinos themselves and not the player.

The likelihood of being criminally charged is extremely low and even if you were it would most likely be considered just a misdemeanor

There is only one incident I have been able to find dating back to 2003 in North Dakota where a player, Jeffrey Trauman, plead guilty for placing a bet over $500 and was charged with a misdemeanor and subsequently fined $500. (source: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1146&context=grrj)

So for further clarity, let’s look at a table of all states so you can easily distinguish the laws of the state you reside in.

If You Are Unsure, Seek Legal Advice

When in doubt, seek professional legal advice: This website serves to provide players with advice and is not legally binding. Therefore, if you ever have more nuanced questions, do consider consulting a legal professional.

How would I deposit and withdraw money given the UIGEA and Where Can I Play?

The UIGEA has made it considerably more difficult for US residents to deposit and withdraw money from casinos. For example, e-Wallet services such as PayPal or Moneybookers, which are commonly used to transfer funds to/from casinos, usually will not work with US residents engaging in online gaming. We recommend US players avoiding these in general.

Most often, players from the US will be able to use debit cards, direct bank wire transfer, checks, and automated clearing house (ACH). The best method though is to use Bitcoin which is extremely quick and doesn’t have any excess fees. Read our complete guide on how to buy Bitcoin to deposit at a casino here.

For US residents outside of New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, we recommend playing at Bovada or Betonline.

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FAQ

The most recent prosection recorded incident occurred in 2003 where a player was fined $500 and charged with a misdemeanor.

Offshore online casinos do not fall under US jurisdiction so we highly recommend sticking to well known brands such as Bovada or BetOnline.

Pennsylvania has been the most recent state to legalize online gambling and it is expected that West Virginia will be following suit by 2021.

Yes. Since they are located offshore, they do not have to abide by the restrictions made by the UIGEA

Yes, but as with participating in any service online, it is up to you to do your own due diligence before making any wager. While we can recommend reputable various online casinos to play at, we insist that you read the terms and conditions at any online casino so you know exactly what is involved.

Contents

Illinois is a US state with a proud and long history of gambling that started way back in the early 20th century. However, since then, gambling laws have changed significantly, which is why we wanted to give you a detailed overview of everything you need to know about the legality of gambling in the state of Illinois.

We’ll cover the history of laws and regulations, what the current laws are, where and how you can gamble, and also give you answers to some of the most pressing questions Illinois gamblers have.

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Gambling in Illinois — An Overview of the Law

Gambling in Illinois officially began in the 1920s, as that’s when the state’s government legalized betting on horse races. However, a lot has changed since that first gambling law, and the gambling community went on a rollercoaster of positive changes.

In 1975, the Illinois Horse Racing Act made some positive changes for horse racing gamblers by allowing pari-mutuel betting. That same act changed two times in the future when off-track and simulcast betting was allowed.

The next massive change in gambling laws came in 1990. The state of Illinois’ legislators wrote and passed the Riverboat Gambling Act that finally allowed commercial casinos to operate in the state. However, the aptly named law made casinos legal as long as they operate on water, which is why the now-famous riverboat casinos can be found all over the Mississippi River in several states. The stipulations of the law stated that riverboat casinos were allowed to operate only outside of Lake Michigan and only in counties with more than three million people.

The riverboat casinos are still legal, and most of them are still operational. The first riverboat casino opened its doors to the general public in Alton in 1991, barely a year after the law became official.

In the following years, the Riverboat Gambling Act also underwent some changes, all of which were positive for gamblers. New table casino games were allowed, as well as some electronic ones. All riverboat casinos had been banned from operating in Cook County where Chicago is located, but in 1999, that ban was removed.

The 2000s brought more changes to the gambling regulations in Illinois. In 2009, a landmark law made it possible for bars and similar establishments to host Video Game Terminals. With this law, Illinoisans could finally play on lottery terminals and many other casino games, as long as they are under the control of the Illinois Gaming Board.

The Current State of Gambling Laws in Illinois and What the Future Will Bring

After the 2009 law, the next massive legislation passed in Illinois was a formal Gambling Act from 2019. Governor Pritzker is responsible for this sizable law that further cemented the existing regulations on riverboat casinos, land-based casinos, and the types of casino games Illinoisans can play.

The most significant change that came to be with the Gambling Act was the legality of land-based casinos. As of 2019, casinos are no longer confined to water, but can finally operate on land. As this extensive change is still new and the procedures for being approved are rather complicated, Illinois has only one land-based casino — the Rivers Casino.

According to the 2019 Act, new casinos will be allowed to operate in five specific municipalities — Danville, Rockford, Chicago, Waukegan, and Downstate Williamson County. Additionally, the law allows for another casino to open in southern Cook County. This is a total of six new casinos that will gain permits, and there are already ten different applicants.

All in all, the new law will eventually double the number of locations where Illinoisans can gamble. What’s more, they will finally get sports betting as well, while horse racetracks will become casinos in all but their name, as they are now able to host table games and slot machines.

In the future, Illinoian gamblers can expect further positive changes to gambling laws, as these recent gambling expansions have shown that the local politicians are willing to make such changes.

What Type of Gambling Is Allowed in Illinois

As you can already see from all the laws the state of Illinois has brought over the years, a wide variety of gambling games are now allowed.

You can now play a wide variety of table casino games like poker, blackjack, baccarat, and many others. Many electronic casino games, including slots, can be played as well. Apart from these, the lottery is also allowed, except for bingo.

However, thanks to the laws that govern charitable gaming, most casino games can be played as long as they are held for the purposes of the charity. Those games include bingo and a few other casino games Illinoisans are not generally allowed to play.

Sports betting is allowed for all types of professional sporting events, except for all the minor leagues. However, fantasy betting is not allowed, which means that Illinoisans cannot participate in contests like DraftKings.

All in all, most casino games are now allowed in Illinois, as long as they follow specific rules regarding where and how they are held. As long as they are in the before-mentioned formats and locations, casinos can host them and you can play them. However, you still have to be over 21 to play all casino games, and 18 to play raffles, bingo, and horse betting.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Illinois?

Even though many forms of gambling are legal in Illinois as long as they are hosted in specific locations, we cannot say the same for online gambling. The law is not entirely clear when it comes to online casino games, as the latest laws don’t even mention them. However, the 2019 law allowed online sports betting.

Besides the fact that the gambling law doesn’t allow online casino games, the Illinois Criminal Code specifically prohibits internet gambling as well. The good thing here is that the criminal code is aimed at casino operators, not casino players. The state doesn’t actively pursue Illinoisans who decide to play in online casinos.

Players who have found offshore online casinos accepting Illinois-based gamblers and who played in them have never been at odds with the state law. So, if you decide to gamble in such a casino, you don’t have to fear any legal issues.

Where to Gamble in Illinois?

As we’ve already discussed in this article, if you are from Illinois, you can currently gamble in some of the available riverboat casinos, while you’ll have to wait for the six new land-based casinos to open their doors once they are approved. The state has a total of ten riverboat casinos you can choose from:

1. Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Cook County
2. Casino Queen in East St. Louis, St. Clair County
3. Argosy Casino Alton in Alton, Madison County
4. Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Tazewell County
5. Harrah’s Joliet in Joliet, Will County
6. Hollywood Casino Aurora in Aurora, Will County
7. Harrah’s Metropolis in Metropolis, Massac County
8. Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island, Rock Island County
9. Grand Victoria Casino Elgin in Elgin, Kane County
10. Hollywood Casino Joliet in Joliet, Will County

Let’s now cover the most popular ones.

Jumer’s Casino & Hotel

Jumer’s Casino & Hotel is located in Rock Island, and it has a total of 42,000 square feet of gaming space. It contains around 1,000 slot machines, the live poker and high limit slot room, and 18 table games.

Rivers Casino

Online Blackjack Illinois Rules

Rivers Casino is currently the only riverboat casino with a license to operate on land as well. It’s located in the northern suburb of Chicago. Here, you can play around 1,000 slots and dozens of table games.

Harrah’s Joliet

Harrah’s Joliet was founded in the city of Joliet in 1993. It has a total of 40,000 square feet of gaming space that hosts 1,138 slot machines and 31 table games, including classics like poker and blackjack.

FAQ

The Illinois law allows riverboat casinos that offer specific casino games like most table-based games and slots. It also permits lottery and pari-mutuel horse race betting. A few more gambling games are allowed if they are held for the purposes of the charity.

Due to the 1990 Riverboat Gambling Act, only casinos that operate on the water are allowed in the state of Illinois. However, as of 2019, land-based casinos are also allowed as long as they are established at specific locations within the state. Rivers Casino is, at the moment, the only land-based casino, even though it’s a riverboat casino as well.

There is no single answer to this question, as specific types of gambling have been allowed with specific laws and regulations. For instance, video gambling has been legalized in Illinois in 2009, while many forms of casino games have been legalized in 1990 with the Riverboat Gambling Act, as long as they are hosted in casinos that operate on water.

You can wager on sports betting at the moment, while online casino games are not specifically permitted in the state of Illinois. You can however opt to play at offshore online casinos which are perfectly safe.

You have to be at least 21 years old to play in an Illinois casino.

A total of ten riverboat casinos exist in Illinois at the moment, while one of them is also a land-based casino. The current law allows for six more land-based casinos to open.