Online Chicago Poker Rooms in IL

People living in or near Chicago have plenty of options for playing poker.

Namely, the whole Chicagoland area is home to around a dozen land-based poker rooms.

On the other hand, online poker is not legal in Illinois, which leaves Chicago players with two options — to go to a state with legal online poker, like neighboring Michigan, or try their luck on one of the many offshore poker sites that accept US players.

The overview below will show you the best online and land-based poker rooms in Chicago.

Best Online Poker Sites in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago players don’t have any home-based options for online poker, but many offshore poker sites accept players from Illinois.

Choosing the right offshore poker room is easier said than done, as not all of them offer a quality poker-playing experience, and some are downright dangerous for people to play at.

That’s why our team of poker gurus has spent plenty of time digging deep through every corner of the internet in search of platforms that are safe, feature a decent selection of games and tournaments, offer worthwhile bonuses, promise a good mobile poker experience, and possess other qualities any decent poker room should have. Here are their recommendations.

• 100% Legal & Licensed
• Verified Bonus
• Mobile Friendly
• Advertiser Disclosure
  Kindly be aware that some links on Top 10 Poker Sites are affiliate links, for which we may earn a commission. Find out more on our terms & conditions

• Must be 18+ to participate.

# 1  Poker Site

5

5.0 / 5.0

100% up to $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

• 100% First deposit bonus
• Top 3 in US player traffic
• Great selection of games
• Banking through cryptocurrencies

Payout speed 1-3 days

Deposit options

+10

Exclusive bonus

100% up to $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

# 2

5

5.0 / 5.0

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

• Increased Poker Crypto Bonus $1500
• Exclusively for US players
• Many Payment Options
• Rich Player Traffic

Payout speed 1-3 days

Deposit options

+4

Exclusive bonus

100% upto $3000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

# 3

4

4.0 / 5.0

200% upto $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Regulated by

• Recreational Player Traffic
• Get a 200% Match on Your Initial Deposit
• Wide Tournament Selection
• High-Quality Games

Payout speed 1 - 5 days

Deposit options

+9

Exclusive bonus

200% upto $1000

18+. T&Cs Apply

Visit Site Read Review

Displayed 3 of 8 rooms

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Is Online Poker Legal in Chicago?

Illinois has recently made huge steps toward legal online gambling with the introduction of the 2019 Illinois Gambling Act, which made sports betting legal in both online and retail forms across the state.

However, this act specifically targeted sports betting, so online poker and other online casino games remain officially illegal. Other regulated gambling options in Illinois include horse racing, charitable gambling, and the lottery.

Does this mean you can’t play online poker in the Prairie State? Well, not quite. While online poker is not officially legal, there are also no specific mentions of online poker sites in the legislation. This means that offshore poker sites accepting Chicago players are not specifically illicit.

It is important to note that Illinois law highlights that running a website offering games of skill or chance is illegal. Still, there is generally no punishment for players accessing and playing real-money poker on those websites. There’s also the fact that the state’s legislation makes it legal for players to take part in a game of skill or chance that doesn’t require a buy-in, effectively meaning that poker freerolls are legal.

To sum it up, you won’t find any Chicago-or Illinois-based online poker rooms since state law doesn’t allow them. That said, you can try playing your favorite poker games on offshore poker sites without worrying about any legal ramifications.

That said, just because an offshore poker site might accept you as a US player, it doesn’t mean you should join it without checking whether it’s safe and reliable. Many offshore poker platforms can scam you by delaying payments, rigging games, and misusing your sensitive information.

That’s why you should stick to our recommended offshore poker sites, as we’ve spent a lot of time making sure they are legit.

Chicago, IL Poker Laws

Here’s more info on the gambling laws of Illinois:

• Illinois Gaming Board
• 2019 Illinois Gambling Act

How to Pick the Best Chicago Poker Room

Online poker rooms might look similar to an untrained eye, but the truth is that only a handful of poker sites are worth joining.

While we urge you to pick a poker platform from our list above, we understand that you may want to look for a quality poker site yourself. That’s why we’ve created this mini guide that covers all the things you need to check to make sure that a particular online poker room is right for you.

Security and Licensing

Just because a poker site is not licensed in Illinois, it doesn’t mean you should disregard legal regulations altogether. If a website doesn’t show any information about licensing, it’s a serious red flag, and it’s best to avoid it.

Meanwhile, you should check how the site uses players’ information and what it does to protect it. A good poker platform must implement high-level encryption, two-step verification, and other systems and practices to ensure your sensitive details remain protected.

Cash Games and Tournament Selection

Always pick a poker site that features your favorite game. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are present on the majority of offshore poker platforms, but the same can’t be said for variants like 7 Card Stud or Razz.

If you like taking part in tournaments, make sure the poker room features enough freerolls and satellites and that the tournament prizes are at a satisfying level.

Rake and Player Traffic

The differences in rake between poker sites can seem minor, but the amount can pile up over time — the lower the rake, the better.

On the other hand, the higher the player traffic, the easier it will be for you to find opponents and play at desired limits.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses are among the biggest advantages of online poker rooms as opposed to their land-based counterparts. Most poker sites welcome players with a deposit bonus, but you should always check its terms and conditions to see if the offer is actually worth the trouble.

A good poker room will also offer periodical promotions and have a loyalty program of sorts that gives players a set of long-term benefits.

Payment Options

Another thing to think about before picking an online poker room is how you’re going to deposit and withdraw funds from your account.

Since banks can sometimes block payments from gambling sites, it’s best to avoid using wire transfers and credit and debit cards. Luckily, plenty of offshore poker rooms accept alternative payment methods like e-wallets and cryptocurrencies.

Apart from available options, pay attention to things like deposit and withdrawal limits, withdrawal frequency, processing times, and fees.

Desktop and Mobile Compatibility

It’s best if a poker operator has both downloadable software and the instant play option, so you can choose how you want to play online poker. If you’re a mobile user, check whether the operator features a poker app and, if not, how functional the mobile browser website is.

Customer Support

Ideally, if you choose a good online poker site, you will never have to contact its customer support. But that’s rarely the case, as you’ll likely have questions regarding your account management, bonuses, payments, and potential issues you may encounter.

That’s why selecting a poker room with responsive 24/7 support is imperative. It should be easy to contact the agents via live chat who’ll resolve your problems in minutes.

Benefits of Playing Online Poker in Chicago

Unlike online poker, land-based poker is legal in Chicago, so why would you risk and play over the internet? Here are a few valid reasons:

• Convenience — It’s much easier to log in to your online account than to go to a local cardroom every time you’re hungry for some poker action. Unlike some land-based casinos, online poker rooms are open 24/7.
• Bonuses — Promos are a great way to receive extra funds, and they’re exclusive to online poker rooms.
• Wider choice of games and tournaments — While poker rooms in the Chicago metropolitan area offer plenty of options, the choices are always wider when playing online.

Famous Poker Players from Chicago, IL

Here are a few notable poker pros born, raised, or residing in the Windy City:

• Mohsin Charania — Winner of the 2017 WSOP $1,500 No Limit Hold’em tournament
• Barry Greenstein — Winner of three WSOP bracelets and two WPT titles
• Connor Drinan — Number 1 on the all-time Illinois money list with over $11 million in career earnings
• Aaron Massey — Winner of six WPT and WSOP Circuit events with career earnings of over $5 million

Top Land-Based Poker Rooms in Chicago, IL

The Chicago and Hammond areas are currently home to ten poker rooms. Check the table below for more information about each.

FAQ

Adrian Sterne

Editor

  Contact Me

Hi, I am the Chief Editor of top10pokersites.net, this site is dedicated to all thing poker. I have been working around the poker industry for the last 15 years, with different brands. The main purpose of this site is to keep you uptodate with the industry and offer you the best deals around.