What is the Legal Gambling Age in Illinois For Online Casinos?

The legal age to gamble in Illinois is dependent on the casino game being offered. For most gamblers, the legal age to gamble is 21 years old. That being said, there are numerous exceptions to this gambling law.

It is important to recognize that there are different minimum age requirements for specific gambling options.

For example, the legal age to play the lottery is not the same as the legal age to bet on sports at the best sportsbooks in Illinois. With that in mind, let’s take a more in-depth look at the legal gambling age in Illinois and sort out all of the differences.

Can You Gamble at 18 Years of Age in Illinois?

Residents that are 18 years old can gamble in Illinois. However, bettors between the ages of 18 to 20 are prohibited from participating in certain gambling games. The following games are legal for 18-year-old gamblers to play in Illinois:

Lottery:

18 to 20-year-old gamblers are free to walk into their local store and buy lottery tickets for the Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick 4, and a variety of other lottery games.

According to the Illinois Lottery, you must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a lottery ticket in Illinois. The online Illinois legal gambling age for buying lottery tickets is 18 as well¹.

The same law applies. The legal gambling age in Illinois for any Illinois Lottery product is 18 years of age.

Horse Racing/Pari-Mutuel:

Gamblers in Illinois who are at least 18 years old can bet on horse racing in the state. If a bettor is not of age, they will not be able to purchase or cash any pari-mutuel tickets in Illinois².

This includes wagering at the track, off-track betting, and wagering at horse racing betting sites.

For the purposes of gambling in the state, retail or online sports betting and horse racing are separate entities. That includes the legal gambling age for horse racing and Illinois online sports betting.

Bingo:

The legal age for playing bingo games in Illinois is 18 years old³. Although bingo caters toward an older demographic, it’s a gambling game that provides cheap options for the younger crowd as well. For less than $50.00, you can play all night and maybe hit a big score.

Legal Age To Go Into A Casino In Illinois

There are roughly 25 land-based casinos located throughout the state of Illinois⁴. To gain entrance into a casino, patrons must be at least 21 years of age⁵.

There are no exceptions to this law in a retail casino. Any visitors under the age of 21 are prohibited by Illinois state law from playing casino games on the gaming floor.

Despite being the legal age to go to a bingo hall and horse tracks, players under 21 will be asked to leave an Illinois casino. You will not be able to enter a card room and play poker, either.

Illinois isn’t unique in this regard. The minimum gambling age for casino gambling is 21 in most states. The legal gambling age coincides with the legal drinking age of 21 in the United States.

Illinois Legal Gambling Age Online

On June 9, 2020, the first legal sports bet was made in Illinois. A year earlier in June 2019, sports betting legislation was passed to legalize sports betting⁶.

Sports bettors counted down the days until they could place legal sports bet in Illinois. However, bettors under the age of 21 are not able to join in on the fun.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, a person placing a wager under the sports betting Act shall be at least 21 years of age⁷. Additionally, the legal age to gamble in Illinois online is 21.

The minimum gambling age of 21 years old on sports applies to in-person retail betting and mobile sports betting apps.

Online casinos have safeguards in place to identify fraudulent documents. Attempting to get around these protective measures is not in your best interest. There is a serious risk of having your deposit confiscated and your account closed.

Underage gambling is against the law. It is a serious infraction at online sportsbooks to gamble underage. Therefore, a permanent ban would likely follow without any recourse.

Which Online Casino Should Illinois Residents Play At?

There are a number of online casinos and sports betting sites that legal gamblers have at their disposal in Illinois. But, in our opinion, Bovada is the best option for residents of The Prairie State.  

In addition to being a safe and respected online casino and sportsbook, Bovada offers some of the best sign-up casino bonuses in the industry.

Whether you are looking to bet on major sporting events, niche sports, or everything in between, Bovada has you covered. Their betting lines are highly competitive, fair, offer value and timely.

Additionally, Bovada has an industry-leading live betting feature where you can bet on sporting events or games while they are still happening.

Also, at Bovada, there is a casino game for everyone. From your favorite real money slots to live table game dealers, Bovada is sure to satisfy every type of gambler. Illinois residents will definitely enjoy the variety and versatility of this great online gambling site.