When Will Igaming Be Legalized in Illinois?

Online casino gaming is not legal in Illinois. What’s the holdup and are the prospects good for eventual legalization?

This is a topic that periodically arises in the Illinois Legislature, yet never seems to get anywhere. We asked igaming’s primary sponsor in the state capital, but all we got in response was an uninformative hot blast of self-serving verbiage.

Close to despair, we turned to political pundit Brendan Bussmann, who advises Truist Securities on legislative issues. He responded thusly.

“Igaming in Illinois isn't a matter of if, but when. When they do it, it will likely be taxed too much and not done in a market-driven way. Illinois continually proves that they've never been able to maximize the gaming market and depends on a golden goose to produce more and more.

“You have numerous stakeholders in the Illinois gaming fight: the casinos, the slot route operators, and the sports betting operators. None of those stakeholders see eye to eye on igaming, let alone on the existing product in the market.

“A number of challenges will have to be resolved in some way in this continued slugfest among stakeholders. The video-lottery-terminal operators don't want igaming and would want [slot] machines in Chicago first.

“A Chicago casino currently is underperforming and may never see its permanent facility while sports betting operators have zero standing with the governor. No one is grabbing a Coke and teaching the world to sing in legislative harmony.”

Thank you, Mr. Bussmann. It’s not the most encouraging outlook for the Land of Lincoln. Budgetary necessities will probably force the issue at some near-term point. But we can’t dispute Bussmann’s less-than-rosy forecast.

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Susan Johnson Aug-31-2025

Kill the golden goose recipe

Illinois is NOT business or tax friendly.  The leadership in my state (if you could call it that) love to spend unwisely and try to tell us that they are wonderful.  They picked one of the worst casino proposals and wonder why it's not working.  Typical.

Sandra Ritter Aug-31-2025

But

The person who chose the Chicago location for Ballys is no longer in power. The mayor after her is even worse. But that's Chicago. I'm very happy with the leader of this state and truthfully I don't need another way to lose money. With that said, because so much of the federal tax burden is being dumped on the states, I'm sure this will be legalized eventually.

Diana Thorpe Sep-01-2025

like other big cities

Chicago, Like many other big cities; has long been a place where lots of folks want to make a profit or pay off political debt.  Business people and politicians all want a piece.  Sometimes the "piece" is for the people who live here.  Sometimes not.  There's always discussions on where the gambling income should go. Since I live in Chicago, I'm not holding my breath.

hawks242424 Sep-09-2025

Hope Not

Personally I think I-gaming, and I am quite liberal when it comes to gaming, is a path too close for problem gamblers to lose control.  Slots and Tables at the fingertips?  

But that's just me.

And yes Sandra L.L really chose poorly on that location.  Keeping out of a main tourist area was stupid, and Ballys is an awful company.

As for Susan, you couldn't be futher from the truth regarding IL

Question of the Day - 31 August 2025

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