Poker Rooms in Chicago
Chicagoland is one of the most active poker markets in the Midwest, though the action sits in the suburbs and across the Indiana state line rather than in Chicago proper. Rivers Casino Des Plaines is the flagship Illinois poker room with 20 tables just minutes from O'Hare Airport, while Horseshoe Hammond and Ameristar East Chicago in Indiana are short drives from downtown and offer some of the busiest rooms in the country. Grand Victoria Elgin serves the western suburbs. Combined, the metro area offers well over 80 tables and non-stop action across state lines.
Chicago Poker at a Glance
Best Poker Rooms by Category
Our top picks in Chicago for different player types.
Best for Beginners
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin — Friendly northwest suburban room with $1/$2 NL stakes and a less intimidating atmosphere than the larger rooms
Best for Tournaments
Rivers Casino Des Plaines — Rivers Poker Open series and regular weekly tournaments make this the top Illinois tournament destination
Best for High Stakes
Horseshoe Hammond (nearby Indiana) — Spreads up to $25/$50 NL with one of the deepest high-stakes player pools in the Midwest, plus WSOP Circuit events
Best Atmosphere
Rivers Casino Des Plaines — Rush Street Gaming's flagship property with a modern, well-appointed poker room near O'Hare Airport
Top Poker Rooms in Chicago
Destination-level rooms — the best places to play in Chicago.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines
Des Plaines, IL · commercial_casino
Tournaments: Regular weekly tournaments; periodic series events; Rivers Poker Open
Regional Poker Rooms
Strong regional rooms with regular action.
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
Elgin · commercial_casino
250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
Chicago Poker Room Comparison
| Room | Tables | Stakes | Games | Hours | Tourney | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers Casino Des Plaines | 20 | $1/$2 NL–$5/$10 NL | No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold'em | 24/7 | ✓ | 4.1 |
| Grand Victoria Casino Elgin | 12 | $1/$2 NL–$2/$5 NL | No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha | 24/7 | ✓ | 3.7 |
Local Tips for Chicago Poker
Insider advice to help you get the most out of your sessions.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines is the closest major poker room to downtown Chicago and O'Hare Airport — it's Illinois's busiest room with 20 tables and hosts the Rivers Poker Open series with recurring events throughout the year.
Many serious Chicago poker players make the short drive to Horseshoe Hammond in Indiana (20 minutes from downtown via I-90/94). With 30 tables, stakes up to $25/$50 NL, and regular WSOP Circuit stops, it's one of the busiest rooms in America.
Ameristar East Chicago (Indiana) offers 18 tables with hotel accommodations, making it a solid weekend poker trip for Chicago players wanting to avoid the Horseshoe Hammond crowds.
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin serves the northwest suburbs off the Fox River. It's worth the drive from Schaumburg or the I-90 corridor for its 12-table room that draws a different player pool than the southeast suburban rooms.
Getting There
Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) is 10 minutes from Rivers Casino Des Plaines. Midway Airport (MDW) provides easier access to the Indiana rooms via I-55 to I-90/94. Horseshoe Hammond is about 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, while Grand Victoria Elgin is 45 minutes northwest. Metra train lines serve Des Plaines, and rideshare from downtown to any room runs $20-40.
Peak Times
Rivers Des Plaines fills up Thursday through Saturday evenings and during Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks game nights. Horseshoe Hammond runs strong action nearly every night given its massive player draw. Weekend tournament series at Rivers regularly sell out, so register early.