Poker Rooms in Illinois
Illinois has a modest live poker scene driven primarily by casinos in the Chicago suburbs. Rivers Casino Des Plaines is the closest major casino to Chicago and its busiest poker room. Hollywood Aurora and Grand Victoria Elgin serve the western Chicago suburbs. The Chicagoland market is somewhat suppressed by easy access to larger Indiana poker rooms just across the state line.
Legal Framework
Illinois legalized riverboat gambling in 1990 and has expanded the number of casino licenses over time. The Illinois Gaming Board regulates all commercial casinos. Poker rooms in Illinois tend to be smaller than neighboring states due to historical table limits and market dynamics, though the 2019 gaming expansion act loosened restrictions. Chicago's proximity to Indiana (Horseshoe Hammond) means much of the high-stakes Chicago player pool plays in Indiana.
Top Poker Rooms in Illinois
Destination-level rooms — the best places to play in IL.
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.
Hollywood Casino Aurora
Aurora · commercial_casino
📍 1 New York Street Bridge, Aurora, IL 60506
Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
Elgin · commercial_casino
📍 250 S Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
Local Poker Rooms
Smaller venues and local spots.
Harrah's Joliet Casino Hotel
Joliet · 9 tables
No-Limit Hold'em · $1/$2 NL–$2/$5 NL
24/7
Illinois Poker Room Comparison
| Room | City | Tables | Games | Stakes | Rating | 24/7 | Tourney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers Casino Des Plaines | Des Plaines | 20 | No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Limit Hold'em | $1/$2 NL–$5/$10 NL | 4.1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hollywood Casino Aurora | Aurora | 14 | No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha | $1/$2 NL–$2/$5 NL | 3.7 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Grand Victoria Casino Elgin | Elgin | 12 | No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha | $1/$2 NL–$2/$5 NL | 3.7 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Harrah's Joliet Casino Hotel | Joliet | 9 | No-Limit Hold'em | $1/$2 NL–$2/$5 NL | 3.5 | ✓ | ✓ |