Illinois Lawmakers Revive Online Casino Push, but Hurdles Remain

If you’ve been following the gambling developments in Illinois, you know this debate isn’t new. Lawmakers are once again trying to legalize online casinos, but whether they’ll actually pull it off this time is anyone’s guess. The state already has a massive gambling industry made up of brick-and-mortar casinos, an enormous network of video gaming terminals (VGTs), and one of the biggest sports betting markets in the U.S. So why is adding online casinos such a battle? 

For regular players, though, the appeal of online gambling is obvious. Why drive to a casino, deal with crowds, and wait for a seat at your favorite game when you can just play from your couch? That’s the whole draw of online casinos, you get the same experience without leaving the house. These platforms offer a variety of gaming options, are secure, and provide flexible payments. For example, cash to code casinos make it super easy to deposit money online using the CashtoCode payment method, reducing the hassle of credit cards or traditional banking. With so many people already moving to online gambling, it makes sense that Illinois lawmakers are trying to legalize it.

This latest push comes from Senator Cristina Castro and Representative Edgar Gonzalez, who have filed companion bills (SB 1963 and HB 3080) to make online casinos a reality. They tried last year, but the bills didn’t make it out of committee. This time, they’ve increased the proposed tax rate from 15% to 25%, hoping that the promise of more tax revenue will make it an easier sell.

But Illinois isn’t exactly a blank slate when it comes to gambling. The state has been expanding its industry for years, adding six new casinos in just the last five years, four permanent and two temporary. Additionally, Illinois has the largest network of video gaming terminals in the country, with nearly 8,700 operators running over 48,700 machines. 

To put it in perspective, VGTs raked in a jaw-dropping $884.2 million in tax revenue in 2024. Compare that to the state’s traditional casinos, which brought in $345.2 million, and sports betting, which generated $244.2 million. With numbers like that, you can see why the VGT industry isn’t exactly thrilled about online casinos stepping in.

Regarding the fine print in the proposed bills, if passed, online casino operators would be allowed to run up to three individually branded gaming platforms, similar to how online sports betting works. But here’s where things get complex: the bill includes a rule that says any casino or gambling company that has cut its workforce by 25% or more since February 2020 wouldn’t be eligible for an online gaming license. Sounds good in theory, but what exactly counts as a “workforce” in this industry? That vague language is just the kind of thing opponents of online gambling could use to challenge the whole bill.

Despite these hurdles, there’s a solid case for legalization. Other states, like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, have already proven that regulated online casinos can be a massive revenue stream. People want to gamble online since the demand is there. The question is whether lawmakers will actually make it happen.