If you are looking for places to play poker in Chicago, then you will likely be spoilt for choice. Punters in Chicago have an array of operators and poker brands to choose from. Plus, there are many brick-and-mortar casinos in the Windy City that offer live poker games for those craving an in-person gambling experience.
Although Illinois allows legal and live sports betting all through the state, online poker has not yet been legalized in The Prairie State. As such, if punters in the state want to sink their teeth into a bit of poker, they have to visit a physical poker room to partake. The good news though is that several poker rooms can be accessed by poker players in both Indiana and Illinois.
The majority of the live poker action in the state is centralized in the massive Chicago metropolis. However, smaller poker rooms are also scattered all over the state in places such as East Peoria and Rock Island. There is no doubt that Illinois is a major player in the country’s poker tournament network as illustrated by the numerous WSOP Circuit events that are hosted in the state.
Even though online poker is yet to be legalized in Illinois, tournament poker players always have some action to take part in. Just look up poker events online and you will discover a jam-packed schedule of weekly and monthly poker tournaments and bonuses on offer for participants.
So which poker rooms offer live poker games in Illinois?
What we cover
Rivers Casino Des Plaines poker room
The Rivers Casino Des Plaines holds one of Chicago’s premier poker rooms and is often frequented by some of the best-ranked poker players in the state. The Rivers Casino is situated near the O’Hare Airport, which means that poker players that are visiting the state for the sole purpose of experiencing poker do not have to travel too far to experience the poker room.
Not only is this poker room centrally located and easily accessible, but it also has some of the best amenities for customers. Not too long ago this April, Rivers Casino opened a new poker room after the venue invested in a 78,000-square-foot expansion. Now, Rivers has a massive room, measuring 5,600 square feet. dedicated to poker.
Rivers’ new poker room also contains 22 poker tables and is all set to host some upcoming tournaments and promotions in the coming weeks. Aside from poker, customers can also opt to play table games and slots. The casino also has plenty of entertainment and dining options for punters to choose from.
Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel
Last year, Bally’s Corporation purchased Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island and changed its name to Bally’s Quad Cities. Bally’s finalized its $120-million acquisition of Jumer’s Casino from Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment. Not only did Bally’s replace the signage, but it also introduced a brand-new Rewards club program full of bonuses and incentives to keep customers coming back.
In addition to the new changes, Bally’s also introduced new gaming chips, dice, and table game layouts. Bally’s also added 40 new slot machines in October last year, designed to give punters a better gambling experience. Bally’s is already a respected name in the gambling scene as the brand has online sports betting and iGaming offerings in various states.
The Hollywood casino Aurora poker room
The Hollywood Casino Aurora is a live poker room situated on the Fox River, which is in the western suburbs of Chicago. The casino is operated by Penn National, which is also an established gambling company in the country. Though not as popular or as large as some of the other poker rooms on this list, the Hollywood Casino Aurora has been around since 1993 and is reputable with local poker players.
The casino boasts 53,000 square feet of gaming space that is capable of accommodating at least 1000 slot machines and 26 table games. There are also a few restaurants available on-site, as well as entertainment options for those looking for something other than gambling to occupy their time.
The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin
The poker room at the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin is open 7 days a week and is one of the more popular poker rooms in the state. Situated on the Fox River in Grand Victoria, this casino has multiple tables that deliver nail-biting action to its customers. Located 40 miles west of the city, the Grand Victoria Casino is operated by Caesars Entertainment.
The casino was developed in 1994 and since it opened its doors, has been a staple for gamblers in the area. Since it debuted, Grand Victoria has undergone several ownership changes and transitions. In total, the Grand Victoria Casino has more than 1000 slots, a wide range of table games, as well as a restaurant and steak house located on site. The casino also organizes no-limit tournaments that are held every Wednesday and Sunday.
The Horseshoe Hammond casino
The Horseshoe Hammond casino is another popularly visited casino located on the Indiana border. The Horseshoe Hammond is also a riverboat casino and boasts one of the most prominent poker rooms in the entire region. The casino is popular for its cash game poker tournaments that attract some of the most prominent punters in the Midwest.
The Horseshoe Hammond is also another property that is owned by Caesars. In the past, the concert hall of the casino has been used for big poker tournaments including the WSOP Circuit series, which is held once or twice yearly for almost 2 weeks of tournament action. The Horseshoe Hammond casino has 34 live tables used for games, which so far makes it the largest poker room in the state.
Final Thoughts
In the future, Illinois is expected to have plenty more poker rooms to choose from thanks to the state’s ongoing casino expansion plan. Case in point, just recently, Wind Creek Hospitality commenced the construction of its new gaming property in Illinois. Once it is completed, not only is it expected to generate many full-time jobs set and a 252-room luxury hotel, and a massive gaming room characterized by 1,350 slot machines and 56 table games.
