In connection with Illinois Owners Licensee Contracting Goals set forth by the Illinois Gambling Act 230 ILCS 10/7.6 and Illinois Gaming Board Rules Section 3000.286, the Illinois Gaming Board provides the following links for potential vendors to use in seeking information regarding contracting opportunities directly with the Illinois Casinos.
Introduction to Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Illinois slot machine casino gambling consists of ten riverboat casinos, the second U.S. state to offer them, as well as video gaming terminals (VLTs) in small businesses approved by local governments.
Illinois’ riverboat casinos have both minimum and maximum payout limits and monthly return statistics publicly available.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Illinois*
The minimum legal gambling age in illinois does not depend upon the gambling activity:
- Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
The Illinois Riverboat Gambling Act enacted in February 1990 legalized riverboat gambling on open water outside of Cook County. This restriction protected wagering on horseracing in the Chicago area, approved in 1927.
Since 1990, Illinois has offered only ten gaming licenses for riverboat casinos. Originally, riverboat casinos in Illinois had to cruise, but a new state law in 1999 allowed permanent docking.
Each riverboat is legally authorized to have up to a total of 1,200 gaming machines including positions available at table games. The Illinois Gaming Board assumes each craps table offers ten positions while all other table games and keno offer only five gaming positions.
In 2005, the Illinois state legislature established an admissions tax of $2 or $3. Admission is $2 at Jumer’s Casino Rock Island and $3 at all the other riverboat casinos. Illinois riverboat casinos also has restricted hours of operation, closing for two hours each day, usually around 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.
In 2009, the Illinois state legislature passed the Video Gaming Act, allowing video gaming terminals in “Licensed Retail Establishments, Truck Stops, Veteran and Fraternal Establishments.”
The Act also offered local municipalities the ability to opt-out of hosting these video gaming terminal locations. Nevertheless, it took until 2012 for the Illinois Gaming Board to provide mass approvals for these video gaming licenses to many license applicants.
The Illinois Gaming Board hosts a website with extensive and thoroughly detailed descriptions of its state gambling laws for Casino Gambling and Video Gaming.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Illinois
In Illinois, it is legal to own a slot machine privately if manufactured 25 or more years ago.
Gaming Control Board in Illinois
The Illinois Gaming Board provides gaming regulations and tax collection for slot machine gambling activities in Illinois. It also has gaming control commissions for other forms of gambling including the Illinois Lottery and the Illinois Racing Board.
Further, the Illinois Casino Gaming Association (ICGA) represents nine of the ten riverboat casinos. The ICGA provides statistics on charitable giving by the riverboat casinos as well as supporting responsible gaming.
Casinos in Illinois
There are ten riverboat casinos in Illinois.
The largest casino in Illinois is Hollywood Casino Joliet with 1,177 gaming machines, 20 table games, and five poker tables.
The second-largest casino is Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino with 1,172 gaming machines, 21 table games, and five poker tables.
Commercial Casinos in Illinois
The ten riverboat casinos in Illinois are:
- Argosy’s Alton Belle Casino located 158 miles south of Peoria and across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri.
- Casino Queen in East St. Louis located 165 miles south of Peoria and across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri.
- Grand Victoria Casino Elgin located 42 miles west of downtown Chicago.
- Harrah’s Joliet located 45 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.
- Harrah’s Metropolis located in the southernmost tip of Illinois or 167 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri.
- Hollywood Casino Aurora located 42 miles west of downtown Chicago.
- Hollywood Casino Joliet located 45 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.
- Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island located 101 miles northwest of Peoria on the Mississippi River border to Iowa.
- Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria located three miles northwest of Peoria.
- Rivers Casino in Des Plaines located 20 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
In November 2019, 7,149 retail locations in Illinois offered video lottery terminals. In total, there are 33,019 active VLT gaming machines. Given riverboat casinos have at most 1,200 slot machines each, VLTs at local businesses equate to nearly 30 casinos of a similar size.
Tribal Casinos in Illinois
Illinois has no federally-recognized American Indian tribes. Therefore, there are no tribal casinos in Illinois.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Illinois slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Illinois is:
- North: Wisconsin Slots
- East: Indiana Slots
- Southeast: Kentucky Slots
- West: Iowa Slots and Missouri Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Illinois.
Our Illinois Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Illinois? If so, join our new Illinois slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Illinois. Join us!
Payout Returns in Illinois
Illinois has established payout limits of 80% and 100% over the lifetime of a slot machine. Further, the Illinois Gaming Board provides monthly return statistics for Casino Gaming as well as for Video Gaming.
The November 2019 report on return statistics for the month of October at the ten riverboat casinos of Illinois include the following Player Win%:
- Argosy’s Alton Belle Casino: 90.94%
- Casino Queen: 91.57%
- Grand Victoria Casino Elgin: 90.97%
- Harrah’s Joliet: 92.24%
- Harrah’s Metropolis: 89.17%
- Hollywood Casino Aurora: 90.14%
- Hollywood Casino Joliet: 91.15%
- Jumer’s Casino & Hotel: 90.18%
- Par-A-Dice Casino: 91.06%
- Rivers Casino: 90.47%
Obtain player win percentages from the report by subtracting the entry for Electronic Gaming Device Adjusted Gross Return Percentage (EGD AGR %) from 100%.
In the month of October 2019, the statewide player win percentage was 90.91%. The highest payout return was Harrah’s Joliet at 92.24% while the lowest was Harrah’s Metropolis at 89.17%
For VLTs, the statewide player win percentage was 91.7%. Detailed monthly reports at Video Gaming Revenue Reports offer the player win percentage at each of the more than 7,000 retail businesses with VLTs. To determine the win percentage for where you play VLTs, divide Amount Won by Amount Played in the VGT Wagering Activity section.
Summary of Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Illinois slot machine casino gambling consists of ten riverboat casinos and VLT electronic gaming machines at 7,149 local businesses such as bars, restaurants, and other licensed non-casino locations.
Minimum and maximum legal limits for slot machines are 80% and 100%, respectively, over the lifetime of the game. Further, monthly return statistics are publicly available.
Annual Progress in Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In November 2019, there were 7,149 VLT locations with a total of 33,019 VLTs, a 12.4% increase in locations and a 16.7% increase in terminals from the previous year. Annual income tax revenue from gaming increased by nearly 17%. This tax income increase included a share of $83M for local municipalities which offer video gaming.
Up to six new casinos may come to the Chicago area, including a Hard Rock Casino in the city of Rockford. Submitted casino proposals arrived at the Illinois Gaming Board in October 2019.
Further, in November 2019, the Illinois Gaming Board approved Rivers Casino to no longer be a riverboat casino. Instead, it has become a land-based casino with unlimited slots and table games. Other Illinois riverboat casinos will also become land-based casinos as part of a planned massive gambling expansion.
Archive: Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2018
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Idaho Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
- Next: Indiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2019
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
They are VLTs correct? So playing them is a bad idea correct?
They actually call them 'Video Gaming Terminals' (VGTs) because the lottery does not run the game. Regardless of the name, the games are all RNG-driven just like in Vegas and Illinois riverboats. So slots and video poker act exactly the same.
The technical standards of Illinois VGTs may be found here:
http://www.igb.illinois.gov/VideoGaming/Technical%20Standards%20for%20Video%20Gaming%20Terminals%20in%20IL%20v1.3.pdf
But with video poker, the game is usually has lower pay tables than I would like. The law capping a win at $500 hurts the game too since a royal with 5 quarters bet is usually $1000. Also I wouldn't recommend playing VP for more than 5 quarters because of this payout cap. The best video poker I have found so far is 7/5 Super Aces Bonus (97.61% 1-coin; 97.92% 5-Coin). I've found it on IGT games in multiple locations.
Lately, the overall return of these games (includes both slots and video poker; heavily weighted by slots because penny slots are the most popular games) is about 92%. The riverboats are closer to 91% right now. The biggest drawback to the 'bar games' though is that they don't have loyalty programs usually (it is legal for them to have such a setup though) and the atmosphere is nothing close to an actual riverboat.
They actually call them 'Video Gaming Terminals' (VGTs) because the lottery does not run the game. Regardless of the name, the games are all RNG-driven just like in Vegas and Illinois riverboats. So slots and video poker act exactly the same.
The technical standards of Illinois VGTs may be found here:
http://www.igb.illinois.gov/VideoGaming/Technical%20Standards%20for%20Video%20Gaming%20Terminals%20in%20IL%20v1.3.pdf
But with video poker, the game is usually has lower pay tables than I would like. The law capping a win at $500 hurts the game too since a royal with 5 quarters bet is usually $1000. Also I wouldn't recommend playing VP for more than 5 quarters because of this payout cap. The best video poker I have found so far is 7/5 Super Aces Bonus (97.61% 1-coin; 97.92% 5-Coin). I've found it on IGT games in multiple locations.
Lately, the overall return of these games (includes both slots and video poker; heavily weighted by slots because penny slots are the most popular games) is about 92%. The riverboats are closer to 91% right now. The biggest drawback to the 'bar games' though is that they don't have loyalty programs usually (it is legal for them to have such a setup though) and the atmosphere is nothing close to an actual riverboat.
I was hoping you would reply, thanks for the wealth of information on the VGTs. So it sounds like if I find a good game one credit might be my best bet on it? Also do you know of any recourse if the bar 86s the machine so they don't have to pay out?
I was hoping you would reply, thanks for the wealth of information on the VGTs. So it sounds like if I find a good game one credit might be my best bet on it? Also do you know of any recourse if the bar 86s the machine so they don't have to pay out?
Well, one credit pays very similar to five credits for video poker by percentage, and since the games are all negative longterm, I usually just play 7/5 Super Aces for 1 quarter when I briefly play these things when I visit the Chicagoland area. I haven't found a game that's positive, and it's doubtful you ever will. It's against the law for any machine to be > 100% in the long-term. So the only way a game could possibly be positive is if they put a progressive slot game on the units, which I don't think I have found so far.
And I'm not sure what exactly you mean by the latter question. Are you saying when a malfunction in the machine occurs, so they have an issue in paying you? Unfortunately this is probably a more fuzzy area, and resolution of the problem will be a lot more difficult/time intensive than at the riverboats because the bar employees there will be ill-equipped to fix the problem, and will likely have to call the VGT manufacturer to have one of their employees to be sent out to fix the problem. I would assume you would eventually get paid, but I dunno how long it would take. Fortunately, I have never seen a unit malfunction in my limited play on these things so far.
If the bar literally gets rid of their video gaming terminals (has any bar actually done this yet??), then I would expect they would still have to honor any vouchers until their expiration dates. Here is the relative law for this scenario: http://ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/011/011018000N14200R.html
Well, one credit pays very similar to five credits for video poker by percentage, and since the games are all negative longterm, I usually just play 7/5 Super Aces for 1 quarter when I briefly play these things when I visit the Chicagoland area. I haven't found a game that's positive, and it's doubtful you ever will. It's against the law for any machine to be > 100% in the long-term. So the only way a game could possibly be positive is if they put a progressive slot game on the units, which I don't think I have found so far.
And I'm not sure what exactly you mean by the latter question. Are you saying when a malfunction in the machine occurs, so they have an issue in paying you? Unfortunately this is probably a more fuzzy area, and resolution of the problem will be a lot more difficult/time intensive than at the riverboats because the bar employees there will be ill-equipped to fix the problem, and will likely have to call the VGT manufacturer to have one of their employees to be sent out to fix the problem. I would assume you would eventually get paid, but I dunno how long it would take. Fortunately, I have never seen a unit malfunction in my limited play on these things so far.
If the bar literally gets rid of their video gaming terminals (has any bar actually done this yet??), then I would expect they would still have to honor any vouchers until their expiration dates. Here is the relative law for this scenario:
Illinois Gaming Board Latest News
My friend was playing at a bar and hit a couple hundred dollar jackpot, the owner not wanting to pay it out unplugged the bank of machines.My friend was playing at a bar and hit a couple hundred dollar jackpot, the owner not wanting to pay it out unplugged the bank of machines.
LOL wow. I would have immediately called the phone number on the sign that should be posted on the outside of every gaming area. The game result would be stored in memory for awhile. If this happened last night though, I'm not sure as the minimum requirement is only 10 games of recall (but it could be able to store more). I'd still call this number if I was him. And of course, never play, eat, or drink there again.
http://www.igb.illinois.gov/VideoGaming/VGSignRequirements.pdf
Illinois Gaming Machine Payouts
Illinois Gaming Board Hotline: 1-855-494-0237
LOL wow. I would have immediately called the phone number on the sign that should be posted on the outside of every gaming area. The game result would be stored in memory for awhile. If this happened last night though, I'm not sure as the minimum requirement is only 10 games of recall (but it could be able to store more). I'd still call this number if I was him. And of course, never play, eat, or drink there again.
http://www.igb.illinois.gov/VideoGaming/VGSignRequirements.pdf
Illinois Gaming Board Hotline: 1-855-494-0237
He called when it happened, this was about a month ago, though I don't know what exactly came of it. Pretty sure they ended up kicking him out by the end of everything because he was obviously irate. I'm just debating going there and trying my luck and see if the owner is stupid enough to do it again. The bar is literally a minute from my house and I wouldn't mind seeing what I can do with $100 there
He called when it happened, this was about a month ago, though I don't know what exactly came of it. Pretty sure they ended up kicking him out by the end of everything because he was obviously irate. I'm just debating going there and trying my luck and see if the owner is stupid enough to do it again. The bar is literally a minute from my house and I wouldn't mind seeing what I can do with $100 there
I'd probably get kicked out too at some point if it happened to me. And I would probably ask what happened with your friend first. If he didn't get paid, then you're really, really gambling. I have a bad feeling the owner cashed the machine out after the bar was empty. Also if the owner didn't get punished either, then it's definitely possible he'd do it again. I would drive further just to avoid playing there; there are like 5 bars within 5 minutes of my g/f's parents' house for example. But if you still decide to play there, make sure you cashout any sizable hit immediately, and ideally play when the owner wasn't looking. The game I typically play pays $100 for 4 Aces if you bet a quarter. $500 if you bet $1.25, so he would definitely have an incentive to screw me over if he thought he could get away with it.
I'd probably get kicked out too at some point if it happened to me. And I would probably ask what happened with your friend first. If he didn't get paid, then you're really, really gambling. I have a bad feeling the owner cashed the machine out after the bar was empty. Also if the owner didn't get punished either, then it's definitely possible he'd do it again. I would drive further just to avoid playing there; there are like 5 bars within 5 minutes of my g/f's parents' house for example. But if you still decide to play there, make sure you cashout any sizable hit immediately, and ideally play when the owner wasn't looking. The game I typically play pays $100 for 4 Aces if you bet a quarter. $500 if you bet $1.25, so he would definitely have an incentive to screw me over if he thought he could get away with it.
I have a casino within 15 minutes of where I live I am more going to see if he would really do it again and if he does make sure he gets punished for it. The bar in question is a terrible place that draws a terrible crowd. It is the worst...but if I can take money from it I will and if he wants to pull some shady business, I won't let it happen. I will have to check out what games they have and see what the best pay table is, hopefully they have the one you speak of and I can hit a nice 4 aces and see how they handle it.