The history of Illinois casinos starts on the race track in 1927. With the recently-passed Illinois Gambling Act expanding the legality of casinos and sportsbook gaming across the state, Illinois will continue being at the forefront of gaming in the midwest moving forward.
It was among the first states to offer an online lottery in 2012 and the second to legalize riverboat gambling in the 1990s, after Iowa. Illinois is a state with a rocky history when it comes to gambling.
