Two identical bills seeking to legalize iGaming are now in the House and Senate
Illinois lawmakers are once again pushing to legalize online casinos, reviving an effort that has been delayed multiple times in recent years. Matching bills introduced in both the House and Senate aim to bring regulated iGaming, including online poker, to the state, which has already embraced other forms of online gambling.
State Representative Edgar Gonzalez introduced House Bill 3080, while State Senator Cristina Castro filed Senate Bill 1963. Illinois has previously focused on expanding live casinos and sports betting, leaving online gaming on the back burner.
However, with the state facing a projected $3 billion budget deficit for fiscal year 2026, Governor JB Pritzker has expressed openness to iGaming as a potential revenue source. Senator Castro echoed this sentiment, stating that online casinos could be an important tool for generating additional state funds. Supporters of the bills estimate that legal online gaming could bring in up to $800 million per year once fully established.
The proposed legislation includes provisions allowing Illinois to participate in shared player pools with other regulated states. If passed, licensed casinos and racetracks in the state would be permitted to operate up to three online gaming platforms each.
Operators would need to pay a $250,000 licensing fee, with renewal tied to their existing land-based casino licenses. Revenue from iGaming would be taxed at 25%, a rate considered moderate compared to other states with legal online casinos.
To ensure responsible gambling, the bills include safeguards such as a minimum age of 21 and geolocation requirements to ensure players are within Illinois. Both measures have been assigned to committees, but no hearings or votes have been scheduled. Lawmakers have until 2026 to pass the legislation, giving them time to debate and refine the proposal as they seek to move it forward.
