Gaming in Illinois is so unique because the Land of Lincoln was one of the first states to introduce various aspects of gaming that are widespread across the US today. 

For example, in 1974, Illinois was one of the first states to introduce a state lottery system. In 1990, Illinois became the second state to legalize riverboat casinos. Still, to this day, the Prairie State is one of only six states that have legalized riverboat casinos. 

Later, in 2009, the state became one of the first to permit the online purchase of lottery tickets. The early adoption of each of these makes Illinois unique, especially considering these three aspects of gambling are yet to be legalized in some states. 

Illinois also has a unique gaming scene due to what it lacks. Despite its early adoption of lotteries and riverboat casinos, online casinos remain illegal throughout the state. 

Those in Illinois who wish to play online baccarat, roulette, and blackjack must use an offshore licensed casino. The highest paying real money online casino sites are accessible right across the US and provide gamblers with fast payouts, free spins, and big bonuses. Not only that, but some of these platforms are crypto gambling sites – i.e., players can place a bet using a cryptocurrency.  

You also won’t find as many land-based casino options within the state. While Illinoians can visit the Argosy Casino Alton on the Mississippi River – or any of the other 10 fully functional riverboat casinos in the state – options are comparatively and uniquely limited when it comes to land-based casinos. 

However, gamblers can take advantage of the 1,000+ gaming cafes that can be found throughout the state. These venues offer a quick and accessible way for gambling fans to play some slot games. 

Despite how widespread they are, these cafes only started to appear in the state over the last 15 years. This is because video game gambling was only legalized in Illinois in 2009. Since then, thousands of machines have been installed throughout the Prairie State. 

Illinois’ gaming cafes can serve snacks and beverages to customers. However, unlike bigger casinos, classic table games aren’t played in these cafes. 

These venues make Illinois unique for several reasons. For one, there are so many of them. According to the Universal Gaming Group, there are around 1,100 gaming cafes in the state. Based on this same data, these cafes also pull in a higher net terminal income (NTI) than bars and restaurants throughout the state. 

Another reason why these cafes make Illinois unique is that they’re not available in some other places in the US. For example, this type of cafe cannot be found in Utah or Hawaii, as casino games and gambling remain totally banned in these states. 

Overall, Illinois is a unique state when it comes to gambling with an unusual set of rules in place. Still, this didn’t stop the state from making $1.5 billion in revenue from gaming in 2023.