Illinois Gambling and Lottery Laws
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Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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Lotteries, casinos, race tracks, and other games of chance often are proposed as ways to raise tax revenue for the state, with varying results. Illinois runs a statewide lottery and also allows floating casinos (typically on riverboats) and horse racing venues. What all of these have in common is their regulation through state laws, which define the manner in which lotteries and casinos may be operated and levies taxes on these activities. For example, Illinois law requires a $4 tax per person admitted to a riverboat casino. This section covers Illinois laws related to the state lottery, riverboat casinos, and gambling in general.