Illinois was the second state to legalize riverboat casinos. Riverboat casinos began operating there in September 1991 with the launching of the first boat: the Alton Belle.

All Illinois riverboats remain dockside and do not cruise. Unlike Mississippi, however, the casinos are not open 24 hours and state law limits the number of gaming licenses to 10.

As of August 2004, there were nine casinos in operation and the 10th license was awarded to the Isle of Capri which plans to build a casino in Rosemont, near Chicago's O'Hare international airport. However, the awarding of that  license was legally challenged and it may be several years before the issue is resolved.

Here's information from the Illinois Gaming Board showing each casino's average slot payback percentage for the one-year period from June 1, 2008 through May 30, 2004:

These figures reflect the total percentages returned by each casino for all of their electronic machines. As you can see, the Casino Queen returned the most to its slot machine players, while Harrah's in Metropolis returned the least.  

Admission is free to most Illinois casinos (see NOTE below) and, unless otherwise noted, all casinos offer: slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette and Caribbean stud poker. Some casinos also offer: let it ride (LIR), baccarat (B), mini-baccarat (MB), poker (P), pai gow poker (PGP) and three-card poker (TCP). If you want to order a drink while playing, be aware that Illinois gaming regulations do not allow casinos to provide free alcoholic beverages. The minimum gambling age is 21.

NOTE: In mid-2008 the state legislature raised the taxes on Illinois casinos to the highest in the nation (up to 70%). In response to the increased taxes, some casinos cut their hours and some started charging admission. Other casinos may eventually institute the same changes, so if you are planning a visit to an Illinois casino you may want to contact them first to see if their hours of operation or admission policies have changed.

For more information on visiting Illinois contact the state's Bureau of Tourism at (800) 226-6632 or www.enjoyillinois.com

Argosy's Alton Belle Casino
1 Front Street
Alton, Illinois 62002
(618) 474-7500
Web site: www.argosycasinos.com
Map: #1 (260 miles S.W. of Chicago. 25 miles N. of St. Louis, MO)

Reservation Number: (800) 711-4263
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: L-$8.45  D-$12.45/$16.95 (Fri)
Valet Parking: $5 (Free for club members)
Casino Hours: 9am-5am Daily
Casino Size: 23,000 Square Feet
Other Games: LIR, TCP, PGP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Senior Discount: 10% off buffets if 50+ and member of senior slot club
Special Features: Casino feature both a 1,200-passenger modern yacht and also a barge docked on the Mississippi River.

Argosy's Empress Casino
2300 Empress Drive
Joliet, Illinois 60436
(815) 744-9400
Web site: www.argosycasinos.com
Map: #2 (43 miles S.W. of Chicago)

Reservation Number: (888) 4-EMPRESS
Rooms:  85  Price Range: $69-$120
Suites: 17  Price Range: Casino Use Only
Admission: $5/$3 (after 3am)
Casino Hours: 10am-4am/6am (Fri/Sat)
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: L-$11.99/$14.99 (Sun)  D-$15.99/$22.99 (Fri)/$17.99 (Sat-Sun)
Valet Parking: Free
Casino Size: 50,000 square feet
Other Games: MB, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Special Features: 2,500-passenger barge docked on the Des Plaines River. Rooms are at on-property Empress Hotel. 80-space RV park.

Casino Queen
200 S. Front Street
E. St. Louis, Illinois 62201
(618) 874-5000
Web site: www.casino5seen.com
Map: #6 (290 miles S.W. of Chicago)

Reservation Number: (800) 777-0777
Rooms: 150 Price Range: $83-$125
Suites: 7  Price Range: $157
Buffets: B-$6.99  L-$8.99/$10.99 (Sun)  D-$12.99
Valet Parking: $3
Casino Hours: 9am-7am Daily
Casino Size: 27,500 Square Feet
Other Games: MB, TCP, PGP
Senior Discount: Wed. 9am-Mid. if 50 or older   receive 2-for-1 buffet, 35% off in gift shop and free valet parking.
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special Features: 2,500-passenger, old-fashioned, paddlewheeler docked on the Mississippi river. 140-space RV park. Sports Bar. MetroLink light-rail station at doorstep. 10% room discount to AAA members. $1 off buffets for slot club members.

Grand Victoria Casino
250 S. Grove Avenue
Elgin, Illinois 60120
(847) 468-7000
Web site: www.grandvictoria-elgin.com
Map: #4 (41 miles N.W. of Chicago)

Reservation Number: (888) 508-1900
Restaurants: 4
Buffets: L-$6.99/$14.99 (Fri-Sun)  D-$9.99/$14.99 (Fri-Sun)
Valet Parking: $5/Free for Slot Club members during the week (Mon-Thu)
Casino Hours: 8:30am-6:30am Daily
Casino Size: 29,850 Square Feet
Other Games: B, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: No
Senior Discount: 10% off buffet if 65 or older
Special Features: 1,200-passenger paddle wheeler-replica docked on the Fox River. Free continental breakfast 8am-10am Mon-Fri for slot club members.

Harrah's Joliet
150 N. Joliet Street
Joliet, Illinois 60432
(815) 740-7800
Web site: www.harrahs.com
Map: #2 (43 miles S.W. of Chicago)

Admission: $5/$2 (Platinum members)
Free (Diamond members and one guest)
Reservation Number: (800) HARRAHS
Rooms: 200  Price Range: $59-$159
Suites: 4  Price Range: Casino Use Only
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: B- $13.99 (Sat-Sun) L-$11.99/$15.99 (Sat-Sun)
D-$13.99/$19.99 (Fri)
Valet Parking: $5/Free if hotel guest
Casino Hours: 10am-4am (Mon-Thu)/5am (Fri)  9am-4am (Sun)/5am (Sat)
Casino Size: 39,000
Other Games: MB, P, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special Features: Casino is on a barge docked on the Des Plaines River. Room discount with slot club card.

Harrahs Metropolis
100 E. Front Street
Metropolis, Illinois 62960
(618) 524-2628
Web site: www.harrahs.com
Map: #8 (Across from Paducah, KY. Take exit 37 on I-24)

Toll-Free Number: (800) 929-5905
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: B-$11.99 (Sat-Sun) L-$6.99 (Mon-Fri) D-$13.99/$19.99 (Wed)
Hours: 9am-7am Daily
Valet Parking: $5
Other Games: MB, LIR, TCP
Casino Size: 29,760 Square Feet
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Special Features: 1,300-passenger sidewheeler-replica docked on the Ohio River. 120-room Amerihost Inn across street from casino (800-434-5800).

Hollywood Casino - Aurora
1 New York Street Bridge
Aurora, Illinois 60506
(630) 801-7000
Web site: www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com
Map: #7 (41 miles W. of Chicago)

Toll Free Number: (800) 888-7777
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: L-$11.99  D-$15.99/$18.99 (Fri)
Valet Parking: $5  Self-Parking: $5
Admission: $5
Casino Hours: 10am-4am/5am (Fri-Sat)
Casino Size: 41,382 Square Feet
Other Games: TCP
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special Features: Casino is on a barge docked on the Fox River. Marquee Club members get $3 buffet discount. $3 discount on self-parking for Marquee Club members.

Jumer's Casino Rock Island
1735 First Avenue
Rock Island, Illinois 61201
(309) 793-4200
Web site: www.jumerscri.com
Map: #3 (170 miles W. of Chicago)

Reservation Number: (800) 477-7747
Restaurants: 1 on boat adjacent to casino
Buffets: L-$6.95  D-$9.95
Valet Parking: Free
Casino Hours: 8am-3am Daily
Casino Size: 17,200 Square Feet
Senior Discount: Free buffet (Mon-Thu) if you  play a minimum of $200 on slots or buy-in for at least $50 and play for a minium of 50 minutes on tables if 50 or older.
Overnight RV Parking: Free, but must notify security in advance
RV Dump: No
Special Features: 1,200-passenger old-fashioned paddlewheel boat on the Mississippi River. Restaurant is on the Effie Afton which is another boat docked next to the casino.

Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino
21 Blackjack Boulevard
East Peoria, Illinois 61611
(309) 698-7711
Web site: www.par-a-dice.com
Map: #5 (170 miles S.W. of Chicago)

Toll-Free Number: (800) 727-2342
Room reservations: (800) 547-0711
Rooms: 195  Price Range: $89-up
Suites  13  Price Range: $175-$500
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: B-$6.95 (Sat-Sun)  L-$9.99/$12.99 (Sat-Sun)  
D-$12.99/ $17.99 (Fri-Sun)
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Hours: 9:00am-6:00am Daily
Casino Size: 36,0006 Square Feet
Other Games: LIR, TCP
Overnight RV Parking: Free/RV Dump: No
Special Features: 1,600-passenger modern boat docked on the Illinois River.