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 2003, there were nine casinos in operation and the 10th license was being pursued by several different gaming companies.

Admission is free to all 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 (Let it Ride), baccarat (B), mini-baccarat (MB), poker (P), pai gow poker (PGP) and three-card poker (Three Card Poker). The minimum gambling age is 21.

NOTE: In mid-2003 the state legislature raised the taxes on Illinois casinos to the highest in the nation (up to 70%). In mid-August 2003, in response to the increased taxes, four casinos cut their hours of operation. Additionally, Harrah’s Joliet started charging admission. Other casinos may 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.

Alton Belle Riverboat Casino
219 Piasa Street
Alton, Illinois 62002
(618) 474-7500
Website: www.argosycasinos.com
Location: 260 miles S.W. of Chicago. 25 miles N. of St. Louis, MO.

Reservation Number: (800) 336-SLOT
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: L-$8.45  D-$12.45
Valet Parking: $5 (Free for club members)
Casino Hours: 10am-4am Daily
Casino Size: 23,000 Square Feet
Other Games: Let it Ride, Three Card Poker
Casino Marketing: (800) 711-GAME
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.

Casino Queen
200 S. Front Street
E. St. Louis, Illinois 62201
(618) 874-5000
Website: www.casinoqueen.com
Location: 290 miles S.W. of Chicago

Reservation Number: (800) 777-0777
Rooms: 150 Price Range: $89-$149
Suites: 7  Price Range: $300
Buffets: B-$5.95  L-$8.99/$10.99 (Sun)  D-$12.99
Valet Parking: $4
Casino Hours: 9am-7am
Casino Size: 27,500 Square Feet
Other Games: MB, Let it Ride, PGP
Senior Discount: Wed. 9am-Mid. if 50 or older   receive 2-for-1 buffet, 35% off in gift shop and free valet parking.
Special Features: 2,500-passenger, old-fashioned, paddlewheeler docked on the Mississippi river. 140-space RV park. Sports Bar with 27 tv’s and live entertainment on weekends. MetroLink light-rail station at doorstep. 10% room discount to AAA members. $1 off buffets for slot club members.

Empress Casino Hotel Joliet
2300 Empress Drive
Joliet, Illinois 60436
(815) 744-9400
Website: www.empresscasino.com
Location: 43 miles S.W. of Chicago

Reservation Number: (888) 4-EMPRESS
Rooms:  85  Price Range: $59-$120
Suites: 17  Price Range: Only through casino
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: B- $6.99 (Sat)  L-$9.99/$13.99 (Sun)
            D-$14.99 (Tue-Thu)/$15.99/$16.99 (Mon)  $21.99 (Fri)
Valet Parking: Free
Casino Hours: 10am-4am Daily
Casino Size: 36,266 square feet
Other Games: Let it Ride, B, Three Card Poker
Special Features: 2,500-passenger barge docked on the Des Plaines River. Rooms are at on-property Empress Hotel. 80-space RV park.

Grand Victoria Casino
250 S. Grove Avenue
Elgin, Illinois 60120
(847) 888-1000
Website: www.grandvictoria-elgin.com
Location: 41 miles N.W. of Chicago

Reservation Number: (847) 888-1000
Restaurants: 3
Buffets: L-$7.50/$16.10 (Sat-Sun)  D-$10.70 (Mon-Thu)/$16.10 (Fri-Sun)
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Hours: 8:30am-6:30am
Casino Size: 29,850 Square Feet
Other Games: B
Senior Discount: 10% off buffet, if 65, or older
Special Features: 1,200-passenger paddle wheeler-replica docked on the Fox River. Free valet parking Mon-Thu for slot club members.

Harrah’s Joliet
150 N. Scott Street
Joliet, Illinois 60431
(815) 740-7800
Website: www.harrahs.com
Location: 43 miles S.W. of Chicago

Admission:
$2 (Platinum members)
$5 (Gold 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: 2
Buffets: B- $4.99/$8.99 (Sat-Sun) L-$11.99/$15.99 (Sat-Sun)
            D-$14.99/$15.99 (Mon)/$18.99 (Fri-Sun)
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Hours: 10am-4am Daily
Casino Size: 39,000
Other Games: MB, P, Let it Ride
Special Features: Casino is on a barge docked on the Des Plaines River. Room discount with slot club card.

Harrahs Metropolis
203 S. Ferry Street
Metropolis, Illinois 62960
(618) 524-2628
Website: www.harrahs.com
Location: Across from Paducah, KY. Take exit 37 on I-24

Toll-Free Number: (800) 935-7700
Restaurants: 2
Buffets: B-$11.99 (Sat-Sun) L-$9.99  D-$13.99/$15.99 (Fri-Sun)
Hours: 9am-7am
Valet Parking: $5
Other Games: MB, Let it Ride
Casino Size: 29,760 Square Feet
Casino Marketing: (800) 929-5905
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
Website: www.hollywoodcasinoaurora.com
Location: 41 miles W. of Chicago

Toll Free Number: (800) 888-7777
Restaurants: 5
Buffets: L-$11.99  D-$15.99/$15.99 (Fri)
Valet Parking:  $5
Casino Hours: 10am-4am Daily
Casino Size: 41,384 Square Feet
Other Games: MB, Let it Ride, Three Card Poker
Senior Discount: 2-for-1 lunch buffet Wed/Thu if 55 + and slot club member
Special Features: Casino is on a barge docked on the Fox River. Marquee Club members get $3 buffet discount.

Jumer’s Casino Rock Island
1735 First Avenue
Rock Island, Illinois 61201
(309) 793-4200
Website: www.jumerscri.com
Location: 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 earn a minimum of 200 points on slots or buy in for at least $50 and play for a minimum of 50 minutes on tables, if 50, or older.
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
Website: www.par-a-dice.com
Location: 170 miles S.W. of Chicago

Toll-Free Number: (800) 332-5634
Room reservations: (800) 547-0711
Rooms: 208  Price Range: $87-$107
Suites  12  Price Range: $98-$250
Restaurants: 4
Buffets: B-$6.95  L-$8.95 D-$11.95/ $15.95 (Fri/Sat)
Valet Parking: $5
Casino Hours: 8:30am-4:30am
Casino Size: 26,116 Square Feet
Other Games: Let it Ride, Three Card Poker
Special Features: 1,600-passenger modern boat  docked on the Illinois River. Rooms can only be booked through casino on weekends.