Illinois’ Northern Neighbors: How the Gambling Industry Compares in Canada and Illinois

Until recently, gambling was a heavily restricted activity in North America with only a handful of locations allowing it. As more and more areas relax those restrictions and offer the possibility to gamble legally, differences are becoming more pronounced. People in Northern Illinois might be living just a couple of miles from the Canadian border, but the rules they have to live by are completely different. This might seem unfair, but that’s a reflection of the fact that every jurisdiction regulates gambling based on its own understanding of its impact.

Since Southern Ontario and Northern Illinois are otherwise pretty similar culturally, it’s important to explain why they have so diverging views on casino gambling, sports wagering, and similar activities.

Gambling Industry in Illinois

Traditionally, the state of Illinois didn’t allow any gambling activities on its territory. It started making some limited exceptions in the second part of the 20^th century, establishing an officially sanctioned lottery in the 1970s and allowing riverboat casinos to operate starting with the early 1990s. That effectively meant casino entertainment was available, but only at a few select locations that were generally outside of the major urban areas.

After the Supreme Court decided in 2019 that states have the right to regulate sports betting, Illinois changed its laws to enable online and offline betting. There is a wide variety of betting apps and services that accept residents of the state, but online casino gambling remains illegal. There are plans to change that and allow local citizens to join casino gambling platforms on the web, as well as to build new physical casinos. All gambling activities are supervised by the Illinois Gaming Board, which has the sole power to issue or revoke licenses to operators and monitor their adherence to the rules.

Gambling Industry in Canada

In Canada, each province has the power to set its own gambling rules. As of 2025, all provinces and territories allow at least some forms of gambling, with the minimum age either 18 or 19. There are land-based casinos all over Canada including in Quebec and Ontario, typically set in a complex that also includes hotel accommodation, dining opportunities, entertainment, and shopping facilities. In some cases, provincial governments are owners of the casinos and take an active role in daily operations.

Online gambling is now accepted in most parts of Canada, with dozens of licensed casino and sports betting sites serving local demand. The market is tightly controlled and licenses must be obtained from the authorities before a provider can join it. Each province sets the limits of what is allowed, so visitors from abroad must check the exact rules in order to eliminate any risks. The Canada online casino market is one of the fastest growing in the world, and local companies are involved in production of gaming content and its administration to players who log in remotely.

Whose Laws Are Better for the Common Citizen?

Both the United States and Canada delegate gambling regulations to their federal units, i.e. states or provinces. This creates an array of issues, but allows the citizens to decide about their own communities in a truly democratic manner. In both cases, the system led to limited tolerance for gambling activities that varies from one location to another. People who want to gamble have enough options, but the government remains firmly in control how it happens.

The US system may be slightly more restrictive, at least when it comes to Illinois. Casino gambling is still viewed with suspicion by the authorities, despite clear signs that voters want less stringent rules. The reluctance to legalise online casino games in particular seems out of touch with reality, and stands in stark contrast with trends north of the border. Things could change in both countries with little notice, so it’s not smart to speak in absolute terms, but right now Canada has a slight advantage over Illinois in the iGaming sector.

How Easy Is It to Cross Over for a Night of Gambling?

For anyone holding an American or Canadian passport, the border is not a real obstacle. It’s quite common for people on both sides to cross over for a short visit that may or may not include gambling. Some Canadian casinos are conveniently located within a stone’s throw from the border and they get a lot of traffic from US citizens looking for some legal entertainment. Aside from minor issues related to currency conversion, taxes on winnings, and similar details, the gambling industry in the border region is fully integrated between the two countries.

Things could be more complicated for foreign nationals residing in either Canada or USA. Depending on their country of origin and the type of visa they have, some people could get into trouble for crossing the border. That’s why international visitors are best advised to stay on the right side of the law and avoid any late night trips that could end in detention. There are plenty of gaming options in both countries so it’s not worth taking the risk just to play games for a few hours.