Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, and Indiana — 65+ licensed casinos, legal sports betting in all 5 states, and everything you need to find the right game.
The Midwest punches above its weight in American gambling. Iowa was among the first states to legalize riverboat casino gambling in 1989 — and one of the first in the nation to launch legal sports betting, with mobile wagering going live on August 15, 2019. Illinois followed in March 2020, when DraftKings placed the state's first legal mobile bet on March 9th.
Missouri became the latest Midwest state to enter the legal sports betting market when voters passed Proposition A on November 5, 2024 — opening the door to mobile wagering from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars.
Michigan stands alone in the region with full legal online casino access, launching both online sports betting and online casino gambling on January 22, 2021. Indiana rounds out the core Midwest gaming market, with 13 licensed casinos and mobile sports betting since September 1, 2019.
All told, this guide covers 65+ licensed casinos across five states — from the tribal casinos of Iowa and Michigan to the riverboat tradition of Missouri and Illinois, from Chicago's casino floor to Council Bluffs' trio of resort casinos near Omaha.
19 Licensed Casinos
Iowa was among America's first legal gambling states in 1989. Today, 19 licensed casinos operate statewide — including the Council Bluffs trio (Ameristar, Harrah's, Horseshoe), Prairie Meadows in Altoona, and Riverside Casino & Golf Resort. Mobile sports betting launched August 15, 2019.
Regulator: Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) | Age: 21+
⚠️ Iowa Helpline: 1-800-BETS-OFF (Iowa law — NOT 1-800-GAMBLER)
10+ Licensed Casinos
Illinois legalized sports betting in June 2019; DraftKings placed the state's first legal mobile bet on March 9, 2020. The Chicago metro drives much of the state's gaming revenue — Rivers Casino Chicago, Rivers Des Plaines, Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Joliet, and Grand Victoria Casino Elgin are all within an hour of downtown.
Regulator: Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) | Age: 21+
Illinois Casinos →13 Licensed Casinos
Missouri voters passed Proposition A on November 5, 2024, legalizing mobile sports betting statewide. Launch operators included DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars. Missouri's 13 licensed casinos sit on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers — including Ameristar St. Charles, Ameristar Kansas City, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, Bally's St. Louis, and Harrah's North Kansas City.
Regulator: Missouri Gaming Commission (MGC) | Age: 21+
Missouri Casinos →26+ Licensed Casinos
Michigan is the Midwest's online gaming leader. Online sports betting and online casino launched simultaneously on January 22, 2021. The three commercial Detroit casinos — MotorCity Casino, MGM Grand Detroit, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown — anchor the market alongside 23+ tribal casinos statewide. Online operators include BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars Palace Online Casino.
Regulator: Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) | Age: 21+
13 Licensed Casinos
Indiana legalized sports betting on September 1, 2019. The state's 13 casinos stretch from the Illinois border at Horseshoe Hammond to the Ohio River. French Lick Resort anchors the historic southern Indiana market. Mobile sports betting is available through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars.
Regulator: Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) | Age: 21+
America's #1 Sportsbook by Active Users
Iowa ✅ | Illinois ✅ | Missouri ✅ | Michigan ✅ | Indiana ✅
The nation's most-used sportsbook. Same-game parlays, live in-game betting, and fantasy sports integration. Available in all five Midwest states covered in this guide.
America's Highest-Revenue Sportsbook
Iowa ✅ | Illinois ✅ | Missouri ✅ | Michigan ✅ | Indiana ✅
FanDuel leads the market in handle and consistently offers the most competitive NFL and NBA odds. Available in all five Midwest states with a clean, fast mobile app.
The King of Sportsbooks
Iowa ✅ | Illinois ✅ | Missouri ✅ | Michigan ✅ (+ Online Casino) | Indiana ✅
BetMGM operates sportsbooks across all five Midwest states — and also offers Michigan residents full online casino access. The MGM Rewards program earns you credits toward hotel stays and casino comps.
Your World. Rewarded.
Iowa ✅ | Illinois ✅ | Missouri ✅ | Michigan ✅ | Indiana ✅
Caesars Sportsbook integrates with Caesars Rewards — earn credits on every bet you place. Retail betting is also available at Harrah's and Horseshoe properties across the Midwest.
Michigan is the only state in this guide with legal online casino gambling, which launched January 22, 2021. Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana do not have legal online casino — but all five states have legal sports betting. For online casino, visit BestInOnline.Casino for a full list of legal states nationwide.
All five states covered here: Iowa (August 2019), Indiana (September 2019), Illinois (March 2020), Michigan (January 2021), and Missouri (November 2024 — Proposition A passed November 5, 2024). Mobile wagering is available in all five states through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars.
21+ in all five states covered: Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, and Indiana. You must be 21 or older to enter a casino, place a sports bet, or use an online gambling platform in any of these states.
YES — and this is critical. Iowa law mandates 1-800-BETS-OFF as the official problem gambling helpline — NOT 1-800-GAMBLER. If you are gambling in Iowa or on an Iowa-licensed platform, use 1-800-BETS-OFF. All other states in this guide (Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana) use 1-800-GAMBLER.