January is gearing up to be an action-packed month for Illinois poker. Renowned poker rooms across the state are set to host exciting card games throughout the month, with one casino making a tournament comeback.
The Prairie State is poised to present an array of guaranteed prize pools this month.
PlayIllinois will keep you in the loop all year about the latest happenings in the Illinois poker landscape. This story focuses on live poker because, currently, Illinois online poker is not permitted for real-money contests. (Although you can find various events and tournaments via sweepstakes poker sites in Illinois.)
Horseshoe Hammond prepares for late February WSOP Circuit
The Horseshoe will prepare for the return of the WSOP Circuit from Feb. 29 through March 11. The schedule is not posted yet. For January, the poker room will host guaranteed tournaments all month.
- $120 NLH: Noon Tuesdays ($5,000 guaranteed)
- $220 NLH: Noon Wednesdays ($10,000 guaranteed)
- $120 NLH: 6 p.m. Thursdays ($5,000 guaranteed)
See the full schedule here.
Weekly tournaments on tap at Grand Victoria Casino
The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin has 20 poker tables and is an official World Series of Poker room. The regular tournament schedule will remain the same in January.
- $135 NLH Deep Stack: 5 p.m. Tuesdays (15,000 starting stack)
- $190 NLH Deep Stack: 6 p.m. Fridays (15,000 starting stack)
- $300 NLH Deep Stack: Noon Sundays (30,000 starting stack)
The WSOP Circuit series will be back April 4 through 15. Check back at PlayIllinois for an official schedule in the upcoming months.
Hollywood Aurora tournaments return
On Saturdays, tournaments are making a comeback at the Hollywood Aurora Casino poker room. Every Saturday, players can register beginning at noon, with the tournament kicking off at 1 p.m. Registration stays open until the end of the fourth round.
- Buy-in: $300 (20,000 tournament chips)
- Optional dealer add-on: $15 (10,000 tournament chips)
Charity poker event set for Jan. 6
Check out the action taking place on Jan. 6 exclusively at Marcus Theaters, 4201 W 167th St. in Country Club Hills. This special one-day event is set to host charity poker action, providing a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to state-wide charities.
- $80 rebuy
- 40,000 start stack
- Discount for players that arrive on time
Rivers Des Plaines’ Bad Beat Jackpot closes in on $200K
The Bad Beat Jackpot at Rivers Des Plaines has remained elusive since the summer, creating an air of anticipation among players. Even though the poker room doesn’t offer tournaments, the action is thriving in the form of cash games spread across 22 tables.
The last time the jackpot hit was on Aug. 1. An impressive Bad Beat Jackpot of $65,259.30 was won by a table of poker grinders. The victorious hand, a jack-high straight flush, outdid a set of quad nines in a showdown.
To enhance player experience, individuals can take advantage of the website’s pre-registration feature, securing a seat in a cash game before stepping foot in the casino.
- Bad Beat Jackpot: $180,050 as of Jan. 1
- High Hands: $500 every hour, noon to midnight Sundays through Thursdays
Thousands of dollars up for grabs in Bad Beat Jackpots across Illinois
Every month, the allure of the Bad Beat Jackpot draws cash players to poker rooms. Typically, the trigger for the BBJ is when a hand with four of a kind is beaten. Bagging a jackpot is no easy feat and happens very rarely. Here are the ongoing Bad Beats across the state:
- Hollywood Casino Aurora: $73,810
- Rivers Casino Des Plaines: $180,050
- Horseshoe Hammond: $150,000
- Grand Victoria Casino: $85,000
- Windy City Poker Club: $3,000
