The state of Illinois is the most likely to be the next to join the four others that have legalized online poker. However, citizens of that state will very likely have to wait until at least 2019 before they are able to enjoy that freedom. 

Online poker has been under consideration for legalization in Illinois for some time now, but the push to make it happen has picked up momentum since the Supreme Court made it possible for states to make their own choices in regards to the legalization of wagering on sports. This has made it possible for many states to consider what other forms of gambling they might like to legalize and regulate. 

Illinois appeared to be one state where it just might be possible to have legal online poker towards the end of 2018. However, this has now been pushed back to 2019 as the most likely time when the game will be legal as other measures have taken priority in the state. 

A hearing was scheduled for the middle of this month of October and those hearings were had. A lot of the hearing consisted of discussion of legalizing sports wagering and online poker took a bit of a back seat to the rest of the discussion. When the hearings were over it was decided that they would be picked back up in early 2019. 

Delays like this are unfortunately a big part of just about anything that happens in government. It is frustrating for those who are advocating for a particular issue that they care about, but that is just the way that the government works. It has to consider the concerns of all citizens and make decisions based on those considerations. 

Legal online poker has been polling well and gaining support in places where it does not currently exist. This along with the fact that it can generate significant tax revenue for states that put it into practice are good reasons to bet that it is going to come not just to Illinois but to other states as well in the not so distant future.