The Illinois Billiard Club (IBC) was founded in 1975 and has operated as a private members only billiard club and virtual museum of billiard collectables dating back to the 1850’s. The club is not a public place of amusement, bar room or pool room ever since it’s Chicago founding. Being the only billiard facility of it’s kind in the entire nation often leads to confusion, and therefore, reference to the Illinois Billiard Club as some form of public pool hall or gaming arcade would be as incorrect and out of order as comparing the New York Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to Arby Cobb’s Louisiana Sweet-Potato Quartette ... while they both provide music, their audiences are as distinctively different as is their style and choice of music itself.

When available, membership to the Illinois Billiard Club is typically through sponsorship by an existing IBC member in good standing. Until Fall of 2000 and the heartfelt passing of several of the club’s senior members, membership to the Illinois Billiard Club had remained closed and unavailable for some three years. Today, and until further notice the club is once again excepting new members and their families. One-time registration fees are $175 in addition to annual dues of $125. Hopeful applicants interested in participating in IBC leagues are exempt from paying a $175 registration fee. Exemption from a $175 registration fee also applies to reinstating former IBC members who when reactivating their membership (if available) are subject only to payment of annual dues in the amount of $125.

Hourly club charges are $4 pp and are recorded and paid for exclusively by the IBC’s members and the club’s honor system policy which is based on the integrity of the club’s membership itself. Also, based on the integrity of its membership … clerks, attendants and all other forms of conventional security and policing methods used in public billiard facilities are not part of the clubs operational equation. A key to the clubs headquarters is given to all members in good standing and operational hours are based on scheduled club activities, members advance reservations and private functions hosted in conjunction with Bonnie’s Dining & Banquet facility.