Illinois casinos recorded an impressive adjusted gross revenue of $122 million

In May, Illinois casinos collectively generated $122 million in adjusted gross revenue (AGR), experiencing a 4.7% decrease compared to April 2023’s figure of $128 million. However, the AGR showed a 4.7% increase from May 2022’s $116.57 million. The Illinois Gaming Board reported that the state received over $23.91 million in taxes, with a local share of $6.97 million.

The Des Plaines casino stood out as the sole gaming venue to surpass its April revenue, earning $46.64 million. Other notable contributions came from Grand Victoria Casino with $12 million, Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel with $10.36 million, Hollywood Casino Aurora with $7.83 million, Hollywood Casino Joliet with $7.31 million, and DraftKings at Casino Queen with $6.82 million.

Furthermore, recent data from the Illinois Gaming Board revealed that casino attendance in the state reached its highest level since 2018. From January to April 2023, nearly 3.4 million individuals visited Illinois casinos, coming close to the 3.5 million visitors during the same period in 2018.

In May, Illinois lawmakers made a decision to extend the restrictions on sports wagering involving in-state colleges for an additional year. While individuals in Illinois can continue placing sports bets on in-state college teams at Illinois sportsbooks, online betting on such games remains prohibited. The ban, which was initially set to expire on July 1, was extended until July 1, 2024, following a unanimous 54-0 vote in the Senate. The extension was included as an amendment in a broader bill (SB 84) focused on environmental laws. Governor JB Pritzker has a 60-day window to either veto the bill or allow it to become law once it is transmitted.