Prairie State Hits the Jackpot: Illinois Casinos Cash In with 18.7% Revenue Spike
Illinois’ 17 Casinos Won $162.6 Million in Adjusted Gross Receipts in April 2025
Hot Streak Continues
The Prairie State just dealt itself another winning hand. Illinois’ casino industry is on fire and the numbers are piling up. This week, the Illinois Gaming Board announced that April 2025 brought in $162.6 million. That’s 18.7% more than the same period last year.
This isn’t just luck either. All year long, the 17 casinos in the state have been on a roll.
January started it off with a 21.3% year-over-year increase and $143.9 million. February was $141.3 million, while December 2024 had already made casino news with an impressive $157 million. April’s figures suggest cash casinos in Illinois are accelerating their momentum.
The good times are happening despite a complicated legislative landscape. Two online casino bills (HB3080 and SB1963) have been stuck in committee limbo since late March. So, while casinos are thriving, these online gambling regulations have stalled in the Illinois General Assembly.
About 30 minutes north of the Chicago metro is the town of Waukegan, Illinois, home of Chicago’s next major property; American Place Casino. American Place exists currently as a temporary building, as you can obviously see from the photos. The inside is actually pretty nice!… pic.twitter.com/LOAZqDFehI
— Casino Collective (@casinocollctve) May 8, 2025
Electronic Gaming, the High Roller
April’s MVP at Illinois casinos? Electronic gaming. These bet platforms are paying out big for operators, with $108 million in January alone, marking a 25.1% increase from 2024.
Two things are driving this electronic boom, according to experts. One is the aggressive bonus structure that keeps players at the virtual felt longer. The other is casino operators refreshing their floors with new machines that speak to today’s tech-savvy gamblers.
Rivers Casino is still the chip leader among Illinois properties with $38.7 million in January. But newer players like Wind Creek Casino ($13.2 million in January) and Hard Rock Casino ($11.3 million) are making moves to challenge the market leader.
New Racino Enters the Game
April was a big month with the opening of Illinois’ first “racino” at Fairmount Park in Collinsville. This racetrack and casino, which opened on April 18, is the state’s 17th betting casino and contributed to the revenue surge. And it didn’t come up empty-handed either, paying $9.7 million in licensing and gaming position fees.
That brings total upfront casino fees to the Illinois Gaming Board to around $400 million since November 2021.
Average handle by race up 4.8% with the week started Monday. @kentuckyderby bump? Someone besides @fatbaldguyracin is betting @vincegabbert‘s Fairmount Park. pic.twitter.com/OXeMBhf9pn
— Ed DeRosa (@EJXD2) May 8, 2025
The House Edge
Illinois’ winning streak extends beyond casino operators to state and local coffers. Based on February’s $141.3 million revenue, tax collection reached $26.9 million, with $18.3 million going to state programs and $8.6 million staying with host communities.
April’s higher revenue suggests even stronger tax benefits, providing crucial funding for government services. However, there might still be room to grow after the Gaming Board recently prohibited credit cards for sports wagering accounts and authorized cashless wagering across all 17 casinos.
With 17 casinos, 13 sportsbooks, and nearly 49,000 video gaming terminals statewide, Illinois is a full house of gaming. Whether online casino legislation passes or not, Illinois has a strong hand for 2025.
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