Illinois Casino Revenue Almost $1.35 Billion In 2022

Illinois casinos produced total adjusted gross revenue of nearly $1.348 billion in 2022. The figures, released this week by the Illinois Gaming Board, also show casinos have nearly returned to normal after two difficult pandemic years that led to casino closures.

Casino revenue is down just 0.4% from the 2019 total of $1.354 billion. That was the last year where figures were not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the start of the pandemic in 2020, IL casinos were closed from March 16 through June 30. That was the largest factor in a revenue drop of 73% from 2019 to 2020. Revenue numbers improved in 2021 to $1.187 billion, but were still impacted by the pandemic.

Revenue in 2022 was up 14% over 2021.

It should be noted that in 2022 there were 11 land-based Illinois casinos. From 2019 through 2021, there were 10 casinos open in the state.

Illinois casino attendance topped 9 million in 2022

Attendance at Illinois casinos also rebounded in 2022 to over 9 million visitors, but still fell 13% short of 2019 numbers, which topped 10 million.

Casino admissions by year were as follows:

2019 — 10,447,223
2020 — 2,414,690
2021 — 7,684,535
2022 — 9,099,798

Revenue to state and local authorities in 2022 was over $366 million

Total taxes returned to Illinois state and local authorities from casinos in 2022 were also up significantly compared to 2020 (up 307%) and 2021 (up 16%), but down 19% from 2019.

In 2022, casinos produced state taxes of nearly $290 million and local taxes of $76.5 million for a total of $366.5 million. While the 2022 local share of taxes was very similar in 2019, the state share alone that year was over $377 million for a total exceeding $455 million.

Why the significant downturn in taxes from casinos compared to 2019? Much of it is due to the fact that in July 2020 the taxation rate for casinos decreased slightly. The IGB reports the wagering tax on all casino gambling except table games is:

15% of adjusted gross revenue up to and including $25 million.
22.5% of AGR in excess of $25 million but not exceeding $50 million.
27.5% of AGR in excess of $50 million but not exceeding $75 million.
32.5% of AGR in excess of $75 million but not exceeding $100 million.
37.5% of AGR in excess of $100 million but not exceeding $150 million.
45% of AGR in excess of $150 million but not exceeding $200 million.
50% of AGR in excess of $200 million.

Table games are taxed as follows:

15% of AGR up to and including $25 million,
20% of AGR in excess of $25 million.

The state also taxes casinos based on admissions. The rates range from $3 to $5 per person depending on how many people the casino welcomed in the previous year.

Even more growth expected in 2023

Numbers are expected to surpass 2019 levels in 2023. Illinois is in the midst of a casino boom.

The Prairie State will likely welcome five new casinos and one larger one in 2023 to further drive revenue and place the state’s total number of casinos at 16:

The Temporary by American Place Casino in Waukegan is expected to open in January.
Golden Nugget Danville is scheduled to open in March 2023
The temporary Bally’s Chicago casino is scheduled to open at the Medinah Temple in June 2023
Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Williamson County is scheduled to open sometime in 2023
A permanent Hard Rock Rockford casino is scheduled to open late in 2023 (the Hard Rock: Opening Act temporary casino opened in 2021)
Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino on the border between Homewood and East Hazel Crest, IL is scheduled to open in late 2023 or early 2024

Also, racinos will be coming to both Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, IL and the FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing in Fairmount, IL, close to St. Louis.