Revenue At Illinois Casinos Rebounds After Two Tough Pandemic Years

Illinois casinos are returning to normal following two difficult pandemic years. That’s the story from the numbers comparing the year-to-date figures from 2019 through this year.

In 2019, the Illinois Gaming Board listed adjusted gross revenue for the 10 Illinois casinos through July as $778 million.

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 55% comparing the year-to-date figures for 2020 with the year prior. In 2020 through July, casino revenue was over $333 million.

The numbers improved slightly in 2021, though pandemic restrictions obviously kept some casino gamblers home. In 2021, revenue checked in at over $650 million, up 95% over 2020.

This year, through July, casino revenue is over $773 million (there are now 11 casinos). That’s down just 0.5% from the last “normal” comparable year in 2019.

Illinois casino attendance has also rebounded

The combined attendance at Illinois’ 10 casinos has also mostly rebounded in 2022.

The numbers through July are as follows:

2019 — 5,998,667
2020 — 2,528,509
2021 — 4,076,174
2022 — 5,157,897

Revenue to state and local authorities also improving

The good news for Illinois taxpayers is the return to state and local authorities from casinos is also returning to pre-pandemic levels. Though, the state share is still off 23% through July as compared with 2019’s year-to-date numbers for the first seven months, The local share is down just 2% compared to 2019.

In 2019 through July, the state share of casino revenue was over $175 million and the local share was almost $45 million. That compares to almost $136 million and nearly $44 million in 2022, respectively, through the first seven months.

In 2020, the state share was some $51 million (down 71% from 2019) and the local share was over $19 million (down 58% from the year prior).

Last year through July, the state share was over $109 million and the local share was nearly $37 million.

Even more growth expected ahead

Numbers are expected to soar past 2019 levels before too long. Illinois is in the midst of a casino boom.

New gambling halls are planned for Danville, Waukegan, Williamson Country and the South Suburbs. And the granddaddy of then — a huge Bally’s casino — is being planned for downtown Chicago. A temporary casino is expected to be open in Chicago’s Medinah Temple in 2023.

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