Illinois casinos started Fiscal Year 2025 strong.
July revenue kept pace with prior months and slightly outpaced year-over-year totals.
Illinois’ 15 casinos combined for $135.8 million in adjusted gross receipts in July. That’s close to the $138.3 million that casinos totaled in June, which brought Fiscal Year 2024 to a close with more than $1.6 billion in revenue. July’s revenue was around 2% better than last July, when casinos collected $133.3 million.
For the 2024 calendar year, the strong summer has brought the revenue total to more than $956.3 million, compared to just $864.3 million for the first seven months of 2023.
Illinois online casinos remain illegal or the number would be even higher.
Rivers Casino far out front in July
Once again, Rivers Casino led the way with a bit more than $41.5 million in adjusted gross receipts (AGR) in June. Around $26.6 million came from slots and about $15 million from table games. As in June, the casino’s year-over-year totals were down, with July suffering close to a 12% drop from a year earlier.
Grand Victoria held second position for July as it did the prior month, bringing in $11.3 million. That was down about 10% from the $12.6 million AGR the prior July.
Harrah’s Joliet came close to overtaking Grand Victoria for the second-highest haul, collecting $10.9 million. Bally’s Chicago once again cleared the $10 million mark, collecting $10.4 million in July.
Table games from the 15 casinos this past month generated more than $30.6 million in AGR, slightly off the pace of the prior July’s $32.3 million. However, electronic gaming machines, like slots, made up the difference in July. Revenue from slots totaled about $105.2 million, outpacing last July’s $100.9 million.
Two new Illinois casinos will boost revenue
Changes that could positively impact casino revenue in the months ahead are on the horizon.
The Hard Rock Casino Rockford, which brought in $5.9 million in July, was doing so from a temporary casino that’s been operating for close to three years. With a permanent location opening Aug. 29, Rockford’s increased gaming capacity should show up in September’s report and in subsequent months.
A new casino will also join the 15 operating casinos in the state. Wind Creek Southland Chicago is slated to open in the fall.
