(WAND) - At the Illinois Gaming Board’s first meeting of the year, it reported that the State and local governments earned more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue from Illinois’ 16 licensed casinos, 8,700 video gaming terminals, and 14 operating sportsbooks in 2024.
This is excluding December sports wagering numbers.
The total revenue from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, is
- State taxes - $1,458,074,226
- Local taxes -$269,982,126
- Total taxes - $1,728,056,352
As we approach the Super Bowl, here are two reminders to help Illinois fans enjoy the game in a safe, responsible, and legal manner,” said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “For those who intend to bet on the Super Bowl or any sports, please gamble responsibly by staying within your limits and be sure to only wager with approved Illinois licensees. Take care to stay away from unlicensed actors who inaccurately portray their sports wagering contests, casino games or slot machine products as something other than gambling. Don’t be fooled or scammed by these unregulated operators.”
The IGB website provides information about responsible gambling and how to enroll in the IGB’s voluntary self-exclusion program.
You can visit the IGB’s website for a list of legal Illinois sportsbook operators.
Anyone who believes they or a loved one has a gambling problem should visit the IGB website for information about the IGB's Self-Exclusion Program and Are You Really Winning - Illinois Helpline (helplineil.org) for information about the Illinois Department of Human Services Division. Problem gambling counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (800-426-2537) or by texting GAMB to 833234.
During the IGB meeting, the Board also acted under Sports Wagering Rule 1130 to permanently prohibit certain bets at the request of the National Football League. A copy of the final Board order is available here. Rule 1130 allows sports leagues, governing bodies, teams, and colleges to petition the Board to prohibit certain wager types that are contrary to public policy, unfair to consumers, or negatively affect the integrity of a particular sport or Illinois sports wagering.
"Protecting sports integrity, match integrity, and the integrity of sports wagering are overlapping and interconnected responsibilities among leagues, teams, sports wagering operators, regulators, and law enforcement,” IGB Administrator Fruchter said. “I urge any sport governing body, association, league, or team to avail itself of the IGB’s Rule 1130 process – as Major League Soccer and the NFL have done – if you believe certain wagering poses risks to your sport, your athletes or consumers.”
The Board also renewed the casino owners’ license for Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises LLC d/b/a Harrah’s Metropolis Casino in Metropolis and approved of casino ownership transfers related to the merger between Bally’s Corporation and Standard General L.P. These ownership transfers involved three Illinois casino licensees – DraftKings at Casino in East St. Louis, Bally’s Chicago Casino, and Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel in Rock Island.
The Board also took the following regulatory actions:
Issued casino approvals for:
- 97 Level 2, and 180 Level 3 occupational licenses
- 5 level 1 license approvals
Denied occupational licenses for:
- 6 occupational licenses
Approved video gaming licenses for:
- 96 video gaming locations
- 117 terminal handlers and 5 technicians
- 2 terminal operator licenses
- One video gaming location applicant
- One recission of a prior video gaming location denial
- One Economic Disassociation Order
- One Level 1 sports wagering occupational license
- 112 Level 2 sports wagering occupational licenses
- One Management Services Provider License and one Supplier License for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook
