Illinois Casinos Return To Normal After Two Difficult Pandemic Years

Casinos in Illinois are resuming normal operations after two challenging years due to the pandemic. This is evident from the year-to-date figures comparison from 2019 to this year.

The Illinois Gaming Board reported in 2019 that the adjusted gross revenue for the ten casinos in Illinois amounted to $778 million up until July.

The onset of the pandemic in 2020 led to the closure of IL casinos from March 16 till June 30. This significantly contributed to a 55% decline in revenue, as compared to the previous year’s year-to-date figures. Despite this, casino revenue still surpassed $333 million by July 2020.

In 2021, there was a slight improvement in the numbers, despite the pandemic restrictions which undoubtedly prevented some casino gamblers from leaving their homes. The revenue for 2021 was over $650 million, representing a 95% increase from 2020.

So far this year, up until July, the revenue from casinos has exceeded $773 million, with 11 casinos currently in operation. This figure is only 0.5% less than the revenue from 2019, which is considered the last “normal” comparable year.

Illinois casino attendance has also rebounded

In 2022, the overall attendance at the 10 casinos in Illinois has also largely recovered.

The figures up to 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

Illinois taxpayers can take comfort in the news that the revenue returned to state and local authorities from casinos is rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. However, as of July, the state’s share is still 23% lower in comparison to the year-to-date numbers from the first seven months of 2019. The local share, on the other hand, is down by a slight 2% compared to 2019.

From January to July 2019, the state’s portion of casino revenue exceeded $175 million, while the local share was close to $45 million. In comparison, the same period in 2022 saw the state and local shares reaching nearly $136 million and almost $44 million, respectively.

In 2020, the share from the state was approximately $51 million, reflecting a decrease of 71% from 2019, while the local share exceeded $19 million, showing a fall of 58% from the previous year.

Through July of last year, the state contributed over $109 million and the local contribution was close to $37 million.

Even more growth expected ahead

It is expected that numbers will soon surpass those of 2019. Meanwhile, Illinois is currently experiencing a surge in casino growth.

Plans are in the works to establish new gambling halls in Danville, Waukegan, Williamson Country, and the South Suburbs. Additionally, a significant Bally’s casino is being planned for downtown Chicago. A temporary casino is predicted to open in 2023 at Chicago’s Medinah Temple.

Additionally, both the Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, IL and the FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing in Fairmount, IL, which is near St. Louis, have racinos.

Ranking Illinois casinos by revenue

As of July 2022, the revenue ranking of casinos in Illinois is as follows:

1. Rivers Casino — $294,147,012
2. $90,007,732 – Grand Victoria Casino
3. Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel: $79,395,565
4. Aurora’s Hollywood Casino – $58,853,625
5. Hollywood Casino Joliet – $51,368,201.
6. Casino Queen’s DraftKings – $46,834,834.68
7. Casino Harrah’s Metropolis – $36,932,706
8. Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino has a total worth of $35,647,924.
9. Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel has a value of $31,131,054.
10. Rockford Hard Rock Casino – $30,504,280
11. Alton Argosy Casino – $18,340,113