A state that could see some new gaming updates soon, Illinois’ gaming scene is perhaps on the verge of a shakeup, a prominent state figure says. Per a recent article, Illinois will “at some point” legalize real money online casino gaming, the state’s attorney general predicted earlier this month. In the article, Illinois is set to legalize iGaming as part of its continued gaming expansions of recent years, Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in the release. Speaking at a meeting of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, Raoul predicted iCasinos would be among the next wave of expansion in a state that already is one of the nation’s largest gaming markets. Moreover, Raoul served nearly 15 years in the state legislature before he was elected Attorney General in 2018.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news and notes coming from Illinois, along with some additional notes and information pertaining to the region.
Though he can no longer vote on legislation directly in his current role, Raoul indicated during the meeting he was bullish on potential iGaming expansion, the report says. The attorney general, though, gave no timeline projection on passing the iGaming legalization legislation. State lawmakers are unlikely to consider any such legislation in 2025, but could take up a bill when the 2026 legislative session begins in January of next year.
In the past three decades, Illinois has become one of America’s most expansive gaming markets, the report notes. The state has land-based and riverboat casinos, a state lottery, legal mobile sportsbooks, and thousands of video lottery terminal video gaming machine locations. These entities generated roughly $1.7 billion in tax dollars in 2024, a figure set to increase in 2025, Raoul said. The state has increasingly turned to gambling as it perennially faces one of the country’s most significant budget deficits. Online casino gaming, advocates argue, would be another revenue stream. For instance, after launching mobile sportsbooks in 2020, lawmakers have considered Illinois online casino gaming legalization. Digital slots and table games generate significantly more operator and tax revenue than mobile sportsbooks in states with both these offerings, per the same article.
Politically, these games have been more controversial in Illinois and nationwide. Thirty-nine states have approved sports betting in some form, while only seven have legal iCasinos. In Illinois, political opposition is not centered on religious or societal worries but on the impact on existing brick-and-mortar gaming.
Going off the last point, studies have shown varied impacts of online gaming on in-person revenues, and concerns remain from many land-based casino operators. This mainly stems from the thought that online casino gaming will hurt existing operators’ bottom lines and cost some employees their jobs. Illinois is the second-highest grossing sports betting market, behind only New York. It would likely be the country’s highest-grossing iGaming market if legalized, potentially generating tens of billions of dollars in annual bets and hundreds of millions of dollars in operator revenue and taxes.
Also covered in the article, discussions around Illinois’ iGaming come as the state has passed significant tax increases in each of the past two years, the article notes. Illinois created a tiered tax system in 2024 that raised taxes at certain revenue thresholds. Earlier this year, policymakers passed a tax on each individual bet placed with that number also increasing at different levels. These taxes most directly affect FanDuel and DraftKings, the state’s two revenue and handle leaders, which combined accept roughly three-fourths of all legal bets placed in the state. Each book announced they would pass on the tax to bettors, which has also been matched by Fanatics.
The operators, not surprisingly, have opposed the tax limits on sports betting, the report points out. However, aside from new fees on bettors, they have made no other significant moves or plans to leave the state. Legal online slots and table games, with their significantly higher margins, could make these levies far more palatable for gaming industry stakeholders. Indeed as the world turns, it will be interesting to see what kind of direction iGaming goes from here in the state as the different lawmakers in Illinois look for more long-term revenue solutions. That said, when looking at other states, there is not one easy answer when it comes to overall gaming legalization. There will definitely be some more twists and turns here.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gambling news and notes coming from the state of Illinois, make sure to check out the excellent array of info for you at SBS. Of course, for even more updates on the topic in this report, the sports betting in Illinois guide has your back with all of the latest gaming updates coming from the area. Additionally, for those interested in maximizing their wagers and qualify, look no further than the best bonus betting sites rundown. On this page, you can find a catalogue of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers, which are fantastic for getting the most out of your wagers. Finally, for those who are eligible and interested, the BetOnline sportsbook review guide is a must-read page that goes over the perks of the site and how you can use it to your advantage.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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