Illinois Casinos Post Double-Digit Gains; Multiple Openings

Illinois’ land-based casinos delivered strong revenue gains this summer, posting back-to-back months of double-digit growth that stand in contrast to slower expansion in much of the U.S. gaming market. According to the Illinois Gaming Board, the state’s 17 casinos generated $167.5 million in gross gaming revenue in July, a 23.3% increase from the same month in 2024. August revenues climbed even higher, reaching $174 million—up 24.3% year-over-year. These results highlight the continued strength of Illinois’ brick-and-mortar gaming sector, which has benefited from both new developments and expansions of existing properties at a time when other states are seeing more modest gains or relying on online gaming to fuel growth.

The sharp increases underscore Illinois’ unusual trajectory in the national casino market. While several states are leaning on internet wagering to drive results, Illinois’ growth is tied almost entirely to the expansion of physical casino floors and the debut of new properties. The openings of Wind Creek Chicago Southland in November 2024 and the expanded racino at Fairmount Park in June 2025 have injected fresh momentum into the state’s gaming economy. Analysts suggest that these developments have attracted both new players and repeat visitors, helping the state buck broader trends that have seen older or smaller venues struggle to maintain consistent revenue growth.

 

Casino	July 2025 ($M)	July 2024 ($M)	August 2025 ($M)	August 2024 ($M)	YoY Change (Aug)
Rivers Casino Des Plaines	44.0	?	42.0	43.5	-3.7%
Wind Creek Chicago Southland	18.8	?	17.1	?	?
Hard Rock Casino Rockford	?	?	13.0	5.7	129.5%
Hollywood Casino Joliet	4.2	?	11.2	?	?
Harrah’s Joliet	10.6	?	11.0	?	?

Top Performers and Market Shifts

Rivers Casino Des Plaines continued to dominate the market in July with more than $44 million in revenue, more than double its nearest competitor, Wind Creek Chicago Southland, which generated $18.8 million. Other casinos lagged behind, with most reporting totals below $13 million. Not all operators benefited equally, however. Hollywood Casino Joliet saw revenues fall 44% to $4.2 million after shuttering its longtime riverboat operation on July 29.

The decline reflected a temporary gap between the closure of the riverboat and the opening of its new $185 million land-based facility, which features 1,000 slot machines, 43 table games, an ESPN Bet sportsbook, and a Giada De Laurentiis restaurant. Harrah’s Joliet also posted a modest decline, slipping 3% to $10.6 million, reflecting localized shifts in patron traffic and competition from new nearby venues.

August told a slightly different story. Rivers again led with $42 million in revenue but posted its first annual decline, down 3.7% from $43.5 million in August 2024. In contrast, Hard Rock Casino Rockford experienced the strongest year-over-year growth, surging 129.5% after transitioning from a temporary facility to its permanent site. Other strong performers in August included Wind Creek ($17.1 million), Grand Victoria Casino ($12.6 million), Bally’s Chicago ($11.3 million), Hollywood Casino Joliet ($11.2 million), Harrah’s Joliet ($11 million), and Full House Resorts Illinois ($11 million). The pattern suggests that both newly opened and expanded properties were key drivers of the state’s record-setting gains, attracting higher foot traffic and encouraging longer player engagement across slot and table games.

Slot machines continued to serve as the backbone of Illinois’ casino revenue. In July, slots generated approximately $127.6 million, compared with less than $40 million from table games. The pattern continued in August, when slots brought in $137 million, a 28.3% increase year-over-year, while table games produced $37 million, up 11.4% from the previous year. Industry analysts note that expanded slot floors, particularly at Wind Creek and Hard Rock Rockford, have increased both the number of machines available and the variety of betting options, which in turn has boosted overall revenue. Table games also benefited, though to a lesser degree, reflecting incremental growth in live play as casinos attract higher-stakes players seeking a more immersive experience.

Illinois’ results stand out against national patterns, where many states rely heavily on online gambling to drive revenue. In New Jersey, for example, brick-and-mortar casinos rose only 6.1% in June, while online gaming lifted total revenue by 18.4%. Pennsylvania and Michigan reported similar trends, where internet wagering accounted for the majority of growth, and Nevada, which is more reliant on in-person gaming, recorded just 3.5% growth that month. By contrast, Illinois’ double-digit increases were derived almost entirely from land-based operations, underscoring the effectiveness of recent property openings and expansions in attracting and retaining customers.

 

Illinois’ land-based casinos are showing unprecedented growth, with new properties and expanded floors driving revenue gains unmatched in the national market.

 

Regulatory Future

Regulators in Illinois continue to prioritize brick-and-mortar operations while addressing the risks posed by unauthorized online platforms. The Illinois Gaming Board has issued cease-and-desist notices to unlicensed sites including Bovada, Kalshi, and BetOnline. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are considering legislation to ban online sweepstakes casinos. These measures reflect a broader strategy to maintain the integrity and profitability of physical casino operations, ensuring that growth in the sector remains sustainable and legally compliant.

With two consecutive months of more than 20% year-over-year gains, Illinois has positioned itself as one of the fastest-growing land-based casino markets in the country. New facilities, expanded gaming floors, and targeted regulatory efforts have helped drive both player traffic and revenue growth. Looking ahead, further developments such as Boyd Gaming’s planned replacement of its Par-A-Dice riverboat in East Peoria are expected to maintain momentum, although disputes over location and approvals remain unresolved. Overall, the combination of new investment, property modernization, and strategic oversight suggests that Illinois’ casino industry is likely to sustain its growth trajectory into 2026, even as much of the U.S. industry sees expansion shift increasingly online.