The Illinois Gaming Board has released new data that reflects casino revenue trends throughout the past decade, according to a local report in The Center Square. The gaming board’s report showed that the state’s casino revenue has declined by $200m during the last ten years.
The downward trend began during 2012, when sports betting locations and video gaming machines started launching throughout the state, according to the data.
With the addition of video gaming machines, Illinois has reported rising activity in its terminals. Data from 2022 reflected a dramatic increase in video gaming machine revenue. During the year, revenue from video gaming nearly doubled when compared to figures from 2019.
Video gaming terminals in 2022 raked in close to $762m.
Players can currently wager on video poker and slot machines across the state, due to the increasing access to terminals in both restaurants and local bars.
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s spokesperson commented to The Center Square on the potential effect video gaming revenue could have on the city and explained the importance of legalizing these machines.
The spokesperson said regarding Johnson’s views, “He is a supporter of legalized video gambling as an important revenue source for critical investments in public safety, transportation, housing and other public accommodations.”
Along with video gaming machine activity, the state has reported a surge in sports betting during 2022. During the fiscal year, Illinois generated a total gaming revenue of close to $1.9bn, coming close to the largest in the state’s history. Last year’s total revenue was 39% higher than results posted in 2021.
