Legalized igaming in Illinois
iGaming is already happening in Illinois, operating under legal loopholes and making massive profits while robbing the state of hundreds of millions in potential annual tax revenue.
- Illinois is facing a budget shortfall of $3 billion, but legalizing iGaming could bring $450 million in tax revenue in just the first year — and eventually generate up to $1 billion a year.
- Since 2017, Illinois has lost out on over $1.7 billion in projected tax revenue from iGaming that could have been used to make schools better, streets safer, and help stabilize the budget.
- Legalizing iGaming in Illinois regulates the industry, protects players, and unlocks new tax revenue.
“In a tough budget year, you’re looking at ways to increase revenue. This is one tool for that….there is enough business to go around. We should do everything we can to shut down the illegal market.”
The Sun-Times reports that, “seven other states that have authorized internet gambling in recent years have seen significant tax windfalls.”
New Jersey and Pennsylvania alone pulled in a combined $108 million in revenue just from legal iGaming in 2024.
Online Casino Games
Unregulated online casino platforms are exploding in popularity across the United States. A recent Washington Post investigation detailed how unregulated iGaming platforms – like Chumba and VGW, Stake, and WOW – evade U.S. gaming laws and safeguards that prevent minors from gaining access and dodge billions in tax revenue that states could use to fund important priorities.
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Proponents estimate the state would rake in $450 million in new tax revenue within a year of allowing Illinoisans to play casino games on their mobile devices, eventually generating up to $800 million a year
In the eyes of many gaming corporations, not to mention lawsuit plaintiffs and state regulators, sweepstakes casinos act as traditional casinos, only without the oversight, consumer protections and tax laws
Millions of Americans are betting real money on online casino games marketed as “sweepstakes.” Users, regulators and the casino industry are fighting back
A report prepared by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming LLC, an independent research and consulting firm, presents four forecasting scenarios for the legal Illinois online casino market and finds market size and tax revenue is largest in scenarios where product offerings are least restricted
Empirical analysis of survey responses demonstrate that iGaming and land-based gaming serve different, complementary purposes