Tag: VGT

Illinois Casino Revenue Reaches a Record $1.9 Billion in 2025
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Posted on: January 12, 2026, 09:38h.

Last updated on: January 12, 2026, 10:30h.
- Illinois casino revenue reached $1.9 billion in 2025
- 2025 was a record year for Illinois casinos
- Concerns about VGTs in Chicago overshadow Bally’s $1.7 billion investment
Gamblers in Illinois lost more money than ever before in 2025 at the state’s 17 physical casinos.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines again led the Illinois casino market in annual gaming revenue in 2025. The state’s 17 casinos won more than $1.9 billion on their physical slot machines and table games. (Image: Shutterstock)

The Illinois Gaming Board reports that 2025 gross gaming revenue (GGR), or the amount of money the casinos kept after paying out winnings, totaled $1,943,722,561.89. The bulk of the winnings, about $1.49 billion, came on slot machines. Table games accounted for the remaining $457.8 million.

The more than $1.9 billion in casino revenue represented a 15% increase from 2024, when GGR totaled approximately $1.7 billion. The 2025 mark represents a 29% jump from 2023 win of $1.5 billion, and a nearly 44% surge from 2019 prepandemic revenue of $1.35 billion.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines remained the top casino in Illinois. The casino jointly owned by Churchill Downs and Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming reported GGR of $503 million for a 26% state market share.

Wind Creek Chicago Southland, which opened in November 2024, was next at $198 million.

State, Chicago Gaming Expansion

2025 marked the first full year for Wind Creek Chicago Southland, a $529 million facility that was authorized through Illinois’ 2019 gaming expansion package. The bill, part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D) “Rebuild Illinois” initiative, authorized five casinos in the Chicago suburbs and an integrated resort casino destination in downtown Chicago.

Last year was also the first full year for Hard Rock Casino Rockford. Hard Rock generated 2025 GGR of $146.2 million to place third.

Caesars’ Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin was fourth at $142.2 million, and the Bally’s Chicago temporary casino at the Medinah Temple, also authorized through the 2019 gaming bill, was fifth with GGR of $124.7 million.

Bally’s continues to make headway on its $1.7 billion permanent casino in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Bally’s officials have an ambitious plan to open the resort by the end of the year.

The casino company continues to oppose efforts to allow slot-like video gaming terminals (VGTs) to come to the city proper. Chicago aldermen are pursuing VGTs as a much-needed revenue source, though Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) called the $16.6 billion budget passed by the City Council “morally bankrupt” because of relying on VGT gaming, among other things.

Through November, the most recently reported month, statewide VGT revenue in 2025 totaled more than $2.91 billion. In Aurora, one of the largest municipalities in the Chicago region with a population of about 200K people, 2025 VGT revenue in the city totaled more than $14.6 million.

Sports Concerns

While Illinois casino revenue continues to grow, there are concerns regarding the future of the state’s sports betting industry. As Casino.org’s Todd Shriber reported in November, the state’s recently implemented per-bet surcharge has led to fewer overall sports bets.

Illinois now imposes a 25-cent per-bet charge on a sportsbook’s first 20 million bets. The surcharge jumps to 50 cents after the operator exceeds 20 million bets in a year.

The Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition fighting for the expansion of sports gambling and favorable regulations, claims the per-bet charge led to five million fewer bets made in September 2025 than were placed in September 2024.
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Devin O’Connor

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January 12, 2026
Pennsylvania Bans Three Adults From Casinos
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Posted on: October 24, 2025, 05:29h.

Last updated on: October 23, 2025, 01:34h.
- Three adults in Pennsylvania lost their casino privileges after they left children unattended in their vehicles to gamble
- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has also announced fines against three licensees
Three more adults have been permanently excluded from brick-and-mortar casinos in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board recently banned three adults for leaving children unattended in their vehicles while they gambled inside a casino. The three adults have permanently lost their privileges to gamble inside a physical casino within the commonwealth. (Image: Shutterstock)

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) disclosed that it recently levied several financial penalties against its licensees. The state gaming regulatory agency additionally announced that three adults had been added to the PGCB’s Involuntary Casino Exclusion List.

In one incident, the state reports that a male and female patron left two children, aged 11 and 12, unattended in a vehicle outside of Hollywood Casino Morgantown. The PGCB detailed that the two guardians gambled inside the casino for more than half an hour while the children sat in the parking lot.

In another incident, a female patron left three children, aged 2, 6, and 12, in a vehicle in the parking lot of Hollywood Casino York. The unidentified person, who is now barred from entering all casinos in the commonwealth, reportedly gambled on slot machines and table games for almost half an hour.

Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children,” the PGCB said.

Pennsylvania is home to 17 physical casinos. The state is additionally one of only seven jurisdictions in the country where online slot machines and live dealer table games are legal. Pennsylvania is also home to online and in-person sports betting.

Regulatory Violations

Along with the unattended children incidents, the PGCB took action against a video gaming terminal (VGT) operator for regulatory violations.

The Lucky Seven Travel Plaza in Lock Haven, Clinton County, was fined after it was determined that the truck stop gaming area wasn’t compliant with the state’s VGT statute. Law enforcement determined that the Lucky Seven gaming room was, at times, not properly staffed with board-credentialed employees. Individuals not at least 21 years of age were allowed to access the gaming terminals, and on at least two occasions, minors gambled on the machines.

Vasas Inc., doing business as the Lucky Seven Travel Plaza, was fined $45K. The PGCB additionally fined the two owners of the facility $5K.

The PGCB also executed consent agreements with two casinos that resulted in fines.

Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia agreed to pay a $12K fine to settle a dispute regarding a compromised deck of cards being in play. Hollywood Casino York agreed to a $10K settlement after allowing an involuntarily excluded person access to the gaming floor.

September Revenue

Pennsylvania retail casino revenue slowed last month as physical slot win was about 3% lower and table win was flat from September 2024. The in-person declines were easily offset elsewhere, however, as iGaming slot revenue surged 37% and online table games climbed 18% from the prior year.

Along with sports betting, fantasy sports, VGTs, and online poker, total gross gaming revenue last month was $533.3 million. That represented a 5.4% improvement from September 2024, or a net positive difference of $27.5 million.
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Devin O’Connor

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October 24, 2025
Illinois Gaming Pioneer Rick Heidner Running for Governor
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Posted on: October 22, 2025, 12:11h.

Last updated on: October 22, 2025, 12:17h.
- Illinois VGT businessman Rick Heidner is running for governor
- Heidner has supported Democrats and Republicans, but will run as a Republican
- Gov. JB Pritzker is the early 2026 front-runner
One of Illinois’ most successful businessmen, whose wide-ranging interests include a major stake in the state’s slot-like video gaming terminals (VGT) industry, is seeking to replace one of the state’s wealthiest citizens as the top lawmaker in the Land of Lincoln.

Illinois businessman Rick Heidner is seeking to run on the Republican ticket to oust JB Pritzker as governor. Much of Heidner’s wealth stems from his video gaming terminal business, Gold Rush Gaming. (Image: Rick for Illinois)

Illinois is one of only 13 states without term limits on governors. Gov. JB Pritzker (D), whose mass wealth stems from his family’s ownership of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, plans to seek a third term in 2026.

Pritzker, worth an estimated $4 billion, will eagerly await his opponent as the Republican Primary plays out. The latest to throw his name in the GOP gubernatorial pool is Rick Heidner, 65, whose business empire includes Gold Rush Gaming.

Founded in 2012, Gold Rush Gaming operates over 700 VGT locations in Illinois, distributing thousands of the slot-like gaming terminals. The VGT host businesses include liquor stores, truck stops and gas stations, hotels, restaurants and bars, and fraternal organizations.

In a D-I Statement of Organization filing made public this week by the Illinois State Board of Elections, Heidner registered a new political action committee to support his candidacy to become governor.

Gaming Magnate Has Various Businesses

Heidner’s Gold Rush is the third-largest VGT operator in Illinois. As of September, the Illinois Gaming Board said there were 8,758 VGT establishments with a combined 49,552 machines. Accel Entertainment is by far the largest VGT firm in Illinois, with 2,775 locations.

Along with Gold Rush, Heidner’s business conglomerate entails managing over 280 commercial properties in the US. He also owns Prairie State Energy and Ricky Rockets Fuel Centers.

Heidner’s betting big that his next venture will be in an elected position. His state campaign filing for “Rick for Illinois” shows the committee was formed with a $1 million contribution from Heidner. He lists his occupation as “real estate developer – entrepreneur.”

Heidner hasn’t yet responded to numerous media inquiries for comment.

In the past, Heidner has given money to both Democrats and Republicans. He contributed to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2023 election and the Democratic campaigns for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Heidner also supported Republican Richard Irvin’s failed 2022 gubernatorial bid. Irvin was the mayor of Aurora from 2017 through May 2025.

GOP Faces Long Odds in Illinois

Pritzker is expected to run unchallenged on the Democratic ticket. Along with Heidner, the 2026 Illinois Republican Primary pool includes declared candidates Darren Bailey, a former state senator, and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick.

Whomever is the GOP nominee will face long odds of upsetting the incumbent. Since 2003, Republicans have occupied the governor’s office for just four years (Gov. Bruce Rauner, January 2015 – January 2019).

Illinois hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
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Devin O’Connor

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October 22, 2025
Chicago Video Gaming Terminals Could Violate Bally’s Contract
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Posted on: September 17, 2025, 01:50h.

Last updated on: September 17, 2025, 01:58h.
- Chicago is considering allowing slot-like video gaming terminals
- VGTs could threaten the city’s casino contract with Bally’s
- Chicago is facing a $1.5 billion budget deficit
Slot-like video gaming terminals (VGTs) are a step closer to being authorized in Chicago.

The entrance to the temporary Bally’s Chicago inside the Medinah Temple is seen. Chicago continues to mull the legalization of slot-like video gaming terminals, but VGTs could violate Bally’s agreement with the City of Chicago. (Image: X)

On Tuesday, the City of Chicago Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted 8-6 in favor of an ordinance that would allow certain businesses to pursue VGTs. Illinois’ VGT law allows businesses holding a valid liquor license to house between six and 10 gaming machines.

Small businesses can have up to six VGTs, while truck stops can have 10. All businesses must be at least 1,000 feet from a casino or racetrack.

Chicago has long banned VGTs, but with the Windy City continuing to face severe fiscal issues, including a budget deficit of $1.15 billion, some city lawmakers are motioning to legalize the gaming terminals.

Are we to just sit back and look down the barrel of a $1.5 billion deficit with nothing in sight, or are we to look for additional revenues that don’t affect everyone like property taxes, people driving down the street with tickets, being hit every other day?” asked Alderman Anthony Beale, who represents the 9th Ward. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Ward’s comments.

“Are we going to turn a blind eye on $60 million to $100 million? Or are we going to be creative to do something a little different, something the city has never done before?” Beale questioned.

Mayor Opposition

A study commissioned by the city forecast that Chicago could receive more than $67.2 million annually from the legalization of VGTs. Illinois levies a 35% tax on VGT gross gaming revenue, with about one-sixth, or 5.8%, returned to the machine’s local government.

The VGT forecast doesn’t take into account any possible net loss in revenue to the city from other sources, mainly the Bally’s Casino. The temporary casino is operating at the Medinah Temple while the permanent $2 billion resort is being built at the former Freedom Center newspaper publishing plant.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was previously open to VGTs but now opposes their authorization, says the city doesn’t have a spending problem, though spending continues to increase with pension funding problems.

“We do not have a spending problem in Chicago. We have a revenue challenge in Chicago,” Johnson said this week.

Bally’s Contract

Bally’s was deemed the winner of Chicago’s downtown casino bidding in May 2022. The City Council picked Bally’s over pitches from Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming and Hard Rock International.

There are legal concerns that if Chicago authorizes VGTs, the city’s Host Community Agreement with Bally’s could be violated. The terms include assurances that the city won’t allow a second casino to open and won’t authorize any other “mode of lawful gaming” other than what is currently allowed.

Carl Gutierrez, vice president of government relations for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said VGTs would be a “clear violation” of the Bally’s contract and would “send a message” that the City of Chicago “is not a reliable partner.”
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Devin O’Connor

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September 17, 2025