J.B. Pritzker has proposed a $57 billion state budget that would significantly raise table game tax rates for non-Chicago casinos, potentially reshaping the revenue landscape for major operators.
Under the plan, table game taxes would align with the graduated framework currently applied to slot revenue, introducing tiers that escalate from 15 percent to as high as 50 percent of adjusted gross revenue.
The proposal would most heavily affect Rivers Casino, which generated $183.3 million in table game adjusted gross revenue last year and would see its rate climb from 20 percent to 45 percent.
That shift would more than double Rivers’ 2025 table tax bill from $36.6 million to approximately $82.3 million, materially altering its cost structure despite its position as the state’s top-performing casino.
Limited Reach But Significant Revenue Boost
Only three casinos would qualify for higher thresholds based on 2025 performance, including Wind Creek Casino and Grand Victoria Casino, both of which would move to a 22.5 percent rate under the revised structure.
State officials estimate the measure would generate approximately $120 million in additional annual revenue, reinforcing Illinois’ recent pattern of increasing gaming-related taxation to bolster fiscal resources.
In 2025, Illinois casinos posted a record $1.9 billion in total adjusted gross revenue, representing a 15 percent increase from the prior year and underscoring the sector’s strong recovery and expansion.
Broader Pattern Of Gaming Tax Adjustments
Recent years have seen repeated adjustments to Illinois’ gaming framework, particularly in online sports betting, where lawmakers replaced a flat 15 percent rate with a graduated scale ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent.
The state also introduced a per-wager tax structure, generating $60 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2026, exceeding earlier projections and providing lawmakers with evidence of fiscal success.
Chicago Developments Add Further Complexity
While the new table tax would not apply to Chicago’s distinct framework, the city’s gaming environment remains fluid as Bally’s Corporation works toward opening its $1.8 billion permanent casino facility.
Legislative proposals could extend construction deadlines, while debates over city-level sports betting taxes and the legalization of video gaming terminals continue to create uncertainty for operators and investors.
Together, the proposed table tax increase and ongoing policy shifts highlight Illinois’ evolving approach to gambling revenue, balancing fiscal ambitions with the competitive realities facing casino and sportsbook operators statewide.
