Illinois Casino Revenue Jumps 9.2% in May, Fueled by New Gaming Properties
Posted on: June 15, 2026, 12:25h.
Last updated on: June 16, 2026, 05:23h.
- Illinois Gaming Board reports $192.8 million in revenues from the state’s casinos in May
- Rivers Casino leads the way, with $48.7 million in total revenues
- Slots generate the bulk of revenues across the state’s 17 land-based casinos
Illinois’ 17 casinos generated $192.8 million in revenues in May, a 9.2% year-over-year increase, according to the Illinois Gaming Board.
Slots See the Bulk of Revenue
Rivers Casino led the pack, pulling in $48.7 million—a 7.2% year-over-year increase—across its 78,500-square-foot gaming floor. Wind Creek Chicago Southland followed at $21.2 million, translating to a 14% year-over-year jump for the sprawling 81,260-square-foot facility.
Meanwhile, Hard Rock Casino Rockford generated $13.8 million (up 3.5%), while Hollywood Casino Joliet recorded a massive 73% year-over-year surge, bringing in $13.2 million.
Slots made up the bulk of the total state revenues, at $146.5 million, with table games coming in at $46.2 million.
Rivers Casino Leads the Charge
Rivers Casino, located just outside Chicago, near the O’Hare International Airport, saw over 266,000 people walk through its turnstiles in May, with over 177,400 visiting Wind Creek Chicago Southland, 20 miles south of downtown Chicago.
Hard Rock Casino Rockford saw over 121,000 people visit the property, 75 miles northwest of Chicago. Over 101,000 people visited Hollywood Casino Joliet, located 40 miles southwest of Chicago.
While the 73% increase in business year over year at Hollywood Casino Joliet was impressive, it wasn’t No. 1 in that category. That went to Fairmount Park, just east of St. Louis, which came in at $2.4 million, up from $1.2 million in May 2025, a 106% increase.
Three Casinos Saw Revenue Decreases
Hollywood Casino Aurora, 40 miles west of Chicago, DraftKings at Casino Queen, across from downtown St. Louis, and Argosy Casino Alton, 25 miles north of St. Louis, all saw declines in revenue in May.
Argosy, with 23,000 square feet of space, went from $3.2 million in May 2025 to $3.1 million this past May.
Hollywood Casino Aurora, with over 41,000 of casino floor space, went from $9.6 million to $8.3 million, and DraftKings at Casino Queen (40,000 square feet) went from $7.93 million to $7.89 million.
The newest land-based casino properties to open up in Illinois are Hollywood Casino Joliet, which opened in 2025, Wind Creek Chicago Southland, which opened its doors in 2024, and Hard Rock Casino Rockford, also opening in 2024.
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