Illinois video gaming revenue outstrips casinos

Figures released by Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows the following results:

Horse racing: $6 million
Riverboat casinos: $270 million
Video gaming: $296 million
Lottery: $738 million

The report also says:

“In FY 2017, the State’s share of tax revenues from wagering in Illinois reached $1.310 billion, a 7.9% increase from FY 2016 levels. The continued growth in video gaming tax revenues paid into the Capital Projects Fund ($44 million increase in FY 2017 to $296 million) and the increase ($58 million) in lottery transfers was more than enough to offset the $7 million loss in riverboat gaming transfers. [Although, it should be mentioned that the timing of lottery transfers falling into FY 2017 combined with disappointing FY 2016 levels creates a misleading level of growth for lottery transfers in FY 2017]. Horse racing related State revenues continued its downward trend generating only $6 million.

“Statewide adjusted gross receipts (AGR) for Illinois riverboats in FY 2017 were down 1.6% from FY 2016 levels, while admissions declined 5.8%. Modest increases in AGR at the casinos in Aurora and Des Plaines were offset by AGR declines at the other eight Illinois casinos. State revenues generated from riverboat gambling totaled $393.0 million in FY 2017, which was a 1.9% decline from FY 2016 levels. Increased competition from video gaming continues to be a major contributing factor for these declines”.

“Before the addition of Des Plaines, in FY 2011, Illinois had the lowest amount of gaming revenue (in terms of AGR) of the casino‐operating states in the Midwest. The addition of the casino in Des Plaines allowed Illinois to rise ahead of Iowa between FY 2012 and FY 2015. But five consecutive years of declining revenues ‐ii‐ has Illinois ($1.406 billion in FY 2017) again trailing Iowa ($1.453 billion), in addition to Missouri ($1.719 billion) and Indiana ($2.130 billion). “