Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has stated that the state is preparing to legalize and regulate real-money iGaming within its borders, thereby expanding its already thriving gambling market.
The Attorney General joined a meeting of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States. He said that online casino gaming is the next type of gambling to be approved in Illinois. He explained that this is a logical next step for the state. Illinois already has one of the biggest gaming markets in the country. Expanding online gambling makes sense after legalizing sports betting.
Well-Established Gaming Market
The state of Illinois is one of the most extensive and thriving gambling markets in the United States, featuring land-based casino venues, riverboat casinos, mobile sports betting platforms, a state-run lottery, and thousands of video lottery terminals throughout the state.
With such a well-developed gambling landscape, online casinos appear to be the final piece needed to complete the comprehensive gaming offerings.
Illinois generated approximately $1.7 billion in taxes related to the state’s gambling scene in 2024. The AG also confirmed that they expect this amount to increase in 2025.
With such a developed gambling scene, the voices against the regulation of iGaming come as no surprise. In fact, in Illinois, politicians are not expressing concerns about online casino gambling being a threat to society or religious values. Politicians are concerned that the new vertical would harm land-based casinos and potentially lead to job losses.
Only New York surpasses Illinois in sports betting revenue, placing Illinois firmly in second place. Therefore, if the state passes laws that regulate and permit real-money online casinos, it would likely generate the most income of all US states where iGaming is legal.
Filling the Budget with iGaming Revenue
Illinois has one of the biggest budget problems in the country. To fix this, the state turned to gambling. Gambling gives the state a steady way to make money. The state already raised the tax on sports betting. Now, lawmakers see online casinos as a new income source.
Kwame Raoul believes iGaming will soon become legal in Illinois. He expects lawmakers to consider it in 2026. Sports betting has shown lawmakers how gambling can boost state income. They now understand that online casinos can bring in more tax money.
The state will not be the only winner. Players will also benefit from safe and legal casino sites. They will no longer need to use risky offshore gambling websites.
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