Illinois Casino Revenues Up 24.3% in August, Three Charged With Theft Gambling Machines

Illinois’ commercial casinos reported a 24.3% year-on-year revenue rise in August, from $140 million last year to $174 million in August 2025. 

The state regulator, the Illinois Gaming Board, has published its monthly numbers, which show slots generated the highest revenue of $137 million, up 28.3% from $106.8 million in August 2024. Table games also saw a double-digit increase year-on-year of 11.4%, with revenue rising from $33.3 million to $37 million. 

Revenue generated in August was also up on a month-by-month comparison. The month’s revenue was up 5% on July’s combined figure of $165.7 million. 

Big Gains for Hard Rock Casino

The biggest winner over the last year appears to be Hard Rock Casino Rockford, which more than doubled its revenue from $5.7 million in August 2024 to $13 million this year. 

Hollywood Casino Joliet also showed a big rise of 46.7% year-over-year to $11.1 million, while Danville, FHR-Illinois, and Harrah’s Metropolis also reported revenue increases of more than 15%.

While the figures show impressive growth in the sector year-on-year, they are slightly inflated by the returns for Wind Creek and Fairmount Park, neither of which was operating last August. Discounting their contribution, total revenue was up 11% year-on-year. 

Chicago Trio Charged Over Video Gambling Machine Theft 

While the regulated casino sector in the state has been thriving, state officials have been tackling a three-man crime spree that targeted gambling venues.

Three Chicago-area men have been charged with stealing more than $500,000 from video gambling machines across multiple suburbs, according to the Illinois attorney general’s office.

It is alleged that the three men carried out 16 burglaries between August 2024 and May 2025. The burglaries were focused on the suburbs of Chicago. Among the targets was a gambling parlor in Wheeling, a gas station in Addison, and a restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace, along with a string of other businesses in DuPage, Cook, Lake, and Will counties. All three are now facing theft and burglary charges, with two men being charged with theft between $500,000 and $1 million. 

Speaking about the case, Attorney General Kwame Raoul highlighted the inter-agency co-operation that had made the arrests possible, 

“I am proud of the countless hours of investigative work and close collaborations between my office and several law enforcement agencies that put a stop to this burglary ring, and I look forward to continuing similar partnerships that help us hold criminals accountable across jurisdictions.”