Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Reports $1.4 Million in Blackjack Winnings on Tax Return

^{Governor JB Pritzker says he was “incredibly lucky” after winning $1.4 million playing blackjack in Las Vegas, though he plans to donate the winnings to charity. (Photo: Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire))}

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker reported a surprising $1.4 million gambling on his federal tax return last year, saying that he hit a lucky streak while playing blackjack in Las Vegas.

Pritzker, a billionaire and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, will be running for a third term as governor of Illinois in 2026. He is also considered a contender to run in the Democratic primary for the 2028 presidential election.

Lucky Win on a Trip to Las Vegas 

Pritzker said that the $1.4 million windfall came while on vacation in Las Vegas with his wife and friends from multiple sessions at the blackjack table.

“I went on vacation with my wife, with some friends. I was incredibly lucky,” Pritzker told reporters on Thursday. “You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere – it was in Las Vegas – and I like to play cards.”

While Las Vegas casinos are increasingly moving to games with 6-to-5 blackjack odds, traditional 3-to-2 blackjack with other favorable rules are still available to high rollers.  6-to-5 tables have about a 2% house edge, while 3-to-2 tables have house edges of 2% or lower.

Still, Pritzker acknowledged that it takes luck to come out ahead on any game with a house edge.

“Anybody who’s played cards in a casino, you often play for too long and lose whatever it is you won,” Pritzker told reporters. “I was fortunate enough to have to leave before that happened.”

Though the winnings are impressive, this is just of small fraction of the governor's earnings. Pritzker's net worth is approximately $3.9 billion, placing him among the 400 richest Americans. Along with his wife Mary Kathryn (MK), the couple reported a total of $10.6 million in income in 2024. His spokesperson says the blackjack winnings will be donated to charity. 

Pritzker's Ties to Politics

JB Pritzker has served as the governor of Illinois since 2019, currently enjoying a high profile in national politics. Previously, Pritzker had served as the chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 2003 and 2006, and has been a part of several venture capital startup companies. As a result of Pritzker's actions, Illinois was able to introduce legalized sports betting and six new casinos throughout the state to support a $45 billion infrastructure improvement campaign.

According to the Pritzker campaign, the governor founded a charity poker tournament known as the Chicago Poker Challenge, which has raised millions for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

He has  also drawn attention for his outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump, specifically over the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and National Guard troops in and around Chicago, a move that has also been protested vigorously by many locals.