Lawmakers placing their bets on expanding the gambling industry in Illinois to replenish the state’s depleting coffers are in for disappointing news.
A new report from the General Assembly’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability showed that state revenues from all forms of gambling reached $1.184 billion in fiscal year 2015, which is a 5.8 percent drop from FY 2014’s $1.258 billion.
Lottery made the biggest contribution at $690 million, followed by riverboat gambling at $292 million, while revenues from video gaming came in at $196 million, and horse racing at $7 million.
Illinois originally receives gambling tax from three sources—riverboat gambling, lottery and horse racing. But in 2012, the first legalized video gaming machines were put into operation. According to COGFA, revenue from video gaming machines contributed $241 million to state and local government coffers this year, but it was not enough to offset the $29 million loss in riverboat gaming transfers and the $125 million decrease in lottery transfers.