Illinois Governor JB Pritzker disclosed over $1.4M in gambling winnings as his income tripled in 2024. Meanwhile, sportsbooks like Circa responded to rising state taxes with higher betting minimums and new charges, sparking industry concern and regulatory debate.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker claimed more than $1.4 million in gaming winnings in 2024, according to incomplete tax filings disclosed by his campaign. The casino gains were part of the Illinois governor and his wife, MK Pritzker’s, total taxable income of over $10.3 million.
Key Takeaways
- Governor JB Pritzker reported more than $1.4 million in gambling revenue for 2024.
- The governor’s overall income increased significantly from $3.2 million in 2023.
- Pritzker’s campaign continues to release just partial tax returns, keeping details about his trust assets hidden.
- The figure represented their largest annual income in previous years, more than tripling their 2023 total. The disclosures come as Pritzker, who does not receive a governor salary, campaigned for a third term ahead of the March 2026 Democratic primary.
The Pritzkers paid nearly $1.6 million in federal taxes and $512,000 in state taxes in 2024, a rise from the previous year. Campaign representatives ascribed income swings to fluctuating trust distributions, which are determined by investment performance.
Although the governor’s reports indicated gambling wins, his campaign claimed losses were also recorded, but they were not made public. Last year, the family’s trusts paid more than $34 million in federal and state taxes, despite the fact that those filings remained hidden.
The Pritzkers donated $3.3 million to charity causes in 2024, more than double the amount they gave the previous year. Christian Mitchell, his running mate, reported making more than $583,000 in taxable income in 2024. Pritzker’s wealth is likewise estimated by Forbes to have increased marginally from $3.7 billion last year.
Circa Sports demands a $10 minimum amid rising Illinois taxes.
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Circa Sports, like other sportsbooks in Illinois, responded to the state’s newly imposed per-wager fee by instituting a $10 minimum bet in August, the most in the state. Circa founder Derek Stevens informed the Missouri Gaming Commission that the typical stake on his platform is $50.
Circa’s average digital wager in Illinois was $350 in the first half of 2024, far more than the industry average.
While competitors rely significantly on parlays, Circa claims they only account for 16.3% of its bets and 4% of its handle. Illinois’ new per-wager tax, adopted in May, levies operators 25 cents per bet for the first 20 million wagers each fiscal year, and 50 cents after that.
DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Sportsbook have already began charging the extra to customers. Experts worry that the Illinois Gaming Board’s intention to tax the surcharge itself might result in effective double taxation, increasing operators’ effective tax rates above 50%.
Despite resistance from the mayor, Chicago is considering expanding video gambling.
In September, Alderman Anthony Beale’s proposal to authorize video gambling terminals in Chicago received approval from the City Council’s License and Consumer Protection Committee. The tight 8-6 vote exposed internal splits among aldermen and set up a potential clash with Mayor Brandon Johnson, who remains opposed.
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