Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s $1.4 million gambling winnings last year came from a fortuitous session at the blackjack table, his campaign said.
Key Takeaways
- Billionaire governor donated his Las Vegas winnings to charity.
- The partial release of his gambling earnings is part of a $10.3-million income tax return.
- Pritzker has raised money with a charitable poker game in Chicago.
Pritzker, a billionaire and heir to the Hyatt Hotel chain, said during a Thursday press conference that the casino victory, part of his $10.3-million income tax return released on Thursday, came during a vacation with his wife and friends.
“I was incredibly lucky,” Pritzker said. “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.”
Pritzker didn’t disclose any other information on how he caught such a hot hand, but said he “had fun doing it.”
What happens in Vegas goes to charity
The Illinois governor, according to his campaign, donated the eight-figure Vegas win to charity. Playing blackjack at the high-roller tables in the Chicago area could certainly attract unwanted attention, but Las Vegas offered Pritzker a chance to keep it under the radar.
Pritzker, who reportedly could be eyeing a run in the 2028 Presidential Election, has been involved in charitable gaming for years. He said that he founded a poker tournament in Chicago that raises millions of dollars for the city’s Holocaust Museum and the fight for civil rights.
State of gaming
There are 17 in-person casinos located in the Land of Lincoln, including several in the Chicago area, that also offer retail sportsbooks.
“I encourage people to come to the state of Illinois and gamble in our casinos here,” Pritzker said. “We have some really lovely places to go.”
The Prairie State operates a lucrative sports betting market that’s ranked second only to New York in handle and revenue.
The Illinois sports betting operators generated $107.8 million in revenue in August, an 82% year-over-year increase. More than $1 billion was wagered for the fifth month in 2025.
