63% of Illinois Voters Online Casino

A recent survey has revealed that 63% of voters in Illinois are in of legalizing online casinos. Those in favor also seek a stern regard for regulation, community benefits and transparency, if it gets legalized.

A new survey, conducted by BonusFinder.com; a company that specializes in casino bonus comparisons and online casino research, showed that – out of 1,000 participants – almost two in three Illinois voters are in of legalizing online casinos which could really encourage momentum for change in the state’s gambling laws.

Widespread for Legal Online Casinos in Illinois

Currently, as of April 2025, only seven states provide iGaming in the US: New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut and Rhode Island. However, many other states are in discussions to legalize online casinos and Illinois is the latest to be added to that list.

According to survey results:

63.5% are in favor of legalization
17.5% are unsure
19% are against it

Of those partaking in the survey, it was found that the age group most in favor of legalizing online casinos in the state is the 45-54 years old bracket. The age bracket least in favor are the 65+’s. However, the survey results also prove that over 50% of every age group is in of legalization; despite older groups being more cautious on internet-happenings.

18–24: 63.7%
25–34: 61.2%
35–44: 64.1%
45–54: 68.8%
55–64: 62.7%
65+: 51.2%

As well as age, BonusFinder also looked into gender preferences. It was found that 70.5% of men are in of legalization compared to 58.3% of women.

Further, it was also revealed that both sides of the political coin were on similar wavelengths when it comes to online casinos as it found that 65.4% of Republicans are in favor and 63.3% of Democrats also agreed.

“Illinoisans are ready for online casinos, as long as it’s done responsibly,” commented Luciano avanti, Vice President of BonusFinder.com.

“The message from voters is clear – they want safe, transparent platforms and strict oversight. They also want to know that tax revenue from iGaming will directly benefit their communities; whether that’s through education, healthcare, or local infrastructure. Illinois is already a major gaming market. Legalizing online casinos is the next logical step.”

Main Concerns About Legalizing Online Casinos in Illinois

Despite there being obvious positives to legalizing online casinos in Illinois, with tax benefits arguably being one of the biggest pros, residents are still cautious of the risks involved.

The concerns raised through the survey were:

70.6% of respondents stated their biggest concern was gambling addiction.
64.2% are concerned about scams and fraud due to lack of legitimacy and security at online casinos.
49% are worried about underage access to gambling content.

Despite the apprehension on the security side of things, 20.2% of respondents stated that they would feel safe using licensed casinos; while 4.7% believed that gambling isn’t risky at all. These results suggest that most people from Illinois do fear gambling, if proper safeguards aren’t in place.

Therefore to overcome the main concerns, regarding regulation, the state will need to make sure that casinos are strictly regulated, consumer information is secure and protected, and commitment to responsible gambling policies are in action too.

Where Will Illinois’ Online Casino Tax Revenue Go?

As neighboring states such as Michigan continue to capitalize on the ever-growing online casinos market, Illinois now wants a slice of that pie. If Illinois follows in the footsteps of their neighbors they could well be on their way to making hundreds of millions in annual tax revenue that can be used to fund major community projects within the state.

During the survey, BonusFinder asked participants to choose up to three priorities, out of the eight listed below, to reflect what they think is the most necessary facet for the tax revenue to go into. The results are as shown below:

Public education – 61.4%
Mental health and addiction services – 54.8%
Infrastructure (roads, public transport, bridges) – 44%
Affordable housing – 38%
Crime prevention and public safety – 33.1%
Local community programs – 26.2%
Environmental initiatives – 22.7%
State budget deficit reduction – 17.7%

The data reveals that the major focuses where the online tax revenue should be distributed are: education, health services and infrastructure.

What Other States Do With Online Casino Tax Revenue

The seven states, mentioned earlier, that have legalized iGaming in the United States, culminated a jaw-dropping $8.41bn in online casino revenue in 2024.

Of that figure, the tax given to the state was distributed between: public education, property tax relief, public infrastructure and first responder benefits.

Each state has different tax requirements when it comes to taxing their gross gaming revenue, varying from 20% in Michigan up to 58% – on certain games – in Delaware.

In Michigan it was found that tax revenue from iGaming contributed over $400m towards the School Aid Fund, $4m for the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund; and $3.7m was allocated towards agriculture and equine development.

Illinois Gaming Market: What’s at Stake?

Currently, Illinois has a thriving gambling economy with stats to back it up. In the 2024 financial year, the state collected over £1.7bn in gambling tax revenue.

The results speak for themselves. Survey participants also spent an average annual spend of $520 on gambling – which is a strong indicator that casual gambling is common among the residents of Illinois.

Despite online casinos being illegal in the state, 26% of survey participants itted to playing at unregulated casinos. This highlights the risks that states take when they don’t legalize singular forms of betting, as bettors will just seek black market operators; and that is money that could be going into the state’s pocket.

How Much Tax Revenue Is Illinois Losing by Delaying Legalization?

Our recent analysis calculated the potential amount of tax revenue that each state could be generating based on other iGaming states’ average annual spend of $262.40 per adult.

With a population of approximately 10 million adults, Illinois could generate:

$2.63bn in gross online casino revenue
At a 30% tax rate: $788.2m in tax revenue
At a 20% tax rate: $525.5m annually

Based on our survey’s average spend in Illinois ($520/year) this would translate to:

$5.2bn in gross iGaming revenue
At a 30% tax rate: $1.56bn in tax revenue
At a 20% tax rate: $1bn annually

Source: BonusFinder.com Online Gambling Tax Revenue By State

Conclusion: Illinois Is Ready – But Needs A Smart Policy

Despite having (relevant and appropriate) concerns such as an increase in problem gambling, scams and those underage having access to gambling platforms, many of those from the state are largely in favor of the vote.

With potential billions sitting in the palm of the state, and many social benefits that can occur, residents of Illinois appear ready for online casinos and all of the benefits that can come with following in the footsteps of their neighbors.

Methodology

The findings in this report are based on a survey conducted by BonusFinder.com in April 2025. In the survey, a total of 1,000 Illinois residents were polled to assess their attitudes and perceptions toward online gambling. This included their attitudes towards: online casino legalization, tax revenue allocation, spending behavior, and responsible gaming concerns. Respondents represented a diverse range of ages, genders, political affiliations and geographic locations across the state.

63% of Illinois Voters Online Casino Legalization