Slot machines in Illinois bars, restaurants, truck stops and convenience stores produced $228.8 million in revenue in May, more than double the amount won by the state’s casinos, according to numbers released by the Illinois Gaming Board.
In Illinois, almost 40,000 video gaming terminals operate in more than 7,710 locations. The May numbers represent a 55 percent increase over 2019, partly due to a 25 percent rise in the number of machines. Each one averaged $186 in win per day.
Accel Entertainment owns 28 percent of the state’s VGTs. The machines produced $64.5 million in revenue for May, averaging $164 in win per slot per day—much higher than the company’s expected $130. Other operators include the privately held J&J Gaming Ventures, Gold Rush Amusements and Prairie State Gaming.
By comparison, Illinois casinos posted win of $107 million in May, a 9.5 percent drop from 2019. Rivers Casino Des Plaines led the market with a 39 percent share, grossing $41.5 million, a 5 percent increase. Revenue at Caesars Entertainment’s Grand Victoria in Elgin fell 2 percent to $13 million.
Also owned by Caesars, Harrah’s Joliet declined 24 percent to $11.5 million and Harrah’s Metropolis was down 20 percent to $5 million. Penn National Gaming’s Empress Joliet dropped 26 percent to $8 million. Its Hollywood Casino Aurora declined 13 percent to $9 million. Argosy Belle, in Alton, soared 166.5 percent to $3 million; it had been closed most of May 2019 due to flooding.
At the bottom of the list was newcomer Bally’s Corp., which recently purchased Jumer’s Casino Rock Island; revenue there fell 34 percent to $4 million. DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis was down 29.5 percent to $6 million, and Boyd Gaming’s Par-a-Dice casino in Peoria declined 14 percent, also to $6 million.
