Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Reports $1.4 Million in Casino Winnings

^{Pictured: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker}

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has filed his 2024 tax return, declaring $1.4 million in casino winnings, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, which cited tax filings released by his campaign. Pritzker, a long-time supporter of gambling legalization and a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race, disclosed the winnings as part of his annual income report.

The Pritzker family’s total income for 2024 reached $10.7 million, including capital gains and dividend earnings. The figure is nearly four times higher than in 2023, when the family reported $2.8 million in income.

A spokesperson for the governor said that Pritzker “both won and lost money” while gambling in Las Vegas casinos, but declined to specify which games he played or where he scored his biggest wins.

In 2019, Pritzker legalized sports betting in Illinois, approved the construction of six new casinos, and expanded the use of video gaming terminals in bars and restaurants — all part of a $45 billion state infrastructure funding plan.

The Pritzker family fortune is tied to the Hyatt Hotels empire, and for decades the family has maintained investments in the gambling industry. Before his election as governor in 2018, Pritzker invested in a company that owned a stake in the Grand Victoria Casino. His personal net worth is now estimated at $3.9 billion.