Illinois Gaming Board

Depending on your age, you probably wouldn't have believed it if someone had told you 20 years ago that someday Illinois would be raking in the cash from legalized marijuana and sports gambling.

Sports gambling has been legal here in Illinois for a bit less than a year, and for those who love to get in on the action, this Sunday's Super Bowl is a big attraction.

Illinois casinos and gaming have been suspended since March 16th, but now that we're in Phase-4 reopening, the Gaming Board is going to give it a try.

Estimates peg Illinois' casino losses during the COVID-19 lockdown at nearly $100 million. Today, the Illinois Gaming Board will meet to talk about reopening strategies.

"If you build it, they will come" might work for a baseball diamond in a cornfield, but apparently not for a Chicago-based casino, according to a consultant.

Based on data provided by the Illinois Gaming Board, video game based wagering has surpassed the $15 billion mark in Illinois, up nearly $2 billion over last year.