Illinois casinos are riding a strong late-summer wave in 2026. Statewide revenue is up double digits and Hollywood Casino Aurora emerging as a standout performer after its move to a land-based resort.
According to the latest figures from the Illinois Gaming Board figures, statewide, Illinois casinos generated $192.8 million in adjusted gross gaming revenue in August. That's an increase of nearly 11% over the same month last year. June was also a strong month in The Prairie State.
The surge is already shaping local development debates in Aurora, where a proposed hotel near the new Hollywood casino (which opened in June) highlights both the opportunities and growing pains of rapid growth.
Top Illinois Casinos See Big Revenue Jump in August
Eleven of the state’s 17 licensed properties posted year-over-year gains, underscoring broad-based strength across the market.
Here's how the individual casinos in Illinois performed:
- Rivers Casino led all Illinois casinos with $46.3 million in August revenue, up 10.6%.
- Wind Creek followed at $19.8 million.
- Hollywood Casino Aurora reported $16.6 million— a 77% year-over-year increase, the largest percentage gain among major properties after relocating from a riverboat to a $360 million land-based complex in late June.
Other top earners among Illinois casinos included;
- Hard Rock Casino Rockford ($13.8 million)
- Hollywood Casino Joliet ($13.2 million)
- Bally’s Chicago ($12.8 million)
- Grand Victoria ($12.3 million)
- Full House Resorts ($11.4 million)
- Harrah’s Joliet ($10.4 million)
Declines were led by Harrah’s Metropolis, down 7.6% to $5 million.
Slot machines accounted for the bulk of the total at $146.6 million (up 7%), while table games climbed more sharply to over $46 million (up 24.6%).
Hollywood Casino Aurora Propels Illinois Casino Revenue
Hollywood Casino Aurora’s performance has turned the property into a focal point for developers and city planners alike. This all started when the grand opening date was announced last March. Now, the Illinois casino industry has been changed forever.
The resort features about 1,200 gaming positions, a 226-room hotel, spa, event space, multiple restaurants, and a sportsbook. Its strong results—following a July in which it posted about $17.4 million in revenue and nearly doubled prior-year riverboat figures—have helped fuel commercial interest along the corridor.
That momentum is colliding with questions about how best to manage growth. The Aurora City Council delayed a final vote on a proposed four-story, 124-room ECHO Suites by Wyndham extended-stay hotel at 1350 Corporate Blvd., less than half a mile from the casino and outlets.
Developer Holladay Properties needs a decision by September 25 to meet its contract deadline, so the council rescheduled the vote for September 22.
Hotel Proposal Near Aurora Sparks Debate
Supporters of the ECHO Suites project argue it would capture overflow demand from Hollywood Casino Aurora’s hotel, serve outlet shoppers and other travelers who prefer not to stay on-site, and add to a corridor that’s already attracting new restaurants and services. The plan includes a guest laundry, fitness room, vending areas, and 136 parking spaces, with no city financial incentives attached. A feasibility study reportedly shows demand for extended-stay lodging in the area.
Opposition centers on whether the project aligns with Aurora’s long-term vision for the Farnsworth Avenue corridor.
Ninth Ward Ald. Edward Bugg noted the city spent about $7 million years earlier to buy and demolish two troubled budget motels that later became part of the casino site, citing past public-safety and noise problems, and he wants assurance the new hotel won’t undercut the casino’s and outlets’ success. City staff have expressed a preference for higher-end hotels closer to I-88 and acknowledged that a conceptual corridor plan from a prior administration may exist but was never fully developed or widely shared.
Traffic and congestion—especially merges near I-88—were also raised, though staff pointed to prior roadway improvements tied to the casino and said the ECHO Suites concept is distinct from the old motels.
What August’s Numbers Mean for Illinois Casinos Going Forward
August’s revenue report reinforces a key trend for Illinois casinos: land-based conversions and new facilities are quickly reshaping the competitive landscape.
Hollywood Casino Aurora’s massive year-over-year increase shows how a modern, destination-style resort can quickly jump up Illinois’ statewide casino rankings in just its first few months of operation. At the same time, the hotel debate in Aurora illustrates how local governments are weighing immediate economic benefits against longer-term planning goals.
Now it looks as though the decision makers will try to capitalize on the momentum behind all Illinois casinos.
