Illinois governor’s tax returns show massive casino earnings as speculation mounts over 2028 presidential ambitions
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, one of America’s wealthiest politicians, has disclosed winning $1.4 million (£1.1m) playing blackjack during a single trip to Las Vegas last year, according to federal tax returns released by his campaign.
The billionaire Democrat, whose fortune is estimated at $3.9 billion (£3bn), revealed the extraordinary gambling windfall whilst speaking to reporters in Chicago on Thursday, describing himself as “incredibly lucky” following the disclosure in his 2024 tax filings.
“I went on vacation with my wife, with some friends, I was incredibly lucky,” Pritzker told journalists at a press conference. “You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere.”
The 59-year-old governor, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels Corporation fortune, confirmed he won the money playing blackjack at a Las Vegas casino whilst on holiday with his wife MK and friends. His campaign announced plans to donate the winnings to charity, though specific recipients were not disclosed.
The gambling earnings contributed to what campaign records show was Pritzker’s highest income year since taking office in 2019. The governor and his wife reported $10.7 million (£8.2m) in adjusted gross income for 2024, including $4.2 million (£3.2m) in capital gains and nearly $3.9 million (£3m) in ordinary dividends.
Pritzker, whose family built the Hyatt Hotels chain into a global hospitality empire, acknowledged the improbability of such casino success. “I like to play cards,” he explained, adding that the reported figure represented net winnings after accounting for losses during the same trip.
“Anybody who’s played cards in a casino, you often play for too long and lose whatever it is you won,” the governor noted. “I was fortunate enough to have to leave before that happened.”
The revelation comes at a politically significant moment for Pritzker, who has emerged as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028 and one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics amongst state governors. His cross-country speaking engagements and high-profile appearances have fuelled speculation about national ambitions.
Pritzker is an avid card player whose charitable Chicago Poker Challenge has raised millions of dollars for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center over the years. However, this marks the first time his tax returns have shown gambling income, sparking both curiosity and scepticism on social media.
Some commentators questioned the plausibility of such winnings without corresponding losses in previous years. Any gambler who is reporting 1.4 million in winning (off casino games especially) statistically should have many more millions in losses reported,” wrote political commentator Saagar Enjeti on social media platform X.
The governor’s spokesperson confirmed the winnings came from blackjack specifically, describing it as a “net number” accounting for both wins and losses during a single Las Vegas trip. When pressed for details about his winning hand, Pritzker declined to elaborate.
According to Forbes magazine, which tracks billionaire wealth, Pritzker’s net worth stands at approximately $3.9 billion (£3bn), making him tied for the 1,000th richest person globally. His fortune stems primarily from the Pritzker family’s ownership stake in Hyatt Hotels, founded by his uncle Jay Pritzker and expanded by his father Donald.
Beyond the family hotel empire, Pritzker co-founded Pritzker Group Venture Capital, investing in early-stage technology companies, and has maintained diverse holdings including stakes in major corporations such as Walt Disney Co, Apple Inc, and McDonald’s Corp, according to his Statement of Economic Interest filings.
The trusts benefiting the Pritzker family paid $4.5 million (£3.5m) in state taxes and $30.2 million (£23.2m) in federal taxes last year, whilst the governor and his wife personally paid approximately $1.6 million (£1.2m) in federal taxes and $512,120 (£393,000) to the state of Illinois.
Pritzker has used his considerable wealth to bankroll political campaigns, spending over $150 million (£115m) of his own money in 2022 to defeat Republican challenger Darren Bailey in the gubernatorial race. He has also funded Democratic causes nationwide through various political action committees.
The timing of the disclosure has political implications as Pritzker maintains a national profile. He headlined major Democratic fundraisers in New Hampshire and North Carolina earlier this year, traditional stops for politicians considering presidential campaigns. When asked about 2028 speculation during a recent television appearance, he stated: “I can’t rule anything out.”
Republican legislators in Illinois seized on the casino winnings to paint Pritzker as out of touch with ordinary citizens. State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer quipped that Pritzker was indeed lucky, “beginning with inheriting his wealth” and “falling right into a bucket of COVID money” before “heading off to Vegas for a weekend.”
Asked whether his wealth could become a political liability in a potential presidential campaign, particularly with progressive Democrats, Pritzker dismissed concerns. “People know when I got elected, and have known for some time, that I’ve been very fortunate in my life,” he said.
The governor’s fortune has occasionally sparked controversy. In 2022, an investigation found that a blind trust associated with Pritzker had purchased shares in Centene Corp, a managed care company with state contracts, though his campaign maintained he had no personal involvement in investment decisions.
Gambling has expanded significantly in Illinois under Pritzker’s tenure. In 2019, he signed legislation legalising sports betting, adding six new casinos, and allowing thousands of slot machines in bars and restaurants to fund infrastructure projects. Critics note the state has seen nearly 50 tax increases during his governorship whilst businesses continue departing Illinois at accelerating rates.
As Pritzker weighs whether to seek a third gubernatorial term in 2026, his Las Vegas windfall adds an unusual footnote to his political narrative. Whether it enhances his image as a successful businessman or reinforces perceptions of him as a privileged billionaire may depend on voters’ own luck at the ballot box.
The governor concluded his remarks with characteristic understatement about his casino fortune: “I was incredibly lucky.”
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Image Credit:
J. B. Pritzker — photo by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
