Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay there. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker knows that better than anyone after his recent tax filings revealed he took home $1.4 million from a blackjack table during a vacation in Las Vegas.
The lucky break came while he was on a trip with his wife, MK, and some friends. And, yes, it’s all right there in his 2024 tax return.
A spokesperson confirmed the win and said Pritzker plans to donate the money to charity, though they didn’t exactly say when that’s happening. At a press event, the governor couldn’t help but laugh about his good fortune for leaving Sin City ahead.
“You have to be [lucky] to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere,” he joked.
For anyone who’s ever tried their hand at blackjack, that line hits close to home.
The Win That Barely Made a Dent
The $1.4 million win was only a small piece of the Pritzker’s total 2024 income, which came in at nearly $11 million. The couple paid about $1.6 million in taxes and still had plenty left over, thanks to dividends, capital gains, and interest income. It’s worth noting that Pritzker, who is heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, has an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion. So while a million-dollar casino win might be life-changing for most people, for him it was more of a fun surprise than a financial breakthrough.
Pritzker’s relationship with cards goes beyond the blackjack table. Back in Chicago, he helped launch the Chicago Poker Challenge, a charity tournament that raised millions for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. The event became a local legend, drawing Chicago’s business elite and even poker star Phil Hellmuth Jr.
Can You Do Vegas in Illinois?
Now let’s rewind to the question everyone’s asking. Could Pritzker have found that same blackjack thrill in Illinois? Not quite. The state has made big moves in expanding its gambling landscape, but it’s no Las Vegas. Under Pritzker’s own administration, Illinois legalized sports betting, approved new casinos, and allowed more slot machines in bars and restaurants to support a forty-five billion dollar infrastructure plan.
Still, Illinois casinos have a more buttoned-up vibe. They’re riverboats and racetracks with set rules, not sprawling Vegas resorts where the energy never sleeps. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to gamble in Illinois, but you won’t find the showgirls.
Pritzker doesn’t appear to be a regular at Vegas casinos, and sources close to him say this trip was just a rare getaway. Still, the timing of the win couldn’t be more apt. The governor is eyeing a third term in 2026. A story about a big casino win might not be the usual campaign talking point, but it does make him sound relatable in a weirdly charming way.
About the Author
