How Illinois Gaming Revenue Works for Chicago Businesses
A Guide for Chicago Business Owners
Video gaming is something many Chicago business owners are evaluating, but the key question stays the same: What does gaming revenue look like once everything is accounted for? J&J Gaming breaks down how Illinois gaming revenue works so you can understand it clearly before deciding if it fits your business.
Understanding Illinois VGT Revenue: Split, Payout, and Performance
One of the first questions most business owners ask when considering video gaming terminals is simple: What is my potential gaming revenue, and how does it get paid out? J&J Gaming partners in Cook County averaged more than $193,000* in annual gaming revenue from October 2024 through September 2025. That number gets attention, but it also leads to a more important question: what actually drives results like that?
This page breaks down how Illinois gaming revenue works in practice. We will cover how revenue is structured, how the required state split is applied, how J&J Gaming helps influence performance at a given location, and where to find public data so you can evaluate expectations with real context.
*Based on J&J Gaming establishments in Cook County municipalities’ average revenue from October 2024 to September 2025.
What Is Net Terminal Income (NTI)?
Net Terminal Income (NTI) is the amount of money played on a Video Gaming Terminal after winnings have been paid out to players. This is the foundation of Illinois gaming revenue, since all required state and local distributions are calculated from NTI rather than total wagers.
The difference is important to understand. Total wagers include money returned to players, which can make them misleading, while NTI reflects the actual revenue generated. That is why it is the number used in Illinois Gaming Board reporting and revenue split calculations.
How the Illinois Revenue Split Works
The State of Illinois sets the revenue structure for all licensed video gaming locations. This is not something negotiated between operators and establishments. It is defined by law and applied consistently across the state.
This split is applied to Net Terminal Income, not total wagers.
For a deeper look at how this structure has changed over time, including past percentage adjustments, you can review the full breakdown within Illinois gambling laws.
Current Revenue Split (Effective July 1, 2024)
| Party | Share of NTI |
| State of Illinois | 30% |
| Local Municipality | 5% |
| Terminal Operator | 32.04% |
| Licensed Establishment | 32.04% |
| Administrative Fee | 0.92% |
What Does an Establishment Potentially Earn?
This is where most business owners focus their attention, and where expectations need to stay grounded in real data. J&J Gaming’s Cook County establishment partners averaged more than $193,000* in annual gaming income from October 2024 through September 2025, reflecting the establishment’s share of NTI across active machines during that period. At J&J Gaming, we hold our partnerships to a high standard, focusing on how each location is set up, supported, and managed so it has the potential to perform at that level.
For context, Illinois Gaming Board data shows that establishments statewide typically average around $9,000 to $10,000 in monthly NTI per location. However, that number varies based on machine count, hours of operation, location type, and foot traffic. That range gives you a baseline, but how your location compares often comes down to the operator you choose, and J&J Gaming is built to help partners outperform those averages.
You can see how that plays out across different municipalities and individual locations in the Illinois Gaming Board public reporting.
Beyond choosing the right operator, there are factors unique to your business that shape how your location performs day to day. A high-traffic Chicago bar operating six machines will perform very differently from a smaller space with fewer machines or limited hours, even within the same general revenue range. Illinois gaming revenue is structured consistently, but performance varies from one location to the next.
*Based on J&J Gaming establishments in Cook County municipalities’ average revenue from October 2024 to September 2025.
Chicago-Specific Revenue Considerations
Chicago businesses entering video gaming operate under the same Illinois gaming revenue structure, but a few local factors shape what that looks like at the location level. These do not change how revenue is split, but they do influence what your location ultimately earns, especially when factoring in licensing, machine count, and market timing tied to Chicago video gaming terminals.
Machine Cap
Chicago establishments can operate up to six video gaming terminals, consistent with the statewide limit for bars and restaurants. Reaching that capacity, when space and traffic support it, directly impacts overall earning potential.
City Licensing Costs
Chicago requires an annual license fee of $1,000 per terminal, in addition to state licensing requirements. These costs should be factored into any realistic revenue projection, especially when evaluating long-term return.
Local Municipality Tax
The standard 5% local share of NTI applies across Illinois. In Chicago, that portion flows directly to the city, which is already built into the overall revenue structure.
New Market Timing
Chicago is still in the earlier stages of video gaming compared to many other parts of Illinois. That creates an opportunity for locations to establish a consistent player base before the market matures and becomes more saturated, particularly in neighborhoods with strong foot traffic.
What Factors Influence Revenue at a Given Location?
Even with the same Illinois gaming revenue structure, results can look very different from one location to the next. What your machines earn comes down to how your space runs day to day and how people actually use it once they are there.
This includes factors such as:
Number Of Machines
More machines typically mean more earning potential, but only if your space and foot traffic can support them. Locations operating at the six-machine limit tend to perform better when those machines stay in use.
Gaming Area Layout And Comfort
How your gaming space feels affects how long people stay. A comfortable, well-planned setup can encourage repeat visits, which is why we utilize 3D rendering services to map out layouts before installation.
Hours Of Operation
The more your doors are open, the more opportunities players have to use the machines. Late nights and weekends can make a noticeable difference in overall activity.
Player Loyalty Programs
Players are more likely to come back when there is a reason to. Programs like Player PAYBACK® help drive repeat visits and keep players engaged.
Marketing And Promotions
Getting people through the doors and to the gaming terminals consistently takes more than just having machines on site. Local awareness, in-house promotion, and digital visibility all play a role in keeping them active. Our in-house advertising team works with you to build marketing that fits your space and your customers.
Machine Uptime
If a machine is down, it is not generating revenue. That is why uptime matters. J&J Gaming maintains **99.7% machine uptime, keeping your machines running smoothly when players are ready to use them.
**Based on service and machine performance for live J&J accounts for October 2023.
FAQs About Video Gaming Revenue in Illinois
Net Terminal Income, or NTI, is the total amount wagered on a machine after winnings are paid out to players. It is the number used to calculate how revenue is split across the state, municipality, terminal operator, and your business. Under the current structure, establishments receive about 32% of NTI.
It depends on your setup. Machine count, foot traffic, hours, and how your space is designed all play a role. Some locations perform well above average, including J&J Gaming partners in Cook County that averaged more than $193,000 in annual gaming income, but results vary from one location to the next.
The terminal operator handles NTI from the machines and takes care of the required state and local distributions before your share is paid out. With J&J Gaming, you also have the flexibility to choose how often you receive those payments based on what works best for your operation.
The Illinois Gaming Board publishes public reports that show performance across the state, including municipality-level and individual location data. Those reports are often the best way to get a realistic sense of what different types of locations are generating.
Ready to Understand What Video Gaming Could Earn for Your Chicago Business?
If you are evaluating how Illinois gaming revenue could work for your location, it starts with understanding how your space, your traffic, and your setup all come together once machines are in place. At J&J Gaming, we work with Chicago business owners every day to break that down in real terms, so you can move forward with a clear picture of how gaming would perform at your location.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
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