Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire, took home $1.4 million in winnings after playing blackjack at a casino in Las Vegas last year, according to a copy of his new tax filing.
Pritzker, who is seeking a third term in office and is on the 2028 short list, reported the earnings in his latest tax filing after he played the card game while on a vacation with his wife and some friends, a Pritzker spokesperson said Thursday.
The governor will be donating the money to charity, according to his campaign.
“I went on vacation with my wife, with some friends. I was incredibly lucky. You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere — it was in Las Vegas — and I like to play cards,” Pritzker told reporters at a news conference Thursday.
The governor apparently also likes to play poker, according to his campaign, and founded a charity poker tournament.
Pritzker and his wife, MK, reported a total income of $10.6 million in 2024.
The revelations of gambling winnings come as Pritzker has increasingly moved onto the national stage as top White House critic. Pritzker is locked in a pitched political fight with President Donald Trump as immigration agents have aggressively carried out operations, making hundreds of arrests in Chicago and surrounding areas in recent weeks.
Pritzker is expected to speak more about the gambling income and other matters at a news conference later Thursday.
