WATCH: Pritzker says he’s lucky winning $1.4M gambling; GOP say he’s out of touch

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s a lucky man after reporting $1.4 million in gambling winnings from one trip to Las Vegas. Republican legislators says it shows how out of touch the billionaire politician is.

The Chicago Tribune reported the Pritzkers paid about $1.6 million in federal taxes and about $500,000 in state income taxes from more than $10 million of income, including $1.4 million from gambling.

Thursday, Pritzker told reporters he likes to play cards and got lucky on a trip to Las Vegas.

“It all happened over one trip, and again, it was just, I mean, incredible lucky,” Pritzker said after an unrelated event in Chicago. “Anybody who’s played cards in a casino knows, you know, you often play for too long and lose whatever it is that you’ve won. I was fortunate enough to have to leave before that happened.”

Wrapping up Day 3 of fall veto session at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield, state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer agreed, Pritzker is a lucky guy, beginning with inheriting his wealth.

“Comes into office when, after some of the more difficult times we’ve ever had, falls right into a bucket of COVID money and all sorts of other bailout money, and then heads off to Vegas for a weekend and makes 1.4 million,” Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, said. “That sounds like the dream for not only myself but all of my constituents and you know, I’m not a jealous person, you know, congratulations on your winnings. But, cannot relate to the average man.”

State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, said the Chicago Tribune story shows that Pritzker has never had to work three jobs just to make ends meet. He said that doesn’t fare well for taxpayers as the billionaire governor has increased taxes every year he’s been in office.

“How can that be? How? Yes, I understand things go up over time, but the disconnect with reality, the disconnect for not knowing what a zero balance means in a checking account,” Keicher said.

Asked by The Center Square about whether far left influencers like U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-New York, could use Pritzker’s wealth against him in a possible presidential bid in 2028, Pritzker wavered.

“People know that when I got elected and have known for some time that, you know, I’ve been very fortunate in my life,” Pritzker said. “And if they want to use something like that in the campaign, I don’t know, but I’m not, you know, right now I’m focused on running for reelection as governor.”

Jim Talamonti contributed to this story.