Billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker Recounts $1.4 Million Las Vegas Blackjack Win

[Zorro]

Source: Wall Street Journal

If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is trying to boost his everyman appeal ahead of a potential bid in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, the disclosure of his big Las Vegas win might not help.

The billionaire Hyatt hotel heir recounted Thursday his $1.4 million blackjack winnings when asked about a 2024 tax return his re-election campaign shared a day earlier. Pritzker has released his returns annually while in office.

“I went on vacation with my wife, with some friends,” he told reporters in Chicago. “I was incredibly lucky. You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere.”

Pritzker said the winnings happened during one trip last year. He attributed a tight schedule to being partly responsible for ending up ahead.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/billionaire-gov-jb-pritzker-recounts-1-4-million-las-vegas-blackjack-win-4bffbc7f?st=5qSNWv&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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You can be sure this won't be the last we'll hear of this.

[fujiyamasan]

1. That winning is approximately 0.036% of his net worth

Last edited Sat Oct 18, 2025, 12:24 AM - Edit history (1)

It’s his money. He’s already a billionaire. And gambling is his vice I suppose. I’ll occasionally gamble in volatile stocks or options in The stock market. That’s a gamble too, but of course my bets are much, much smaller.

As long as he’s not using public funds, I don’t care too much. I don’t think this necessarily reflects on how he manages public funds either, but it’s also revealing how such large amounts of money that is more than most of us earn in a lifetime, can be won or lost in a night out in Vegas. It does show that no matter what, a billionaire can never really experience or understand the financial stresses most of us deal with.

[wolfie001]

2. So what

Big fucking deal.

[Lulu KC]

16. Exactly what I was thinking n/t

[FakeNoose]

3. I believe him, he's got no reason to lie about it

But ... if JB Pritzker were a Repuke, we'd need to see more proof.

Just sayin'

[C_U_L8R]

4. I'll take the guy who's sharp at poker

Versus the fool who bankrupts casinos.
Any day.

[maxsolomon]

6. Blackjack

nt

[C_U_L8R]

8. Thx for setting me straight.

Always thought blackjack was a form of poker. Either way, Pritzker has skills and orange bozo just has resentments.

[sdfernando]

9. I'm no where near that level

but once in Las Vegas I was doing quite well with blackjack at a downtown casino. Get this, I was up by a total of maybe $300. Took hours to get there...it was very early in the morning, maybe 4am...and then the pit boss came in and had the dealer change the deck....at that point I started to loose....should have picked up and left. I ended up not winning but not losing either.

[thomski64]

21. ..exact same thing happened to me in Reno..

Except I got away with $100 when a saw what they were doing. Like The Governor said hard to walk away before they get it all back

[Ray Bruns]

28. You know what they say.

“You got to know when to hold them,
Know when to fold them,
know when to walk away,
Know when to run”
George Santos

[iemanja]

23. No, not at all

The game is very different, and in black jack you play against the house, while poker players play against one another. Long run, the house always wins in black jack. Pritzker’s win was a fluke, and he must have placed some very large bets to win that much.

[coffeebeforepants]

5. Of Course

The Wall Street Journal is going to disparage a Democrat. Perish the thought they say anything against the Orange Pedophile.

[maxsolomon]

7. The WSJ just reported that he talked about it.

The billionaire Hyatt hotel heir recounted Thursday his $1.4 million blackjack winnings when asked about a 2024 tax return his re-election campaign shared a day earlier.

Where is the "disparagement"?

[Skittles]

10. just curious

have they "talked about" Barron Trump becoming a multi-millionaire? I really don't know, just asking

[Prairie Gates]

13. Here it is

If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is trying to boost his everyman appeal ahead of a potential bid in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, the disclosure of his big Las Vegas win might not help.

[DFW]

17. I see it differently: CONCEALING it would not help.

Disclosing it is the best thing he can do. A few large contributions to food banks in poor areas or cancer research might help, too, but that’s just me (they are two things to which I contribute, but on my scale).

After all, to some nerd like me, $1.4 million, even after taxes are deducted, is a formidable amount of money. To Pritzker, it’s pocket change. I’m sure he’ll be smart about what he does with it.

[Prairie Gates]

18. That's not what my post is about

[Prairie Gates]

11. Trump bankrupted his own casino...JB beat the house to the tune of a mil and a half

Only the Wall Street Journal and the usual coterie of Dem pants-wetters could see this as a bad thing.

[JI7]

15. Exactly what you said is what we should say

instead whining about how some poor racist at the diner in rural ohio who hasn't voted democratic since the 1950s will be turned off by this.

[JI7]

12. Nobody gives a shit whether someone is wealthy or not

What matters is how the person comes across.

If it's Pritzker v JD Vance I think Pritzker wins based on being far more likable.

Vance loses based on being unlikable. Nobody gives a shit about what he claims he came from.

What I am saying mostly applies to male candidates .

[Prairie Gates]

14. It's going to be Trump, not Vance

[MichMan]

29. Not as long as they pay at least 50% of it in Federal income taxes

[live love laugh]

19. Where are Trump's returns?

[Evolve Dammit]

26. with the Epstein files

[live love laugh]

30. In Ivana's grave probably...

[Evolve Dammit]

31. could be lotsa stuff in there.

[oasis]

20. I'm sure Pritzker is spreading money to aid

Democratic campaigns throughout the U.S..
He seems that kinda guy.

[markodochartaigh]

22. I may be old-fashioned,

but I base my support for a candidate on their policies, not their leisure activities.

[Stacey Grove]

24. At least he doesn't fuck kids.

[bmichaelh]

25. Pritzker vs Trump

At least someone who knows how to win at a casino vs someone that bankrupts some.

[SheltieLover]

27. At least he released his tax returns & speaks about them!