Efforts to lift Chicago’s longstanding ban on video gambling are gaining traction, with two new ordinances introduced during this week’s City Council meeting. While Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration remains hesitant, citing minimal financial benefit, several aldermen are pressing forward, arguing the city needs new revenue streams that don’t burden taxpayers.
Airports Targeted for Initial Rollout
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) introduced legislation to allow video gambling terminals at O’Hare and Midway airports, citing both potential revenue and political feasibility.
“The General Assembly has provided this opportunity through the casino bill. Yet, we’re not taking advantage of capturing dollars from one of the busiest airports in the country,”Villegas said. “This is a captive audience. People are there, in some cases, one or two hours before… They have time to kill.”
Villegas estimates that 400 terminals generating $800 per day could bring in $116.8 million annually. His ordinance proposes a $10,000 location license fee, plus $500 per terminal, along with a $1,000 terminal license and an additional $500 per machine.
Push for Citywide Legalization
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) is proposing a broader approach, seeking to lift the ban citywide to support struggling bars and restaurants. His ordinance includes a $500 location license and $1,000 per-terminal fees, as well as a $500 terminal license and another $1,000 per machine.
“We need to do it citywide and at the airports,”Beale said. “We need the revenue and this administration has not shown a willingness to find new revenue that’s not gonna hit the taxpayers in every household.”
Administration Warns of Limited Returns
Mayor Johnson’s financial team is skeptical. Last month, Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski presented findings from a study that projected video gambling would generate no more than $10 million annually. It also suggested the expansion might undercut the city’s new casino, which is taxed at a much higher rate than video terminals.
Beale dismissed that analysis, blaming state-level tax structures. “That’s because they haven’t shown the willingness to go down to Springfield and change the formula,” he said. “I’m hoping that submitting these ordinances will finally convince them to send a team down there.”
With a $1.2 billion budget deficit and another $3 billion in federal cuts looming, Beale called video gambling a “low-hanging fruit” revenue source. “It’s amazing how they want you to come up with revenue ideas and then they want to shoot down low-hanging fruit,” he said.
Focus on Regulation and Oversight
Ald. William Hall (6th), chair of the revenue subcommittee, announced a “subject matter” hearing on Monday to explore gambling proposals and other ideas. Hall supported expansion but stressed that regulation must come first.
“Sweepstakes machines are essentially illegal slot machines in a lot of neighborhoods,”Hall said. “We have grandmothers and aunties playing these games inside gas stations… It’s creating a black market that’s detrimental.”
He estimated that removing illegal machines could clear the way for more than 3,800 legal terminals across the city, boosting revenue while addressing longstanding enforcement issues.
Source:
“City Council members pushing to legalize video gambling — at Chicago airports or even citywide”, chicago.suntimes.com, Jul 17, 2025
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