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Chicago Mayor open to the idea of video gambling
Mayor Brandon Johnson is now open to the idea of video gambling, after Illinois lawmakers were frustrated with Chicago’s initial video gambling prohibition.
Mayor Johnson put the issue under debate, although his administration members previously suggested that video gaming terminals wouldn’t bring much revenue.
Johnson shared in a statement:
“I’m open. I’ll just say it like that, right, because the work that we have to do to continue to build a safe and affordable city requires us to make critical investments. As long as people are willing to participate in that form of entertainment, it’s an opportunity too for us to secure the revenue that’s needed.”
State Rep. Michael Kelly, D-Chicago, introduced House Bill 2990 during the Illinois General Assembly’s 2025 spring legislative session, allowing Chicago to opt out of video gaming instead of having to opt in, but the bill failed to advance out of committee. Kelly projected VGT revenues of $250 million for Illinois and $50-70 million for the city.
State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Loves Park, addressed Chicago Intergovernmental Affairs Director John Arena at an Illinois House Gaming Committee hearing on May 14. Vella said there are a ton of VGTs in the Rockford area, which help keep restaurants open. For 12 years, Chicago has been receiving road funds from VGTs in Rockford and Peoria, and the Quad Cities.
Dave Vella said:
“It is frustrating to leave this much money on the table when the city of Chicago and the mayor has made statement after statement that he’s going to come to Springfield and get what Chicago’s due, and Chicago’s not willing to kick in.”
State Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, said lawmakers were practically begging Chicago to accept the revenue that video gaming would bring in:
“If the city of Chicago needs financial support from the state as much as it seems to suggest it does by its leadership’s comments in the media, try to work towards taking ‘yes’ for an answer.”
According to Didech, the state has accumulated more than $6.7 billion in tax revenues since authorizing VGTs in 2012, with more than $1 billion of that being redistributed to municipalities.
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, noted that funds from video gaming downstate are funneled to Chicago:
“All of these VGT revenues that are being raised outside the city of Chicago seem to be going and supporting significant projects in the 13th Ward, in the 26th Ward, Chicago Public Schools.”
The 13th Ward is the home of former Illinois House Speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois Chairman Michael Madigan, who was sentenced to 7,5 years in prison after being convicted on 10 counts of public corruption earlier this year.
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