Chicago Video Gambling Hearing Halted Early as Supporters, Opponents Clash

^{Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale brought Wednesday's video gambling hearing to an abrupt end, calling it a "circus" and demanding the resignation of the city's Business Affairs commissioner. (Photo: Tribune Content Agency LLC / Alamy)}

A meeting of Chicago’s Committee on Workforce and Development came to a crashing halt on Wednesday after aldermen clashed over whether video gambling terminals (VGTs) should be allowed in bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys, and what the consequences of that decision might be.

The discussion saw heated debate from supporters and opponents of VGTs, as well as testimony from Bally’s, which is in the process of building its permanent Chicago casino in the city's Near West Side.

Bally’s Warns of Revenue Losses, Promises Airport Slots

When the Chicago City Council approved its 2026 budget, it included a provision that ended the prohibition on video gambling in the city. That provided an estimated $6.8 million to the $16.6 billion budget, based on the amount that would be gained from licensing fees if approximately 80% of the roughly 3,300 eligible venues applied for the machines. 

However, opponents of VGTs say the revenue they generate will be minimal and could even cost the city money if they take business away from the more lucrative slot machines at Bally’s casino. There are also concerns that allowing the proliferation of video gambling could invalidate portions of the city’s agreement with Bally’s, potentially costing the city far more than it would gain from the machines.

Christopher Jewett, Bally's senior vice president for corporate development, told the committee the company entered its host agreement on the assumption that Chicago would maintain its VGT ban.

“Bally’s entered the [agreement] and made these commitments on the premise that the city would adhere to its long-standing agreement to prohibit VGTs,” Jewett said. “Had we known that within just a few years this body would reverse course and allow an alternative form of gaming that breaches the agreement, we would never agree to the numerous commitments, all of which we’ve held up.”

However, Jewett proposed an alternative revenue stream to the committee, saying Bally’s could open gambling lounges in each of Chicago’s five airport terminals at O’Hare and Midway airports.

“We do share your desire to avoid a budget shortfall, which is why we have proposed substituting the revenue you have anticipated from VGTs with revenue from airport slot machines,” Jewett said during the hearing. “We believe one lounge can generate approximately $5 million in actual gaming and admission taxes, which go directly to the city.”

Beale Questions Integrity of Repeal Effort

Ald. Anthony Beale (D-9th Ward), who has led the charge to legalize VGTs in the city, said that Bally’s has already been authorized to open those lounges and has yet to do so. He also questioned why the Committee on Workforce and Development was trying to set the stage to ban video gaming while not taking steps to ban unregulated sweepstakes machines in the city.

“We’re doing all of ourselves a disservice by even talking about this right now, when you have a city who won’t shut down illegal sweepstakes machines,” Beale said. “We have a legal avenue that’s approved by the Illinois Gaming Board and we want to shut that down on the grounds that it’s going to hurt Bally’s, who’s underperforming in their temporary [casino].”

The context for Beale's "underperforming" statement is that Bally's temporary casino at Medinah Temple has generated roughly $14.4 million in tax revenue so far in 2025, falling well under the $35 million the city had projected for the year.

When Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Ivan Capifali said he wasn’t going to talk about sweepstakes machines during the meeting, Beale attacked the commissioner.

“This is a circus…and we’re doing all of ourselves a disservice by even talking about this right now,” Beale said. “And Ivan, I’m sorry man. You make excuses left and right. Your integrity is zero…commissioner, I believe that you need to resign because you are doing a disservice to the city of Chicago.”

After the outburst, Beale moved to adjourn the meeting and received support from the majority of aldermen, which ended the hearing. 

Bally's is currently operating its temporary casino at the Medinah Temple while constructing its permanent property, which has faced delays and is under pressure to meet a state-mandated opening deadline.