Chicago City Council eyes video gambling vote
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A woman plays video poker. Photo: Pascal Guyot/Agence France Presse via Getty Images
After passing out of committee last week, a measure to allow video gambling in Chicago could come up for a full City Council vote as early as Thursday.
Why it matters: For years, Chicago lawmakers have banned the kind of video gambling terminals you see in suburban bars and diners from entering city limits.
- But increasing desperation to plug the upcoming $1.1 billion city budget gap appears to be weakening their resolve.
The basics: Sponsored by Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), the proposal would allow video gambling at about 3,500 venues including restaurants, hotels and bowling alleys where liquor is not the primary revenue driver. Taverns could be added later.
- It passed out of committee by 8-6 despite calls from mayoral aides to delay the decision.
Reality check: A full council vote this week looks iffy given unclear support from a majority of council members.
State of play: Mayor Brandon Johnson seems torn on expanded gambling.
- Last week he told Axios he "doesn't necessarily participate" in it and he knows it takes a disproportionate toll on the low-income communities that he has pledged to protect.
- But moments later, he said if the council passes video gambling, the city "can't leave millions of dollars on the table" and has to negotiate a bigger cut of the tax revenue from the state, which currently takes 30% while municipalities get 5.1%.
By the numbers: While Beale introduced the measure claiming it could bring in $60 million to $100 million a year, city chief financial officer Jill Jaworski projected much smaller gains at a July meeting, saying, "Maybe we make $10 million one year and lose $5 million another (year)."
- Those potential losses, the administration says, could come from reduced Bally's slot machine tax revenue, casino job losses, and even a reduction in the $4 million annual payments Bally's makes to the city under its current contract.
What we're watching: If and how alders negotiate tweaks to the legislation before a potential vote at the Thursday council meeting.