Chicago City Council heard details of a measure that would allow Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, the United Center and Wintrust Arena to house their own sports betting facilities. No vote was taken on the controversial proposal.
State legislators previously approved sportsbooks at professional stadiums, but Chicago needs to remove its ban on sports betting and approve licensing, as well as regulate the number of betting kiosks and hours of operation.
Speaking against the proposal, Rush Street Gaming Chairman Neil Bluhm told aldermen stadium betting would significantly and negatively affect casino handle and the tax revenue the city receives from casino gambling. Rush Street submitted two bids to build and operate a Chicago casino.
Bluhm said, “The great locations of Wrigley Field and the United Center will draw lots of sports betting customers” who, as a result, won’t go to the casino. Bluhm cited a study he said indicated casino slots and table games bets would decline up to $61 million per year and the city would lose $12 million in annual tax revenue if sportsbooks open at stadiums.
Mara Georges, former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s longtime corporate counsel speaking on behalf of Wrigley Field and the United Center, questioned Bluhm’s motives. She said stadium sportsbooks might hurt Bluhm’s Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. She added allowing a sportsbook at Soldier Field might help keep the Bears in Chicago instead of moving to Arlington Heights.
The Chicago Cubs already have received approval from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to build a proposed two-story DraftKings sportsbook adjacent to Wrigley Field. However, it can’t operate unless the city council approves the measure allowing stadium sportsbooks.
Far South Side Alderman Anthony Beale called the measure “one of the worst pieces of legislation” he’s seen regarding gambling. He said, “And it could not be at a worse time, when we in this city are trying to get a casino, not knowing if this could really turn one of these people off who could be one of our potential bidders from opening up a casino.”
Lincoln Park Alderman Michele Smith added she was concerned the ordinance would not direct revenue the city would collect from stadium sportsbooks toward the huge gap in public pension funds. She noted casino revenue would, under law, go to the pension funds.
The sportsbook ordinance sponsor, Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., whose ward includes the United Center, argued that allowing betting at the stadium will create jobs and activity when the Bulls and Blackhawks aren’t playing there, increasing the city’s amusement tax income. Under Burnett’s plan, the city would issue sports licenses for $50,000 a year with $25,000 annual renewals. In response to prospective Chicago casino developers, Burnett stated stadium sportsbooks “won’t hurt a casino.”
Teams also could operate sportsbooks in facilities within five blocks of the stadiums. Southwest Side Alderman Raymond Lopez said those licenses should go to struggling neighborhood bars rather than “helping the rich get richer” in Wrigleyville and elsewhere.
