Illinois law allows local governments to ban video gambling machines in restaurants or bars within city limits. Chicago, which already had an ordinance banning video gambling, could have opted to legalize the machines but left the law on the books in pursuit of a downtown casino.
However, as Bally’s moves forward with its $1.7 billion casino, both candidates in the city’s upcoming mayoral run-off election—former Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson—have expressed support for allowing video gambling within city limits.
A campaign spokesperson for Johnson said the commissioner “is a supporter of legalized video gambling as an important revenue source for critical investments in public safety, transportation, housing and other public accommodations.”
In a debate with Johnson, Vallas recently stated he would fund investments in the South and West sides with “a fair share of TIF money, a fair share of casino money, the gaming money, the video poker money, which of course I would support and legalize.”
A few days later, the Vallas campaign received a $100,000 donation from Andrew Bluhm, son of gambling mogul Neil Bluhm, owner of Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.
Neil Bluhm has pushed back against the spread of video gambling in Illinois, but his son previously invested in the video gambling company Laredo Hospitality.
Andrew Bluhm released a statement noting he no longer holds a stake in the company. He said, “I made a small investment in a very close friend’s business when he started a video gambling terminal business many years ago. The business has been sold and I no longer have any interest in it.”
In 2021, Neil Bluhm strongly opposed the Chicago City Council’s efforts to lift the city’s ban on sports betting. He testified during a council committee hearing that allowing sports betting would impact the city’s future casino.
Bluhm submitted two bids to operate Chicago’s casino but lost out to Bally’s. He said, “For almost 20 years, the city has tried to get a casino. Now, when you finally can have one, why would you create several competitors when the city gets no revenue from sports betting?”
Video gambling started in Illinois in 2012. As of February, more than 45,100 video gambling terminals were in operation in more than 8,200 venues statewide, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. In 2022, gamblers wagered about $10.5 billion on the machines, generating $135.5 million in tax revenue for municipalities that allow the games.
