Brandon Johnson won the run-off as new mayor of Chicago and the big winners might be proponents of legalized video gambling terminals in the city limits.
However, that stance may run counter to the Illinois casino deal the city brokered with Bally’s by [outgoing] mayor Lori Lightfoot. Bally’s intends to build a sprawling new casino in the city’s River West neighborhood.
Chicago has an ordinance – loosely enforced – banning VGTs in bars and restaurants within city limits. Establishment owners have instead installed ‘sweepstakes machines’ which work a lot like video gambling machines in their locations.
One of the perks for a major casino company coming into the Chicago market is the fact that it would be the sole major provider for gambling within the city.
