Chicago casino magnate Neil Bluhm has lined up a team of blue-ribbon lobbyists to try and convince the City Council not to lift the ban on sports betting in Chicago.
On Monday, Bluhm is poised to make the argument himself during a subject matter hearing on sports betting in Chicago. It’s the political equivalent of a heavyweight boxing match that has pitted Chicago sports team owners against those vying to build a Chicago casino.
Bluhm’s interest in blocking the ordinance is two-fold. His Rush Street Gaming company is part of two separate groups vying to build a Chicago casino.
And his Des Plaines-based Rivers Casino already has a sports book that stands to lose business if sports betting is legalized in Chicago.
