Illinois lawmakers want to legalize video slot machines in Chicago
A bill introduced in the Illinois House by Rep. Cam Buckner (D-Chicago) would allow small businesses in Chicago to apply for a video gaming terminal license (VGT) regardless of whether they currently offer illegal lottery machines.
House Bill 5791 would amend the Illinois Video Gaming Act to allow business applicants who previously operated unregulated gaming machines to apply for a VGT license.
Lottery machines, controversial "gray gaming devices" long considered illegal gambling devices by law enforcement, continue to proliferate in Chicago due to the city's VGT ban.
If Chicago lifts its VGT ban, HB 5791 would create a framework for companies currently offering lottery machines to obtain VGT approval for slot machines from the Illinois Gaming Commission.
Financing Issues
Chicago continues to try to find ways to fix its broken first responder pension system. The $1.7 billion Bally's Chicago downtown casino will play a major role, but the Liberty Center development isn't going as planned.
The Chicago City Council has maintained a ban on VGT since 2012, when the city decriminalized sales for businesses with liquor licenses. In addition to HB 5791, Buckner also wants the Windy City to repeal the VGT ordinance.
Buckner has met with city officials who appear ready to lift the more than decade-old VGT ban.
No one would disagree that we need to explore every revenue option,” City Councilman William Hall told the Chicago Tribune.
Buckner said his first step in bringing VGT to Chicago was winning the support of the City Council.
It’s early days, but if they’re not fully on board, there’s not much we can do,” Buckner said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to comment publicly on repealing the city’s VGT ban.
Illinois residents bet $2.8 billion on VGT machines last year, according to state gaming regulators.
The state capital, Springfield, with about 113,000 residents, a far cry from Chicago's 2.7 million residents, has the most VGT machines in the state. Last year, Springfield generated about $2.5 million in local tax revenue from VGT equipment.
There are 137 companies offering VGT machines in Springfield. In February, the facilities offered a total of 748 rides.
Competition Machine Description
While Chicago still bans state-regulated VGT, many small businesses in the city have introduced lottery devices. Gray gaming devices allow players to wager real money to earn store credit.
The Illinois Gaming Commission has long determined that lottery tickets constitute illegal gambling. In addition to pension funding issues, Johnson is also looking for new revenue streams to curb the city's homelessness problem.
In a special referendum last month, city voters rejected Johnson's $100 million "Bring Chicago Home" plan, which would have provided more affordable housing in the city and required local governments to enact comprehensive homelessness policies. Return to the prevention program. The money would be raised through an increase in property taxes on homeowners and property owners with real estate assets worth more than $1 million.
A slim majority of Chicagoans (52.2%) voted against the initiative.
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Source: www.casino.org
