In the News

Urbana grocery store looking to add video gambling

URBANA, Ill. (WCCU) — The debate about video gambling in Urbana is back. The local Save-A-Lot store on Broadway Avenue is looking to add up to five gambling machines in its liquor store. The business is looking to make a profit, but for some frequent shoppers, they...

Why does Illinois see a spike in gaming revenue each March?

The parlor had been open just over an hour, but the only people inside were the owner and a handful of men changing out a few video gaming machines. Bailey’s Place in downtown Peru was getting some new equipment this week, just in time for the tail end of the busiest...

Unpacking Pritzker’s Tax Proposals: Gambling

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker last month laid out his plan for a state budget. But the Democratic governor is perhaps being too optimistic, counting on proposals for tax revenue sources that still need to be negotiated. One of those is the expansion of gambling and...

Bookies beware: Illinois gets ready to go all in on sports betting

Sports gambling, a multibillion-dollar industry that mostly relies on the black market, may soon go legit in Illinois. Backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and a host of gaming interests, Illinois is looking to join New Jersey, Pennsylvania and a growing number of states to...

Pritzker banking on $200 million from legal sports betting, but efforts to expand gambling have never been easy in Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is counting on $200 million in licensing fees from legalized sports wagering to help plug a $3.2 billion hole in next year’s state budget. But years of failed efforts to expand gambling in Illinois suggest his plan is no sure thing. In his first...

Renner May Veto Longer Moratorium On Video Gambling Machines

Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said he’s no fan of video gambling but may still veto the city’s newly extended moratorium on new machines. Aldermen on Monday voted 5-4 to extend the ban on new video gaming terminals to Sept. 1, past the staff-recommended date of April...

O’Connor says legalizing video gambling could help city address pension crisis

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has long been dead-set against video gambling for fear that Chicago would become saturated with video machines in bars and restaurants in already challenged neighborhoods. But that was before unregulated “sweepstakes” devices that look and work...

Schaumburg mayoral candidates debate video gambling ban

Whether and when to revisit Schaumburg's ban on video gambling is an issue on which the village's three mayoral candidates are taking distinct positions. While attorney Matthew Steward said he's philosophically opposed to allowing video gambling, both current village...

Mount Prospect grants three more video gambling licenses

For years, Mount Prospect resisted allowing gambling in the village. But now that video gambling is permitted, establishments are lining up to get their piece of the action. On Tuesday, the village granted three video gaming liquor licenses: to Sam's Place, 15 W....

Des Plaines, already home to a casino, debates allowing video gambling

Des Plaines could be the latest suburb to allow video gambling, a potentially risky and "awkward" decision for a city that's home to Rivers Casino, officials say. At least three of eight aldermen indicated support for video gambling Monday night, as numerous business...

Video Gambling Proposal Gets Second Chance In Palatine

PALATINE, IL — Video gambling is back on the table after the village council agreed to plan a May discussion to revisit its opposition to permitting video gambling in Palatine. The meeting is set for May 13. The council voted this week to revive talks it tabled in...

Video Gaming Booms Locally According to 2018 Stats

The money goes in, the buttons are pressed, and lady luck may show up. Machine game names like Texas Dice, Vegas 7, Wonder Woman, and Spartacus. The state of Illinois year-end gaming report shows over $32 billion were dropped in video gaming devices in 2018. Players...