CHICAGO CITY HALL (WBBM Newsradio) -- Six bars and restaurants in Chicago are in line to be the first in the city to install legal video gambling terminals following action by state regulators.
But Mayor Brandon Johnson may be working on a proposal that would undo a City Council vote legalizing them.
The Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday signed off on license applications from six taverns and restaurants in the city, and the state gaming board website shows license applications are pending for at least 286 other businesses with addresses in the city limits.
Accel Gaming CEO Andy Rubenstein is working with three of the new license holders to apply for permits from the city.
"We expect the city to begin that process sometime in the next week or so," Rubenstein told WBBM Newsradio. "We're in the final stages, it's really exciting for a lot of these small business owners."
Aldermen legalized video gambling citywide in the budget approved back in December over Mayor Johnson's objections. But a City Council committee on Monday is slated to consider a new proposal that the agenda says would disallow video gambling terminals. No specific ordinance language had been filed as of Friday morning ahead of Monday morning's meeting of the council's Workforce Development committee, but the agenda says it includes "one or more agreements with the casino developer to enhance casino workforce capabilities," which seems to be an agreement to increase hiring at the Bally's casino.
South side Alderman William Hall serves on that committee.
"I'm beginning to get some of the briefings, some of the moving parts that will come with the decision, again, I'm gathering all of the facts," Ald. Hall (6th Ward) said, adding that many small business owners in his ward have been counting on the boost in revenue from video gambling terminals, but that many questions about the application process remain.
As for how he'd vote, he said "I'm still listening."
We've asked the mayor's office and Bally's for more information about the proposal.
But new attempt to ban terminals could appear before Council
But new attempt to ban terminals could appear before Council
