A video gambling mogul is apparently ready to roll the dice on a run for Illinois Governor.
Rick Heidner owns Gold Rush Gaming, which owns video gambling terminals in hundreds of bars and gas stations in the state.
He also owns the Ricky Rockets chain of gas stations, and this week formally set up a committee to run his campaign for governor, to which he then contributed a million dollars.
Heidner’s been involved in a number of high-profile projects, including a bid to buy the old state mental hospital site in Tinley Park for a horse racing and gambling complex, which fell apart over Heidner’s past business dealings with figures tied to organized crime.
He also partnered with White Sox legend Frank Thomas in 2021 to buy partial ownership in the “Field Of Dreams” site in Iowa. During the announcement of that deal, he boasted to the audience that “I think I took Frank to his first Cubs game.”
They’ve since sold their interest.
His running mate is Homer Glen mayor Christina Neitze-Troike.
They’re joining a primary field that includes 2022 nominee Darren Bailey, researcher Ted Dabrowski, DuPage County sheriff James Mendrick and businessman Joe Severino.