Bally’s warned Thursday that lifting the Chicago ban on video gambling would cost the cash-strapped city $74 million in annual revenue, and as many as 1,050 jobs at its temporary and permanent casinos.
Undaunted by the casino giant’s caution, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) vowed to add 700 bars and taverns to the ordinance he muscled through the City Council’s License Committee last month over Mayor Brandon Johnson’s strenuous objections.
The License Committee did not vote on the proposed expansion during Thursday’s meeting.
Instead, Beale vowed to amend his ordinance on the City Council floor after convincing legislative leaders to give Chicago a greater share of video gambling revenues. Currently the tax on slot machine revenue is nearly four times higher than it is on video gambling termin