# Legalizing video gambling terminals harms Chicago

> Chicago's alderpersons broke a contract by legalizing video gambling terminals, risking revenue and safety.
- Title: Legalizing video gambling terminals harms Chicago | Shortify
- Summary: Chicago's alderpersons broke a contract by legalizing video gambling terminals, risking revenue and safety. Chicago's City Council legalized video gambling…
- Keywords: chicago, video gambling terminals, city council, ballys, pension funds, union jobs, crime, river west, oak lawn, news, local, Legalizing
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2026/09/23/legalizing-video-gambling-terminals-is-a-bad-bet-for-chicago
- Published: 2026-09-23T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: chicago, video gambling terminals, city council, ballys, pension funds, union jobs, crime, river west, oak lawn, news, local
## Chicago Council legalizes video gambling terminals
Chicago's City Council voted to legalize video gambling terminals in bars and restaurants in the 2026 budget.
## Bally's contract violation
Bally's moved to reset construction on the River West casino site, citing the legalization of video gambling terminals as a breach of the 2022 contract.
## Bally's promised union jobs
Bally's committed to thousands of good, permanent union jobs and funding police and fire pension liability through casino revenue.
## Video gambling cuts revenue
Illinois casinos saw a nearly 40% reduction in gaming revenue directly attributed to video gambling terminals.
## Lost $100 million in revenue
This means losing nearly $100 million in tax revenue for police and firefighters' pension funds.
## No public safety plan
The City Council did not make a public safety plan to handle crime spikes from video gambling terminals.
## Oak Lawn burglaries
Oak Lawn experienced a rash of video gambling terminal-related burglaries with insufficient police resources.
## Village manager warning
Oak Lawn Village Manager Tom Phelan warned, 'Someone’s going to get killed. Whether it be police, whether it be, God help us if it’s just innocent victims.'

> Someone’s going to get killed. Whether it be police, whether it be, God help us if it’s just innocent victims.
## Community opposition
Chicago community leaders and residents, including white, Black and Latino citizens, oppose video gambling terminals due to financial and public health concerns.
## Call to reverse legalization
Alderpersons should reverse the ill-advised legalization before video gambling terminals become widespread.
## Bally's security concerns
Video gambling terminals lack the strong security measures that traditional casinos have, increasing crime risks.
## Chicago's reputation at risk
The City Council's action harms Chicago's reputation and local casino revenue, creating uncertainty for investors and developers.
## Key takeaway

Chicago's City Council legalized video gambling terminals without security measures, cutting $100 million in pension revenue and increasing crime risks.