Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, September 9, 2026

When: Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
Status: Scheduled & Published
Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928556?video=1225329148
Transcript: full text (34,416 words, automatic captions)

Video chapters

18:44 Public comment
45:31 Anthony Beale: Asked a public commenter whether Bally's had tried to buy his VGT company and whether he had…
48:21 David H. Moore: Said that since a public commenter was questioned out of order, anyone wishing to respond to…
50:19 Subject matter hearing on Chicago casino development and enforcement of Bally's host community agreement
52:19 Debra L. Silverstein: Said the hearing was called because a major development project had been partially…
54:44 Debra L. Silverstein: Stated for the record that the Mayor's senior advisor and chief of staff were asked…
56:03 Debra L. Silverstein: Asked Bally's which project components are under construction and which were paused,…
1:03:03 Brendan Reilly: Asked the chair which City officials were invited and whether they gave a reason for not…
1:04:20 Brendan Reilly: Asked Bally's what specific provision of the host community agreement the City has breached.
1:06:30 Brendan Reilly: Asked whether Bally's raised objections about sweepstakes machines already operating in…
1:25:34 Raymond A. Lopez: Said Bally's 2021 proposal claimed it would exceed the revenue of all 10 existing Illinois…
1:32:46 Scott Waguespack: Asked staff to bring the Mayor's senior advisor to the hearing to answer questions as the…
1:33:57 Scott Waguespack: Asked the Department of Law what steps it took after August 8 to keep the dispute from…
1:35:36 Scott Waguespack: Objected to the Department of Law declining to answer legal questions in public.
1:38:14 Samantha Nugent: Asked whether the City and Bally's have a regular cadence of meetings and whether those…
1:40:53 Samantha Nugent: Said members were told communications with Bally's must be reported to the Gaming Board and…
1:55:56 Anthony V. Napolitano: Asked whether Bally's was told it would be the sole gaming operator in Chicago.
1:58:59 Anthony V. Napolitano: Noted Bally's operates alongside VGTs in other markets and does well in some of them.
2:00:59 Anthony V. Napolitano: Said Bally's must have considered existing sweepstakes machines in its analysis and…
2:03:29 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked about long-term job counts after phase one versus full completion and what share of…
2:05:15 Bennett R. Lawson: Said he had heard the temporary casino is 40 to 45 percent below projections and invited…
2:05:39 Bennett R. Lawson: Asked whether the HCA specifically addresses VGTs and whether the Department of Law…
2:17:06 David H. Moore: Asked the City CFO whether all Bally's casino revenues go to police and fire pensions.
2:17:54 David H. Moore: Said the issue is serious and he views it through the lens of residents who struggle with…
2:24:05 Marty Quinn: Asked how many of the 136 laid-off union workers are City residents.
2:30:21 Matthew J. Martin: Asked Bally's to provide how Illinois VGT numbers compare to other states.
2:31:21 Matthew J. Martin: Asked whether Bally's $4 million annual HCA payment has been made and when it is due;…
2:32:26 Matthew J. Martin: Asked whether Bally's signed a project labor agreement and whether there are compliance…
2:36:00 Samantha Nugent: Asked the Department of Law whether 'reset' is a term in the HCA; the attorney said she did…
2:47:14 Anthony Beale: Asked the City CFO to research the temporary casino's pension commitment and what has been…
2:47:48 Anthony Beale: Asked the Department of Law to confirm it would provide correspondence disagreeing with…
3:00:09 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked whether the HCA mentions sweepstakes machines and argued their existing revenue…
3:03:15 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Asked whether the HCA has penalties for missed deadlines and requested those provisions…
3:04:43 Andre Vasquez Jr.: Said the administration's lack of information sharing was embarrassing and called for…
3:07:27 William E. Hall: Asked when Bally's prepared its 2026 revenue projections and whether it projected a profit.
3:10:00 William E. Hall: Asked when Bally's decided to depart from its building plans and how many jobs were cut.
3:13:11 William E. Hall: Asked how much revenue Bally's projected to lose from VGTs and how it viewed data on Rivers…
3:19:46 Marty Quinn: Asked about the status of slot machines at Midway Airport and said he was not consulted and…
3:21:31 Marty Quinn: Asked what a newspaper report of Bally's joining forces with the Mayor's office on VGTs means.
3:34:22 Item 3 (Alderperson O'Shea)
3:34:41 Disallow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Fullerton Avenue (1st Ward)
3:36:30 Disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portions of the 6th Ward
3:37:55 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of South Stony Island Avenue
3:38:21 Michelle A. Harris: Asked for favorable consideration of lifting a moratorium so a business on South Stony…
3:39:06 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of South and West Jefferson Street
3:40:50 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Washington, North Canal and West Madison
3:41:37 Items 14-32: 15th Ward precincts designated restricted residential zone prohibiting shared housing
3:41:56 Raymond A. Lopez: Presented ordinances prohibiting shared housing throughout the 15th Ward, saying residents…
3:42:24 Items 33-51: 23rd Ward precincts designated restricted residential zone prohibiting shared housing…
3:42:55 Silvana Tabares: Said residents support prohibiting temporary rentals and the ordinances make the…
3:43:38 29th Ward precincts designated restricted residential zone prohibiting shared housing
3:44:01 Chris Taliaferro: Said the ordinances prohibit shared housing rentals in the 1st and 19th precincts, which…
3:44:41 Items 54-84: 41st Ward precincts designated restricted residential zone prohibiting shared housing
3:45:21 Order directing BACP to formulate a plan for a one-stop shop business licensing and permitting portal…
3:51:43 Raymond A. Lopez: Suggested the business portal include a process where aldermanic notifications proceed…
3:54:11 Ruth Cruz: Expressed support for the West Belmont Avenue package goods ordinance to help a neighborhood…
3:54:36 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Belmont Avenue (substitute)

Meeting notes

AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The Committee on License and Consumer Protection held a public comment period, approved the Rule 45 reports for July and August 2026, and then held a subject matter hearing, with no vote taken, on the status of the Bally's Chicago casino project and the host community agreement (HCA). Bally's representatives said the company had 'reset' or re-phased parts of construction in August 2026, citing the City's legalization of video gaming terminals (VGTs), while saying it would still deliver the casino floor, event center and first 100 hotel rooms required under the HCA; members questioned Bally's on financing, layoffs of about 136 construction workers, revenue projections and sweepstakes machines. Members also pressed the City CFO and Department of Law, who declined to answer legal questions in public, and several members and the chair said the Mayor's office staff they had invited did not attend and that another hearing may be needed. The committee then passed a series of package goods and liquor license moratorium changes, shared housing restricted residential zone ordinances for the 15th, 23rd, 29th and 41st Wards, and an order directing a plan for a one-stop business licensing and permitting portal.

Topics: Bally's casino, host community agreement, video gaming terminals, sweepstakes machines, construction jobs, transparency, package goods licenses, shared housing restrictions, business licensing portal

Agenda items discussed

18:44 Public comment: discussed
50:00 Approval of Rule 45 reports for July 2026 and August 2026: passed
50:19 Subject matter hearing on the status of the Chicago casino development and enforcement of the host community agreement between Bally's and the City of Chicago: discussed
3:34:22 Item 3 (Alderperson Matthew J. O'Shea ordinance), not called because the sponsor was not present (O2026-0026775)
3:34:41 Disallow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Fullerton Avenue (1st Ward) (O2026-0025816): passed
3:35:03 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Grand Avenue (1st Ward) (O2026-0027169): passed
3:36:30 Disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portions of the 6th Ward (O2026-0027185): passed
3:36:30 Disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portions of the 6th Ward (O2026-0027270): passed
3:36:30 Disallow additional alcoholic liquor and package goods licenses on portions of the 6th Ward (O2026-0027297): passed
3:37:55 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of South Stony Island Avenue (O2026-0027472): passed
3:39:06 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of South Jefferson Street and West Jefferson Street (O2026-0026831): passed
3:39:27 Allow additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portions of West Randolph Street, North Jefferson Street and West Washington Boulevard (O2026-0027178): passed
3:40:39 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Washington Boulevard, North Canal Street and West Madison Street (O2026-0027186): passed
3:41:29 Designating precincts of the 15th Ward as restricted residential zones prohibiting additional shared housing units (items 14-32): passed
3:42:24 Designating precincts of the 23rd Ward as restricted residential zones prohibiting additional shared housing units (items 33-51, substitute): passed
3:43:38 Designating precincts of the 29th Ward as restricted residential zone prohibiting additional shared housing units (O2026-0027438): passed
3:43:38 Designating precincts of the 29th Ward as restricted residential zone prohibiting additional shared housing units (O2026-0027441): passed
3:44:41 Designating precincts of the 41st Ward as restricted residential zones prohibiting additional shared housing units (items 54-84): passed
3:45:21 Order directing the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to formulate a plan for a one-stop business licensing and permitting portal (substitute): passed
3:54:36 Allow additional package goods licenses on portions of West Belmont Avenue (substitute): passed

Alderpersons who spoke

Debra L. Silverstein (chair): Said the hearing was called because a major development project had been partially halted and that it would seek to establish what happened, why, and whether the City and Bally's met their obligations under the host community agreement. (52:19); Stated for the record that the Mayor's senior advisor and chief of staff were asked multiple times to attend and did not. (54:44); Asked Bally's which project components are under construction and which were paused, delayed or slowed. (56:03)
Anthony Beale (alderperson): Asked a public commenter whether Bally's had tried to buy his VGT company and whether he had proof and how many meetings occurred. (45:31); Asked the City CFO to research the temporary casino's pension commitment and what has been delivered each year, plus the permanent casino's projected revenue. (2:47:14); Asked the Department of Law to confirm it would provide correspondence disagreeing with Bally's position. (2:47:48)
David H. Moore (alderperson): Said that since a public commenter was questioned out of order, anyone wishing to respond to his claims should also get an opportunity, so the hearing is not one-sided. (48:21); Asked the City CFO whether all Bally's casino revenues go to police and fire pensions. (2:17:06); Said the issue is serious and he views it through the lens of residents who struggle with basic costs. (2:17:54)
Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Asked the chair which City officials were invited and whether they gave a reason for not attending. (1:03:03); Asked Bally's what specific provision of the host community agreement the City has breached. (1:04:20); Asked whether Bally's raised objections about sweepstakes machines already operating in Chicago. (1:06:30)
Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said Bally's 2021 proposal claimed it would exceed the revenue of all 10 existing Illinois casinos and asked whether it has done so. (1:25:34); Presented ordinances prohibiting shared housing throughout the 15th Ward, saying residents support them. (3:41:56); Suggested the business portal include a process where aldermanic notifications proceed unless an alderperson objects within 10 business days. (3:51:43)
Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked staff to bring the Mayor's senior advisor to the hearing to answer questions as the primary point person. (1:32:46); Asked the Department of Law what steps it took after August 8 to keep the dispute from escalating into a slowdown. (1:33:57); Objected to the Department of Law declining to answer legal questions in public. (1:35:36)
Samantha Nugent (alderperson): Asked whether the City and Bally's have a regular cadence of meetings and whether those communications are tracked. (1:38:14); Said members were told communications with Bally's must be reported to the Gaming Board and asked whether that applies to the Mayor's office. (1:40:53); Asked the Department of Law whether 'reset' is a term in the HCA; the attorney said she did not find it. (2:36:00)
Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Asked whether Bally's was told it would be the sole gaming operator in Chicago. (1:55:56); Noted Bally's operates alongside VGTs in other markets and does well in some of them. (1:58:59); Said Bally's must have considered existing sweepstakes machines in its analysis and that attributing the issue only to VGTs was not genuine. (2:00:59)
Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked about long-term job counts after phase one versus full completion and what share of employees are dedicated to gaming. (2:03:29); Said he had heard the temporary casino is 40 to 45 percent below projections and invited Bally's to dispute it. (2:05:15); Asked whether the HCA specifically addresses VGTs and whether the Department of Law believes the City is in breach. (2:05:39)
Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked how many of the 136 laid-off union workers are City residents. (2:24:05); Asked about the status of slot machines at Midway Airport and said he was not consulted and learned of it in the newspaper. (3:19:46); Asked what a newspaper report of Bally's joining forces with the Mayor's office on VGTs means. (3:21:31)
Matthew J. Martin (alderperson): Asked Bally's to provide how Illinois VGT numbers compare to other states. (2:30:21); Asked whether Bally's $4 million annual HCA payment has been made and when it is due; Bally's said it was paid the previous day. (2:31:21); Asked whether Bally's signed a project labor agreement and whether there are compliance issues. (2:32:26)
Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked whether the HCA mentions sweepstakes machines and argued their existing revenue should already be factored in. (3:00:09); Asked whether the HCA has penalties for missed deadlines and requested those provisions through the chair. (3:03:15); Said the administration's lack of information sharing was embarrassing and called for regular public briefings to the Council and independent counsel for the Council. (3:04:43)
William E. Hall (alderperson): Asked when Bally's prepared its 2026 revenue projections and whether it projected a profit. (3:07:27); Asked when Bally's decided to depart from its building plans and how many jobs were cut. (3:10:00); Asked how much revenue Bally's projected to lose from VGTs and how it viewed data on Rivers Casino. (3:13:11)
Michelle A. Harris (alderperson): Asked for favorable consideration of lifting a moratorium so a business on South Stony Island Avenue can expand. (3:38:21)
Silvana Tabares (alderperson): Said residents support prohibiting temporary rentals and the ordinances make the restriction consistent across the 23rd Ward. (3:42:55)
Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Said the ordinances prohibit shared housing rentals in the 1st and 19th precincts, which residents support. (3:44:01)
Ruth Cruz (alderperson): Expressed support for the West Belmont Avenue package goods ordinance to help a neighborhood market. (3:54:11)

Exchanges between members

48:21 Moore asked the chair to give others a chance to respond after a public commenter was questioned out of order.
1:03:03 Reilly asked the chair which City officials were invited to the hearing and why they did not attend.
1:38:14 Nugent excused herself to Waguespack before raising a point of information during his questioning.
1:43:06 Nugent thanked Waguespack for allowing her point of information.
2:29:03 Moore disputed the chair's statement that his time was up, and the chair said a time limit had been imposed.
2:29:48 Moore referred to points Reilly raised about Bally's lenders.
2:43:42 Reilly said Nugent raised a good point about whom the City's lawyers represent.
2:44:54 Reilly asked the chair to reconvene another hearing to hear from the administration.
2:45:08 The chair said she had already told the Mayor's office another meeting may be needed.
3:05:44 Vasquez said Lawson was right about the need for a regular cadence of check-ins on developments.
3:06:52 Vasquez credited Reilly in calling for independent counsel for the Council.
3:49:54 Reilly applauded Martin for bringing forward the one-stop business portal order.
3:51:07 Reilly suggested Martin consider a council order on one-stop billing next.
3:51:43 Lopez offered Martin a suggestion on aldermanic notifications for the business portal.
3:53:01 Martin responded that Lopez's suggestion could be discussed after the implementation plan is shared.

Documents

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