Nearly a year after the Council legalized video gaming, 15 locations are licensed. The City can't say how many sweepstakes machines are out there

The first licenses went out Oct. 23, the City's liquor commissioner told the budget committee. In June, the Council rejected a ban on sweepstakes machines, 15 to 33.

By Chicago PoliticsUpdated Nov 5, 2026

Chicago has licensed video gaming terminals at 15 locations so far, nearly a year after the City Council voted to allow them, the City's top liquor and hospitality regulator told alderpersons Wednesday. The first licenses were issued Oct. 23. Asked how many unlicensed sweepstakes machines operate in the city, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said it doesn't know.

Why it matters: video gaming was counted on for new revenue, and the Council's sweepstakes fight is about machines that look like gambling devices but aren't licensed or taxed. With the Council searching for $75 million to replace the parking meter money it moved to pensions this week, members spent much of the department's hearing on both.

What the department said

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), who chairs the License Committee, opened by saying the Council legalized video gaming terminals in last year's budget, expecting $6.8 million, and that the administration waited months to notify the state (watch). Shannon Trotter, the local liquor control commissioner, said the City has received 60 location applications and 15 terminal operator applications, and has issued 15 location licenses and five terminal operator licenses. Payments have been taken for 31 locations, which should be ready within about 35 days, she said.

On sweepstakes machines, department officials said they had no count. Machines aren't illegal unless they're used for gambling, they said, and suspected cases are referred to the Police Department's vice unit.

Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) called that "disheartening," citing an industry estimate of 7,000 illegal sweepstakes machines in the city (watch). Later, answering a colleague, Beale said the Clerk's office has issued 5,256 sticker medallions for amusement machines, bringing in $788,400 (watch). Ald. Jeylú Gutiérrez (14th) asked for permit and emblem data by ward (watch).

Other numbers from the department:

Enforcement staff: 41 investigators, 22 on days and 19 on nights and weekends.
Citations: more than 9,000 since January to more than 3,000 businesses and public vehicle operators, including more than 1,000 for unlicensed operation.
Active business licenses: 50,938 in 2023, 50,486 in 2024, 51,285 in 2025 and 52,388 at the end of September 2026.

Beale also asked how many gas stations have been fined for leaving pumps without receipt paper or switching off card readers (watch); the department said it would answer in writing.

What our records add

The resolution to notify the state. The Council adopted Beale's resolution asking the City Clerk to send the Illinois Gaming Board a certified copy of the video gaming ordinance, 49 to 0, on Feb. 18 (R2026-0022536).

The sweepstakes ban that failed. Beale's ordinance defining and banning sweepstakes machines failed 15 to 33 on June 17 (SO2026-0024076). Four of its 12 co-sponsors voted no: Michelle Harris (8th), Gregory Mitchell (7th), Derrick Curtis (18th) and Jeanette Taylor (20th). Ald. William Hall (6th) has a separate sweepstakes ordinance in committee since December (O2025-0021711).

How each ward voted

15 yea, 33 nay, 1 absent, 1 not voting · Jun 17, 2026 · Failed to Pass

Yea Nay Absent Not voting

SO2026-0024076: the roll call, the timeline and the documents

Bans by ward, still pending. Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th) proposed barring video gaming licenses in the 26th, 27th, 33rd, 35th and 49th wards (SO2025-0021968), and Budget Chair Jason Ervin proposed the same for the 28th (O2026-0023351). The License Committee recommended against both in March, 2 to 15 and 3 to 13, and both were then deferred on the Council floor, where they still sit. Ald. Scott Waguespack's (32nd) ordinance on conditional approval of licenses (O2026-0024090) was also deferred in April.

What's next

Writing: the department agreed to send ward-by-ward application data, inspection and enforcement counts, and a full report on video gaming through the chair.
About 35 days: up to 31 more location licenses could be issued.
Today through Nov. 10: budget hearings continue; the Council must pass a balanced budget by Dec. 31.

Sources: Chicago Politics: Budget hearing transcript, Nov. 4, 2026.