Chicago is actively pursuing the potential for putting in slot machines at O’Hare and Halfway Airports — and Bally’s has recognized a website for these machines at Halfway, a high mayoral aide disclosed Tuesday.
Chief Monetary Officer Jill Jaworski made that shock announcement in the course of the first day of Metropolis Council hearings on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $16.6 billion funds.
“We’ve had a dialog with Bally’s about shifting that ahead. … We have now been in dialog with them about investigating that. They’ve expressed curiosity,” Jaworski stated. “There are some technical challenges that we’ve to take care of — making certain that we’re complying with all of the laws which are on the airports. However these conversations have been ongoing. They’ve recognized a website at Halfway and we proceed to work to maneuver that ahead.”
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (thirty sixth) was delighted to listen to that the airport slot machine concept he has championed was lastly shifting ahead.
He thought it was useless when senior mayoral adviser Jason Lee tried to floor the thought, telling the Chicago Solar-Occasions in early August that putting in slots at O’Hare and Halfway would flip the aerial gateways to Chicago right into a chintzy Las Vegas reproduction.
“They’re lastly beginning to notice that any type of income, particularly given the deficit we’re dealing with, must be on the desk. And this might generate anyplace between $30 million to $40 million,” Villegas stated. “This was a layup. The Basic Meeting gave us this authority three or 4 years in the past within the on line casino invoice. And it’s a disgrace that the earlier administration and this administration haven’t acted to have a look at the entire income that’s on the desk as a substitute of nickel-and-diming folks.”
Lee has argued that the very last thing a booming O’Hare wants after a record-setting surge in summer time journey is to comply with the lead of Harry Reid Worldwide Airport in Las Vegas, which has 1,300 slot machines distributed all through its terminals.
Slot machines are unattainable to overlook at that airport, previously named McCarran. They’re in all places — from the bags declare space and retail area to terminal gates and automobile rental kiosks.
“I don’t know if a broader enlargement or Vegas-style slots in a Chicago airport would actually be one thing that the general public is concerned about,” Lee stated in August. “That will be a fairly vital change to the tradition of our airports. Chicago will not be recognized primarily as a gaming vacation spot like Las Vegas. It will … increase a variety of considerations.”
Villegas has a pending ordinance that may authorize set up of lots of of video playing machines past safety checkpoints at O’Hare and Halfway.
On Tuesday, the Financial and Capital Growth Committee chair as soon as once more scoffed on the notion that airport slot machines would in some way diminish Chicago’s repute as a cultured metropolis.
“Completely not. This might give passengers a chance to kill time whereas they’re ready to fly out or they’re delayed or they’re being rerouted to Chicago, given the entire challenges with air visitors controllers,” Villegas stated.
“You’re purported to get to the airport two to 3 hours forward of time. This might permit adults 21 and over to kill a while, seize some {dollars} from guests coming by the town and provides [Bally’s] the flexibility to advertise itself in case these people come again and have the chance to go to the land-based on line casino,” he stated.
Villegas stated slot machines must be confined to segregated lounges past the safety checkpoint. They’d basically function “mini-casinos” the place meals and drinks may very well be bought.
“It will be sectioned in an space the place it’s not chintzy. Similar to after I fly, I’m going to the United Membership to seize a chunk to eat, perhaps get a drink whereas I’m ready for my flight,” Villegas stated. “If a lounge was obtainable and I felt prefer it, perhaps I’d go spend 10 or 20 bucks to kill extra time, perhaps get fortunate and get some extra spending cash for my journey.”
