Mayor has 5 days to decide whether to veto alternate budget that would legalize video game terminals

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The clock is ticking on the five days that Mayor Brandon Johnson has to decide whether or not he is going to veto the alternate budget passed by Chicago City Council on Saturday.

So far, he has remained mum on the matter, other than calling the proposal morally bankrupt. One of the items in the budget that he is against is the legalization of video gaming.

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Nearly 50,000 video gaming terminals are in use in bars, restaurants and other businesses across Illinois today.

But those terminals are not in Chicago, where they have remained illegal. That could soon change if, and it is still a big if, the budget approved by 30 alderpersons on Saturday becomes law.

"I border the suburbs. You could go to a pizza place in my ward, and right across the street, you could go to the same pizza place, and you could play video games. So, my businesses have been crying for it," said 38th Ward Ald. Nicholas Sposato.

Johnson opposes video gaming as it was approved. His budget proposal would limit terminals to Chicago Midway International Airport.

Bally's, whose temporary location at the Medinah Temple has been underperforming, also opposes legalization, saying video gaming terminals have already cut into casino profits elsewhere across the state.

Those losses they say, could soon become the city's, partly because the Chicago's share of the pie would also be lower, especially once Bally's permanent location in River West is opened.

According to state law, the city gets around 22% of all revenue generated from casinos, but only around 5% of the money earned by VGTs.

"Bally's staffs to demand. If we're seeing fewer people come into the casino, we hire fewer people," said Bally's Governmental Relations Vice President Elizabeth Suever. "You're spreading these machines all over the city in ways that doesn't create jobs, but is also returning a far smaller percentage of the revenues back to the city."

Several alderpersons told ABC7 on Monday that they believe they have the 34 votes needed to override a mayoral veto if it comes. A meeting of the full city council was preemptively scheduled just in case.

"I hope we hear soon. This is very important for the stability of our colleagues in the city, city workers. We want to make sure they know what's happening as we go into the holiday season," said 39th Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent. "We do believe we have the votes to override a veto. You know, I think this really comes down on stability for the city."

For now, it all hinges on the mayor's signature. Earlier Monday, a spokesperson for the mayor's office did not give anything away, and simply said they will have an update during their regular press availability at 10 a.m. Wednesday.