Protect Your Local Hangout: Say NO to iGaming and Higher Taxes
Illinois lawmakers are in the final stretch of this year’s legislative session, and some of the proposals on the table could hit your favorite local hangout hard. As the state looks for ways to close its budget gap, two ideas are gaining traction: raising taxes on Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) and introducing online gambling (iGaming).
These changes may sound technical or far away—but their impact would be felt right where you like to unwind. Your neighborhood bars, restaurants, and gaming lounges depend on VGTs to help support their staff, fund promotions, and keep the lights on. If the state increases taxes or shifts gaming online, these businesses could face real setbacks: fewer machines, smaller payouts, fewer events, and in some cases, closures.
iGaming may seem convenient, but it pulls dollars away from the local economy and into large corporate platforms, bypassing the small businesses that make our communities vibrant and social.
1. Dollars Leave the Community
When people gamble online, their money bypasses local bars, restaurants, and small businesses. Instead of supporting local jobs and reinvestment, that revenue goes to large, often out-of-state corporations running the platforms.
2. Fewer Players in Local Venues
If players gamble from home, there’s less foot traffic in bars and taverns. That means fewer sales of food, drinks, and other entertainment—all of which businesses count on to survive. Over time, this could lead to downsizing or even closures of your favorite local spots.
3. Job Losses Across the State
VGTs support thousands of jobs in Illinois—from bartenders and servers to route technicians and compliance staff. When revenue shifts online, those jobs are at risk, especially in small towns and rural areas where every job matters.
4. Reduced Local and Municipal Revenue
Video gaming generates significant tax dollars for cities and municipalities across Illinois. Those funds support public services like roads, parks, and emergency services. iGaming revenue, in contrast, flows primarily to the state and operators, often with minimal benefit to local governments.
5. Increased Financial Strain on Small Businesses
Local establishments already face rising costs. Adding iGaming into the mix would siphon off one of the few reliable revenue streams they have left. That’s not just bad for business—it’s bad for entire communities.
We’re including the official letter below that was sent to gaming partners across the state. Please take a moment to read it—and more importantly, take action. Use the link to find your legislator and tell them: Say NO to iGaming and NO to higher VGT taxes.
Together, we can help protect the places that bring people together.
