Ald. Anthony Beale's committee has accepted $67,500 in contributions from the campaign fund of the Illinois House Gaming Committee chairman. Now he's leading the push to ban the unregulated competitor to that industry. The full City Council vote is May 20. Just two alderpeople can block it.
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) is the sponsor of the ordinance to ban sweepstakes machines. State Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita (D-Blue Island) chairs the Illinois House Gaming Committee — the legislature's central body for video gambling policy and the industry that directly competes with the sweepstakes operators Beale wants banned.
Here is what the Illinois State Board of Elections records show, accessed through Illinois Sunshine:
Every transaction below is filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections and viewable on Illinois Sunshine.
Chicago's 2026 spending plan already counts on $6.8 million in video gambling revenue. Driving operators out doesn't fix the deficit — it deepens it.
Over 220 Chicago small businesses have already applied to host machines, betting their survival on this revenue stream during a tough economic climate.
Half of every dollar from these machines stays with the host business — taxed as income, supporting payroll, vendors, and the neighborhood economy.
The 2026 budget already depends on gambling revenue. A ban kills the very revenue stream the city just authorized — at the worst possible moment for Chicago's finances.
If the concern is the South and West sides, the answer is investing in those small business owners — not stripping out one of their only profitable revenue streams during a recession.
Host businesses pay income, sales, and state taxes on this revenue. They hire local. Banning the machines forces layoffs at the exact corner stores and family bars Chicago can't afford to lose.
Even Commissioner Capifali said the proposal "isn't fully baked." Build a licensing framework that taxes operators and funds enforcement — instead of throwing away the whole industry overnight.
The Business Affairs Commissioner asked for more time to craft an enforcement plan that doesn't disparately impact communities. The council should listen to its own department before voting May 20.
Mayor Johnson told reporters he had "no position" on the ban. The administration opposed adding video gambling to the budget. There is room to move him — call his office and ask him to oppose Beale's ordinance.
Under City Council rules, just two alderpeople can block the May 20 vote. Three already voted no in committee. The job is to hold them, add allies, and pressure the mayor.
These three voted NO in committee. Call to thank them and ask them to use procedural rules to block the May 20 vote.
Voted no in committee. Thank him and ask him to formally request a block on the May 20 floor vote.
Voted no in committee. Encourage him to publicly oppose the rushed timeline before May 20.
Voted no in committee. Ask her to coordinate with Moore or Sposato to invoke the 2-alder block rule.
Call your own alderperson first. If you're unsure who represents you, use the link below.
The single most effective call is to YOUR ward's alderperson. Constituent calls move votes more than anything else.
Said he has "no position." His administration testified against the rushed timeline. Public pressure could move him to oppose.
Already on record saying the proposal "isn't fully baked." Ask BACP to publicly request a delay.
Authored the ordinance. Calls to his office should be respectful but firm — push back on his characterization with data on local jobs and small business impact in HIS ward.
When they pick up "Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm a constituent in [WARD/NEIGHBORHOOD]. I'm calling to ask Alderperson [NAME] to oppose the sweepstakes machine ordinance scheduled for a vote on May 20."
Why you oppose it "Chicago's 2026 budget counts on $6.8 million in video gambling revenue. Over 220 small businesses are waiting on this. Banning the machines now — in the middle of a budget crisis — will hurt the same neighborhoods this council says it wants to protect."
The ask "I'd like the Alderperson to either vote no on May 20, or use the two-alder rule to block the vote so the city can actually build a regulation and licensing framework instead of an outright ban. Can I get a commitment on how they'll vote?"
Close "Thank you for your time. Please pass this on. I'll be watching the May 20 vote."
Subject line "Constituent opposition — sweepstakes ordinance, May 20 vote"
Body "Dear Alderperson [NAME], I am writing as a constituent of [WARD] to urge you to oppose the sweepstakes machine ordinance scheduled for a final vote on May 20."
"The City Council just authorized $6.8 million in video gambling revenue as part of the 2026 budget. More than 220 Chicago bars and restaurants have already applied to host machines, counting on this income to survive a difficult economic environment. Even the Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection testified that the proposal is not fully baked and asked for more time."
"I am asking you to (1) vote no on May 20, or (2) join two colleagues to block the vote under City Council rules so a proper regulatory and licensing framework can be developed. Banning an entire revenue source during a budget crisis — without an enforcement plan — is the wrong call for Chicago and the wrong call for our neighborhood."
"Thank you for your service. I look forward to your response. [YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE]"