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In late October, as revenue and attendance remained flat, Bally’s quietly added two hourly shuttle bus locations in Chinatown, reviving long-held concerns about local casinos targeting communities with a history of problem gambling. Bally’s has generated about $2.2 million in local tax revenue during its first three months in business - far from the $12.8 million projection of gaming tax revenue for 2023 set by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot before she left office.
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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Bad location, expensive parking, dangerous neighborhood. Who exactly is this casino supposed to appeal to? Tourists?
Also seems racist to run busses from Chinatown to casino. Perpetuates a stereotype that Chinese are big gamblers.
Actually they are. Gambling is part of their (and Asian) culture.
RACIST!
Agreed. Why in the world would anyone proactively go to downtown Chicago to gamble? There are literally hundreds of other places to do it that are significantly less expensive, better transportation and parking, way less dangerous…the list goes on.
Almost every bar and restaurant now have video gaming machines. Plus the Stella’s etc, video gaming parlors. I’m waiting for churches to install the video gaming machines. Why not there was also church bingo
As usual the “projections” were off
Drop the buses of jumpers in front of Bally’s. Might as well get the last penny (sorry Peso) they have. LOL
The gambling fairy has flew the coop for Chicago, the area is saturated and the city’s a mess.