As the Chicago City Council considers opening Video Gaming Terminals (VGT) to increase fiscal revenue, Accel Entertainment, headquartered in Illinois, is seriously evaluating the feasibility of entering this new market. If the relevant legislation and regulatory processes progress smoothly, the company could begin deploying terminals as early as the second half of 2026. This is no small feat for Accel, as they already own over 15,000 terminals in other areas of Illinois, and the potential of Chicago's "cake" is estimated to be astonishingly large.
How big is the "gold mine" potential of Chicago?
According to forecasts by the City Council's Office of Financial Analysis, a city-wide VGT project, once fully mature, could bring in up to $1 billion in additional gambling total revenue annually. Not to mention, just in taxes, the city's finances could earn an extra about $64 million per year. For operators like Accel, with the current revenue sharing ratio in Illinois (operators receive 32.04% of total revenue), this mature market could generate nearly $320 million in net terminal revenue annually. Of course, it might take up to ten years for the market to operate at full capacity, but initial revenue contributions could be seen as early as the third or fourth quarter of 2026.
Why is Accel so confident?
Facing such a potential market, Accel appears quite confident. They publicly state that from the perspective of capital deployment, they possess a strong balance sheet, existing fixed operational infrastructure, and mature route management capabilities, all of which can help them take the lead in the Chicago market. Simply put, they have the experience, network, and financial backing, just waiting for the regulatory "green light." Currently, the company is carefully evaluating the capital investment required to enter Chicago, including equipment purchases and customer service logistics details, and will update investors on their strategy as the regulatory process progresses.
The long road to regulatory breakthrough
Although Illinois passed the Video Gaming Act back in 2009, Chicago has consistently prohibited the installation of VGTs within the city, according to its municipal code Chapter 8, Section 12. Therefore, the opening of Chicago will be a landmark policy shift. Currently, discussions on how to build a regulatory and operational framework are deepening. Interestingly, despite the absence of Chicago, the VGT industry in Illinois is still thriving: in November 2025 alone, the state's VGT revenue reached $263.9 million, with a total betting amount of $2.86 billion. Accel's deep roots in Illinois, where 72.5% of its total revenue ($239 million) in the third quarter of 2025 came from here, undoubtedly provides a solid operational foundation for serving the Chicago market. For more global gambling regulatory dynamics, continue to follow the PASA official website's industry analysis.
Can 2026 usher in a "good start"?
Chicago's 2026 budget has already viewed VGT as a potential revenue tool, releasing a positive policy signal. However, city analysts also remind that reaching full market maturity requires years of gradual expansion, including venue licensing, gradual terminal deployment, and slowly increasing player participation across all city communities. For Accel and the entire industry, the key lies in whether the regulatory timetable can progress as expected. If all goes well, we might see the first batch of VGTs start operating in the Windy City in the second half of next year, injecting new vitality into the city's treasury.
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