Accel Entertainment is looking at options in Chicago which includes the possibility of VGTs which the city is in the process of allowing in licensed premises.

Accel Entertainment runs gaming machines in places and now feels interested in bringing that same model into Chicago and the thought gives energy and worry. Chicago may allow video gaming terminals in sites that get licenses from the city, which sparks talk and doubt among the public. The City Council Office of Financial Analysis shared an estimate for the money VGTs may bring each year and people saw a chance and fear. The office said the plan may produce about $64m in tax money each year if VGTs get approval and enter sites across the city and that made heads turn. The office said VGTs in Chicago may earn gross gaming revenue of around $1bn each year once the program runs across the city and nerves rise. This $1bn stays, plus the $3bn that VGTs bring from the rest of Illinois and the number moves minds.

They said rollout of terminals may take up to 10 years, based on research from earlier projects and that delay causes tension. Current rules give VGT operators 32.04% of gross gaming revenue and that fact pushes interest and fear. If Chicago hits the forecasted total, then operators may see about $320 million Net Terminal Income inside the city and that shakes expectations. Accel said experience already in Illinois gives the belief that the Chicago VGT system may earn money by the third or fourth quarter of 2026 and the hope rises. That comes after lawmakers set rules and regulators finish tasks and rollout starts and stress sits in every step. The company said earnings may grow year after year until the market reaches strength and that patience stirs feelings.

Accel Capital Deployment Strategy

Accel shared that it sat in a strong position to invest in Chicago if VGT regulations got approval. The company said it planned to use its current financial strength, routes, and operating systems to take part in the new market. It added that final decisions would depend on how fast new customers signed up and what the final rules required. As Chicago finalised its VGT plans, Accel would continue to study when and how it should spend money to join the market. The company said it would keep watching changes closely and would update investors when important details became clear.