Poker Writer
Illinois establishments housing video gaming terminals (VGTs) have increasingly been targeted by burglaries in the past year, a statistic that may factor into Chicago politicians’ decision-making as they contemplate whether to reverse a longstanding ban on the devices within the municipality.
A grand total of 473 video gaming business burglaries occurred in 2025. That means that, on average, more than one happened per day. This was an increase of 115 from the 358 burglaries reported in 2024. The amount of money stolen also increased to $2.7 million from $1.9 million.
Now, 2026 is on pace to smash 2025 totals. Already, the state has recorded more than 40 reported cases in the first two weeks of the year. That follows a back-loaded slate of 2025 robberies, as almost half of the cases occurred in the final three months of the year.
One operator who has experienced eight burglaries at his multiple establishments since October said the frequency is staggering. He said the volume and audacity of the crimes have hit record highs.
Security cameras have captured some of the methods that the burglars are using. These include sophisticated methods such as bypassing alarms electronically. The parlors that are raided often have to deal with the damage caused by burglaries, in addition to the stolen money.
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Are the Robberies Mob-Connected?
Investigators have yet to establish firm connections between the robberies, as well as whether they’re connected to street gangs.
Chicago’s former kingpin of illegal video poker was arrested for burglary of a Chicago-area home in October. Burglars took jewelry and currency from the owner of the home, who has more than 10 establishments with VGTs.
The places targeted for these robberies are often small cafes, and authorities say the burglars are increasingly well-prepared. Chicago Ridge Police Chief Jim Jarolimek said that it is a large issue in the suburbs:
They wear gloves, they all have masks, they’re in and out in minutes. They’re getting organized and they’re getting smart… I feel bad for the businesses, a lot of them are little cafes.
At least some of the robberies are confirmed to be connected. In September, three men were charged with 16 burglaries that totaled more than $500,000 in criminal proceeds.
Will Chicago Legalize Video Gambling in Spite of Burglaries?
VGTs have a long history in Illinois gambling, having become legal in the Land of Lincoln since 2009. The first machines appeared in 2012. But the city of Chicago has had a ban on them, unlike the rest of the state.
That ban is close to ending in 2026, with operators like Accel Entertainment preparing to enter the Windy City. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson decided to allow them as part of the 2026 budget, passed in late 2025.
But it is not a done deal yet, with Johnson saying negotiations must continue. Several aldermen still have concerns to iron out, such as who controls the video gambling establishments in their respective wards. While the proliferation of video gambling crime was not specifically mentioned among the aldermen’s concerns, it certainly can’t help, given the potential negatives of video gambling entering their areas of the city.
Chicago’s entering the video gambling game would drastically increase the number of establishments with them in Illinois. Aldermen projected as many as 1,800 to open in the state. More establishments could mean more targets for burglars. In other words, the 2025 crime stats may not yet represent the peak.
