Poker Writer
The long-standing debate over slot-like gambling machines in the Chicago area continues to rage, with Evanston now heavily debating a particular flavor known as “sweepstakes machines.” In a late-July meeting, the Evanston City Council decided to allow and regulate the machines rather than ban them outright.
Some other municipalities around Chicago have done that, and areas of Chicago remain split on the issue.
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Evanston Regulating Sweepstakes Machines
Evanston, the North Chicago suburb best known as the home of Northwestern University, has officially banned video gambling within the city limits since 2009. But the sweepstakes machines skirt the legal line in a gray area of Illinois law. They have slightly different mechanics than the VGTs, as customers buy credits, then play the machines, then trade the credits back in for cash.
Many Evanston-area small businesses and gas stations say they rely on profits from the machines.
The first sweepstakes machines in Evanston went live in May 2025, thanks to an exception given to a veterans organization.
There are currently 18 sweepstakes kiosks that are in active use within the city. Most of these machines are spread across three or four different establishments.
One of the Aldermen in Evanston, Matt Rodgers, said that there is a big misconception about what the gaming machines represent:
People picture this as being a gambling parlor or something along those lines, and that’s not what this situation is.
He believes that the continued strict bans on an ever-growing list of things do nothing but hurt economic development and damage local businesses. In his mind, the machines are simple avenues for revenue and do not provide the negative threats that many imagine.
Many of the council members believe that regulation is the correct path forward. One councilwoman believed that regulation is the next natural step toward banning, rather than going from nothing to a ban.
In other parts of Chicago, VGTs have been targeted for robberies, leading to an unsafe environment surrounding them.
It reportedly took some serious debate, but the council eventually agreed to go the regulation route. Rules floated include a $500 annual licensing fee and a limit of two per business.
