A proposed City of Chicago ordinance seeks to allow slot machines at O’Hare and Midway airports. Illinois would join Nevada as just the second state to allow slot machines in commercial airports.
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), chair of the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development, introduced the proposal in mid-July 2025. His idea stalled over the next few months, but by October, it had gained traction.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that a top mayoral aide gave a surprise update on the plan.
“We’ve had a conversation with Bally’s about moving that forward. … We have been in conversation with them about investigating that. They have expressed interest,” said Chicago Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski. “There are some technical challenges that we have to deal with — ensuring that we’re complying with all the regulations that are at the airports. But those conversations have been ongoing. They have identified a site at Midway.”
Her comments came during the first day of City Council hearings on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $16.6 billion budget.
In 2019, an Illinois gambling expansion law permitted the installation of slots at airports. Chicago, which regulates gambling through ordinances, must authorize the machines.
Details of Airport Slot Machine Plan
The ordinance would restrict airport gambling to people 21 and over. The Illinois Gaming Control Board would be involved in creating rules for locating machines inside airports.
Slot machine players at O’Hare and Midway airports could be served alcohol.
The airports would pay the city $10,000 for a “location license” plus fees per machine.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the city is eyeing an airport slot gambling market of more than $100 million, based on an estimated $800 in daily revenue per machine.
The city would also tax the slot machine revenue. Gambler losses in Chicago airports are expected to exceed those from slot machines at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
In FY 2023, over 1,000 Las Vegas airport slots generated roughly $60 million in gambling win.
To enforce its underage gambling law, Chicago could issue fines up to $5,000 per violation.
Under the 2019 gambling expansion law, airport slot gamblers must be “members of a private club.” It’s unclear how Prairie State regulators would interpret this language.
Chicago Airport Slots ‘Not Controversial’
In a Sun-Times interview, Alderman Villegas said his idea is “not controversial.”
“Here’s an opportunity to look at something that’s not controversial. This is a new idea on how to create revenue for the city that would garner less pushback from anyone,” Villegas said.
He also said airport travelers are a “captive audience” for slot gambling.
Let’s look at what might be wrong with his thinking.
Slots Addiction – Airport Might Raise Risks
Slot machines are addictive products, but not everyone who uses them develops a problem.
An airport combines several factors that could trigger or exacerbate problem gambling.
Children may see the machines, which could normalize gambling in young and developing minds.
High-Stress Environment
Airports can be a uniquely high-stress environment. Long lines, poor sleep, jarring lights and sounds, and other stressors can contribute to the stress of preparing to fly.
While proponents envision travelers casually dropping a few dollars at a slot machine while waiting for a flight, anyone concerned about mental health can see a darker side.
Academic research consistently shows a link between stress and poor impulse control.
For some, the flashing lights and potential “escape” of a slot machine could be irresistible in an airport, turning so-called “entertainment” into poor financial decisions.
Boredom and Isolation
Travelers are often alone, disconnected from their usual support systems — such as family and friends — who might otherwise notice and intervene in problematic behavior. Air travelers can be susceptible to feelings of loneliness.
In this isolation, the “entertainment” of a slot machine could spiral from a time-killer into a compulsive habit with no immediate accountability.
Problem gambling is often referred to as the “hidden addiction.” An airport with slot machines could be a perfect hiding place.
Gambling addictions can take time to develop. For some, airport slot gambling could be the start of a problem. For others, the machines could restart their problem gambling.
Vacation Money Fallacy
Passengers, particularly leisure travelers, often operate with a different spending mentality.
Money earmarked for a trip can feel less “real” than money for bills and other expenses. This cognitive bias could lead to riskier and more reckless spending, as a traveler might rationalize a loss as part of the “cost of the trip.”
Airport slots could take advantage of visitors’ poor spending habits.
Do Airport Slot Machines Pay Out?
Though each spin of a slot machine is random, slot developers design the machines with a “return to player” (RTP) percentage.
Slot machines must return a specified percentage of each dollar wagered to the customer.
Under Nevada law, slot machines “must theoretically pay out a mathematically demonstrable percentage of all amounts wagered” of no worse than 75%.
Las Vegas Strip casinos typically have RTPs of around 90% due to competition between the properties. Gamblers in Sin City have come to expect a higher RTP.
There is no official RTP data available on Las Vegas airport slot machines, but these one-armed bandits are widely acknowledged to be unfavorable for consumers.
The worst they can have is a 75% RTP.
“The airport slots are the tightest in the whole state; you’re not going to win anything there!” said a Reddit user in r/LasVegas. “They are for a last-minute, last-ditch effort to try to get your last $5 that you have left before you leave. I am a local, and I tell everyone never to gamble at the airport.”
Airport Slot Machine Jackpots
Don’t be fooled by highly publicized slot jackpots from Las Vegas’ airport. The gambling industry uses these stories to encourage play of an addictive product.
It is possible to win a large jackpot at an airport slot, but the risk isn’t worth the (unlikely) reward.
Check out this alarming 2024 promotional content from Harry Reid International Airport:
The closing question in the airport’s social media post is reckless and could encourage chasing losses, one of the most common signs of a gambling problem.
Gambling Self-Exclusion from Airport Slots
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas does not have a casino self-exclusion program for its slot machines.
The airport’s help booth staff can provide general information and assistance to travelers, but not related to self-exclusion from gambling at the airport.
The absence of self-exclusion measures makes airport slot machines particularly risky for some travelers.
Travelers at O’Hare and Midway airports could face the same lack of protection.
As of now, video machine gambling is not part of the Illinois Self-Exclusion Program for Problem Gamblers. In late 2024, Illinois gambling regulators were considering a change.
If Illinois goes through with airport slot machines, expanding the statewide gambling self-exclusion list may be necessary for consumer protection.
Related: DraftKings-Delta Partnership: In-Flight Sports Betting Closer To Takeoff
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