Chicago task force proposes per-wager online sports betting levy
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Financial Future Task Force proposed a city charge on online sports wagers in Chicago as one option for addressing a projected $1.1 billion budget gap in 2026. It estimated that a 25-cent fee could raise about $8.5 million annually, while a 50-cent fee could raise about $17 million; the City Council’s position was unclear.
A proposed city charge could add a local cost for operators taking Chicago wagers beyond Illinois’s existing per-bet tax.