Darien Video Gambling Increases Yet Again

DARIEN, IL – Darien saw another increase in video gambling last year.

In 2024, the city government collected $350,201 in taxes from video gambling machines. That's up from $328,135 the previous year.

Darien's video gambling tax income has risen 60 percent since 2019, the year before the pandemic. Statewide, video gambling has doubled in that time.

Thirteen restaurants and bars in Darien have video gambling machines. The top five city tax generators in 2023 were Stella's ($72,592), Dotty's ($49,450), Zazzo's Pizza ($40,167), Lietuvele restaurant ($34,201) and Darien VFW Post 2838 ($29,243).

In Illinois, 5 percent of video gambling proceeds go to local governments.

Darien has used sources such as video gambling money to help keep its property tax levy the same for much of the last dozen years that the gambling tax has been in place.

In 2023, a former Darien alderman who moved to Downers Grove said publicly that he regretted that Darien allowed video gambling, saying it hurt the city's reputation. Darien's mayor later criticized the former official's statement.

Many nearby suburbs do not allow video gambling. They include Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, La Grange, Western Springs, Elmhurst and Downers Grove.

Here's what Darien collected in video gambling money over the last dozen years:

• 2024: $350,201
• 2023: $328,135
• 2022: $308,891
• 2021: $259,894
• 2020: $136,324
• 2019: $219,586
• 2018: $186,456
• 2017: $157,906
• 2016: $141,869
• 2015: $120,315
• 2014: $42,558
• 2013: $2,032

Source: Illinois Gaming Board