By Illinois Review
One of the more ironic twists in recent Chicago political history is unfolding just four years after former Mayor Lori Lightfoot celebrated the approval of Bally’s as the city’s long-awaited casino operator.
Now, the casino company she helped bring to Chicago has hired Lightfoot’s own law firm to potentially sue the City of Chicago.
According to multiple reports, Bally’s Chicago has retained RKF Global PLLC, where Lightfoot is a partner, as it prepares for a possible legal battle against Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration over the city’s expansion of video gambling terminals (VGTs) in bars, restaurants, truck stops, and other establishments.
The dispute centers on the Host Community Agreement negotiated and approved during Lightfoot’s administration in 2022.
Bally’s contends the agreement protects the casino from certain forms of competing gambling and argues that Chicago’s recent decision to expand VGTs violates those contractual commitments.
The company has warned it could pursue legal action if the city moves forward with the expansion, which City Hall backed as part of its latest budget package to generate millions in additional revenue.
If that happens, the attorney helping lead the fight against Chicago could be the very mayor who negotiated the agreement on the city’s behalf.
Lightfoot spent years promoting Bally’s casino as a transformational economic development project that would generate jobs, tourism, and tax revenue for Chicago. Today, her law firm stands to benefit by arguing that the city is failing to honor the very deal her administration crafted.
The optics are difficult to ignore.
Government watchdog groups have already questioned whether the arrangement presents an uncomfortable appearance, even if it complies with legal ethics rules. Others see it as yet another example of Chicago’s revolving door between public office and private influence.
Meanwhile, Mayor Brandon Johnson finds himself caught in an increasingly awkward position. His administration is counting on expanded gambling revenue to help plug persistent budget shortfalls, while Bally’s insists the city is undermining the financial foundation of the very casino officials promised would become a major source of tax revenue.
The broader casino project has hardly been smooth sailing. Construction delays, rising costs, lawsuits, financing concerns, and ongoing political controversies have plagued the development since its approval.
Now comes perhaps the most Chicago chapter yet: the former mayor’s law firm preparing to challenge the city over a contract the former mayor herself negotiated.
Only in Chicago could yesterday’s mayor become today’s opposing counsel – and bill by the hour for arguing that City Hall isn’t following her own agreement.
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