Burglaries at video gambling establishments are soaring, with more than 500 reported so far in 2026

Burglaries at video gambling establishments are soaring, with more than 500 reported so far in 2026

Bars, restaurants and other establishments offering video gambling in Illinois were burglarized 473 times in 2025 — an alarming rise from the prior year, when there were 358 incidents.Not even six months into 2026, there already have been more than 500 burglaries — signaling what could be a very ugly year crime-wise at local gaming parlors.“They gotta figure something out because these guys are cleaning up,” says a gambling cafe operator who ask…