ICYMI: Town of Midlothian Shows the Dangers Ahead for Virginia

Illinois suburbs are facing a surge in gambling-related crime. In 2025, burglars targeted businesses with gambling terminals, AKA neighborhood slot machines, committing nearly 500 break-ins and stealing more than $2.7 million.

The trend is accelerating. In just the first three weeks of 2026, Illinois authorities documented 40 additional burglaries at gambling operations.

One Midlothian burglary last October shows how far criminals are willing to go. Several burglars smashed through the front glass of a neighborhood slots parlor after hours. When they failed to remove an ATM by hand, they drove a stolen Jeep into the storefront to knock it loose, hoisted the machine into the vehicle, and fled. The Jeep was later found abandoned a few towns over.

This is not isolated crime confined to one city or neighborhood. Organized criminal groups are hitting gambling parlors across multiple Illinois counties – smashing through storefronts, ripping open gambling machines, and stealing cash. The damage goes beyond dollars, leaving local business owners shaken and communities less safe.

Why this matters for Virginians

These are not abstract statistics from Chicago. They are a warning of what follows when neighborhood slot machines are allowed to spread unchecked.

• Communities pay the price – through stolen revenue, damaged small businesses, and reduced public safety
• Crime crosses city and county lines – straining already-limited law enforcement resources
• Crime follows the money – and neighborhood slot machines make small businesses and local communities prime targets

Once these machines take hold, small businesses become targets, and communities bear the cost. Virginia cannot afford to let its local businesses become prey for criminal networks.