Rick Heidner, a video gambling mogul with a history of clashing with state regulators, has thrown his hat into the Illinois Republican primary for governor. The announcement comes ahead of the March primary election, where he'll compete against six other GOP candidates vying to take on incumbent Governor JB Pritzker.
Heidner, who owns the Gold Rush Gaming slot machine empire, has made millions from operating thousands of machines in bars and restaurants across the state. But his business model has also landed him in hot water with regulators, who have pulled the plug on several proposals under his leadership.
The most recent example was a plan for a new horse racetrack and casino approved for Tinley Park, which was scrapped after Heidner's name surfaced in 2019 federal search warrants connected to a public corruption probe. Federal prosecutors later confirmed he wasn't a target of the investigation, but the experience has likely soured his relationship with state officials.
Heidner's entry into the governor's race comes as no surprise, given his significant financial backing and deep pockets – he recently contributed $1 million to a new campaign committee and has donated over $250,000 to Illinois politicians on both sides of the aisle. His team is likely to be bolstered by experienced campaign veterans.
Despite his checkered past with regulators, Heidner has built a reputation as a savvy businessman who isn't afraid to take risks. Whether that translates to success in statewide politics remains to be seen, but one thing's clear: he's ready for the fight.
Heidner, who owns the Gold Rush Gaming slot machine empire, has made millions from operating thousands of machines in bars and restaurants across the state. But his business model has also landed him in hot water with regulators, who have pulled the plug on several proposals under his leadership.
The most recent example was a plan for a new horse racetrack and casino approved for Tinley Park, which was scrapped after Heidner's name surfaced in 2019 federal search warrants connected to a public corruption probe. Federal prosecutors later confirmed he wasn't a target of the investigation, but the experience has likely soured his relationship with state officials.
Heidner's entry into the governor's race comes as no surprise, given his significant financial backing and deep pockets – he recently contributed $1 million to a new campaign committee and has donated over $250,000 to Illinois politicians on both sides of the aisle. His team is likely to be bolstered by experienced campaign veterans.
Despite his checkered past with regulators, Heidner has built a reputation as a savvy businessman who isn't afraid to take risks. Whether that translates to success in statewide politics remains to be seen, but one thing's clear: he's ready for the fight.
I mean, has anyone actually read his proposals? The guy's got a history of clashing with regulators, what makes us think he'll play nice in Springfield? And what about all those federal search warrants? Did we really need that info to know he was shady? 
I mean, he's got deep pockets and all, but has anyone seen his plan for Illinois? 
Thinks just throwing cash around will solve our problems lol. Not sure if he's ready for the governor role tho... had some issues with regulators in the past. Hopefully, it won't affect his campaign too much 
. Either way, this is gonna be an interesting primary election! 
and I'm like... what now? 
this guy has a history of clashing with state regulators, but hey who doesn't love a good underdog story 
right? 
he's got deep pockets and is all about taking risks, which might just pay off in the long run 
. Could he be the one to take down Heidner? We'll have to wait and see... 
Did you know that Illinois has the highest rate of state and local debt per capita in the country? 
The numbers are pretty staggering: $10,350 per person 
he's got more skeletons in his closet than a creepy old mansion 
and still thinks he can just waltz into a high-stakes game like politics and come out on top? 
he's got deep pockets, yes, but also a bunch of baggage 
that'll probably weigh him down in the end. And let's be real, who wants to vote for some guy with a history of butting heads with regulators? 
Like, no thanks. He's got all the makings of a politician who's gonna make us all look like amateurs. I mean, who needs experience or integrity when you've got millions to throw around and a track record of dodging bullets from regulators? 