Accel Entertainment: Chicago Delay Leaves Growth Thesis Intact

Published: 2026-10-19 22:02:48 |

Accel Entertainment (ACEL) remains a Buy, according to analyst Pedro Goulart, despite delays to the company’s planned video gaming terminal (VGT) rollout in Chicago. The article cites short-term price targets of $13–$14, implying about 20%–28% upside, and a $16 target after the Chicago launch. Regulatory delays are holding back the rollout, but ACEL has received state license approvals. The company could capture roughly 43.5% of Chicago’s market once operations begin. Its existing VGT business provides relatively stable EBITDA through long-term contracts, while regional acquisitions, including Toucan Gaming, are presented as a source of additional growth. The article says ACEL trades at forward EV/EBITDA multiples of about 5.3–5.8 times. The analyst views this valuation as attractive even if Chicago contributes nothing, while a successful rollout could offer further upside. The timing of regulatory approvals remains a key uncertainty.

Neutral

This article concerns Accel Entertainment, a gaming and VGT operator, and does not report a direct development involving cryptocurrencies, blockchain projects, or crypto-market infrastructure. Its implications for crypto trading and market stability are therefore likely negligible. Any effect would be indirect and limited to broad risk sentiment or an investor’s allocation between equities and digital assets. In the short term, traders may focus on the delay and uncertainty around regulatory approvals, which could affect ACEL shares but does not provide a clear catalyst for Bitcoin or other tokens. In the longer term, a successful Chicago rollout could improve the company’s growth outlook, while continued delays could weigh on its stock. Neither outcome, on the information provided, materially changes crypto-market fundamentals. Unlike crypto-specific regulatory rulings or major institutional adoption announcements, this company-level gaming update is not a reliable signal for crypto prices; the appropriate market classification is neutral.