Leadership Transition and Market Expansion Shape Accel Entertainment’s Future

Accel Entertainment US00436Q1067

Accel Entertainment is implementing a significant, forward-looking corporate overhaul. The company has initiated a planned leadership transition while simultaneously accelerating its expansion efforts into the Chicago market. This dual strategy raises questions about whether penetrating the city's electronic gaming terminal sector will catalyze the firm's next major growth phase.

The board of directors has enacted a comprehensive succession plan. Founder Andy Rubenstein has assumed the role of Chairman of the Board. Concurrently, Mark Phelan, previously the President of US Gaming, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO).

This move sets the stage for a definitive leadership handover. The official transition is scheduled for August 7, 2026, when Phelan is set to succeed Rubenstein as Chief Executive Officer and President. Karl Peterson, the former Chairman, will now serve as Lead Independent Director. According to the board, this realignment forms a key component of the company's long-term governance strategy.

Financial Reporting and Auditor Change

Investor attention is now turning to upcoming financial disclosures. Accel Entertainment will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 operational and financial results after the US market closes on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

In a separate governance decision, the company will also switch its auditing firm. Following the completion of KPMG's audit for the 2025 fiscal year, Deloitte & Touche will assume the audit mandate for 2026. The board stated this decision resulted from a competitive selection process consistent with standard corporate governance practices.

Targeting the Chicago Gaming Market

A central pillar of the company's growth strategy involves entering the Chicago gaming landscape. City officials are currently reviewing regulations to permit Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs). Local financial analysts project that this framework could generate approximately $64 million in annual tax revenue for the city.

Accel Entertainment anticipates that, pending favorable regulatory outcomes, it could begin generating revenue from Chicago as early as the third or fourth quarter of 2026. The company enters this potential market from a position of scale, currently operating more than 28,000 electronic gaming devices across roughly 4,600 locations in ten US states.