The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) continues to overview how a restaurant proprietor with admitted ties to the mob secured a state-issued gaming license. The pact permits him to include video gaming terminals (VGTs) at his restaurant in Cicero.
Video gaming terminals on the Steak N Egger location in Cicero would possibly quickly disappear. The Illinois Gaming Board is contemplating revoking the restaurant’s gaming license after stories surfaced that the diner’s proprietor, Jeffrey Bertucci, beforehand operated unlawful playing machines. (Picture: Chicago Solar-Instances)
Jeffrey Bertucci utilized for a VGT license in June 2018. The IGB carried out a suitability probe and, in January 2019, decided he was eligible for the allow. The state gaming regulatory subsequently issued Bertucci a VGT license that enables him to accommodate as much as six VGT machines inside his Steak N Egger restaurant.
Greater than 4 years later, stories on Bertucci’s previous, together with his concessions that he had enterprise ties to the Chicago mob, have reemerged. That led to the IGB questioning how he was deemed appropriate to function a gaming location within the first place.
Video gaming terminals, that are slot-like machines that enable gamers to gamble inside small companies all through the state, turned authorized in Illinois in 2009. Operations, nevertheless, didn’t begin till 2012, because the IGB took roughly three years to choose VGT rules and problem licenses to small companies wishing to include the revenue-generating apparatuses.
Bertucci, nevertheless, admitted to providing his diners gaming machines a few years earlier than the state licensed VGTs.
VGT Legality
Bertucci testified in federal courtroom towards mob kingpins James Marcello and Casey Szaflarski. The latter was deemed the Chicago mob’s “video poker king” by legislation enforcement. In that testimony, Bertucci admitted to housing unregulated video gaming terminals and splitting the earnings with the mob.
The IGB filed a “Criticism for Disciplinary Motion” on July 25 towards Bertucci “for misrepresenting and falsely stating materials info” to the board throughout his licensing course of.
Marcus Fruchter, administrator of the IGB, wrote within the criticism that he recommends that Bertucci’s VGT license be revoked. Fruchter alleged Bertucci “misrepresented the extent and period of his involvement with and use of coin-operated amusement gadgets for unlawful playing functions.”
The IGB says it doesn’t remark publicly on license critiques. It’s additionally unclear as to when the IGB would possibly vote on revoking Bertucci’s license.
Video gaming is a giant enterprise for small companies. In keeping with income stories from the IGB, Bertucci’s Steak N Egger restaurant has taken in additional than $4.3 million in bets since his six machines have been turned on in 2019. The machines gained $317K of the wagers.
Applicant Standards
Bertucci is a Steak N Egger franchise with two areas, one in Cicero and one other in Chicago at 1174 W. Cermak Rd. Bertucci’s Chicago location doesn’t have video gaming terminals, although he mentioned it did when he was working unlicensed machines.
Every enterprise proprietor wishing to include authorized VGTs in a municipality that allows them should bear a suitability probe with the IGB.
“The burden is upon every applicant to exhibit his suitability for licensure,” the Illinois Video Gaming Act mandates. Individuals who “have a background, together with a legal report, fame, habits, social or enterprise associations, or prior actions that pose a menace to the general public pursuits of the State or the safety and integrity of video gaming” should not appropriate for licensure.
