The Chicago suburb of Evanston this week moved nearer to permitting video gaming terminals (VGTs) inside eating places and bars after a neighborhood governmental committee signed off on a code modification to allow the slot-like machines.
The Chicago skyline is seen within the distance from Evanston, Il., alongside Lake Michigan. Evanston has moved nearer to permitting video gaming terminals inside eating places and bars. (Picture: Shutterstock)
On Monday, the Metropolis of Evanston’s Human Providers Committee authorised a modification to the regulation of playing within the Metropolis Code. The modification was proposed by metropolis Alder Devon Reid (eighth Ward), whose district is closest to downtown Chicago in Evanston’s most southern part.
Evanston’s Metropolis Code 9-5-8 prohibits native eateries and watering holes from taking part within the Illinois Video Gaming Act. Handed in 2012, that legislation allowed cities and municipalities to find out whether or not to permit VGT gaming of their jurisdictions. Reid had requested the Evanston Human Providers Committee to amend 9-5-8 to permit the gaming machines.
The committee narrowly superior the measure by a 3-2 vote. Evanston is about 10 miles north of the Windy Metropolis alongside Lake Michigan. Town is finest identified for being the house of Northwestern College, a personal college with greater than 23,000 college students.
Illinois Gaming Growth
Illinois’ 2012 Video Gaming Act permits such gaming terminals in cities and municipalities the place native officers allow them. Every restaurant/bar location is allowed as much as six VGTs, and the income is shared between 5 entities.
The host institution and terminal operator retain many of the gaming income, with about 65% of the proceeds cut up between these two events. The state receives 29% of the VGT income, and the host municipality will get 5%. The remaining 0.8% goes to the Illinois Gaming Board to cowl its regulatory prices.
Chicago doesn’t take part in VGTs, although a 2019 state legislation licensed a serious built-in on line casino resort property within the Windy Metropolis’s downtown space. Bally’s is behind that venture, a $1.7 billion gaming advanced on the Freedom Heart — often known as the Chicago Tribune Publishing Heart.
The 2019 state gaming enlargement bundle moreover licensed regional casinos in Danville, Waukegan, Rockford, South Suburbs, and Williamson County.
Although VGT machines in Evanston wouldn’t presumably be of a lot concern for Bally’s in close by Chicago, the gaming machines have generated gross income of greater than $5 billion for the reason that 2012 legislation was handed.
Reid believes Evanston’s ongoing ban on VGTs is archaic in a time the place Illinois residents can place authorized sports activities bets on their cell gadgets, and casinos proceed to develop throughout the state. Earlier than the 2019 enlargement, Illinois was already dwelling to riverboat casinos, which have been legalized in 1990.
VGT Income
With Reid’s VGT proposal clearing a metropolis committee, the measure strikes to the Evanston Metropolis Council for additional consideration. The 9 alders, the mayor, and town supervisor decide native guidelines and legal guidelines as permitted below the Illinois Structure.
If the VGT measure is adopted, the Evanston authorities might see its tax receipts balloon within the coming years.
In Berwyn, additionally a Chicago suburb with about 15,000 fewer residents than Evanston, town’s 29 VGT areas collectively generated gross gaming income of greater than $17.3 million final yr. Town’s share was $866,273.
