Village to vote on increasing video gaming machine limits per SB 0690
BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
The Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees placed an update to its video gaming ordinance on the consent agenda for Sept. 24, 2019 after an Illinois General Assembly Senate Bill 690 became law in July.
As part of a massive capital funding package, Public Act 101-0031, known as “Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act,” increases the amount of video terminals allowed in a licensed business from five to six.
The measure also increases the maximum wager from $2 to $4, allows for a maximum cash award increase from $500 to $1,199, and allows an in-location progressive jackpot up to $10,000.
Truck stops on three acres of land within a 3-mile distance from a freeway interchange with a convenience store and a sales average of at least 10,000 gallons a month are allowed up to 10 terminals.
According to the Illinois Gaming Board, in 2016, Mahomet had two establishments: JT Walkers, LLC and MFIVE Inc. with a total of eight video gaming terminals. By 2017, the number of terminals grew to 18 with MFIVE adding one additional terminal and Lake of the Woods Bar & Liquors, Inc., and Mac’s Convenience Stores LLC adding five and four, respectively.
The net income over the 3.5 years has been $2,075,972.16 of which Mahomet received $103,799.22 and the state $523,623.01.
The Village expects that a minimal increase in fees of $25 is possible, but the establishments have to have room for additional terminals in their space.
Effective July 1, 2019, the state’s 30-percent tax on video gaming increased 3-percent. On July 1, 2020, the tax will go up another 1-percent.
Village trustee Brian Metzger said he is fine with increasing the number of terminals allowed by one, but did not feel comfortable with a measure that allowed the Village to increase the number of terminals as the state continues to increase its allowance number in the future.
Village attorney Joe Chamley said that “there is no lock-step” so the Village can cap the number of terminals it allows per licensed establishment and does not have to follow the state’s lead.
Trustee David Johnson asked to make sure that the machines were separated from the dining area.
Brown said at JT Walker’s, the machines are in a back room whereas others have them roped off.
Trustee Bruce Colravy showed concern over the increase in the betting limit.
“We may be able to control the number of machines, but if you can’t control the betting; I think that should be the part that is of real concern,” he said.
Trustee Andy Harpst said that if a person puts a $100 bill in the machine, it can be spent at different limits, and that is the responsibility of the individual.
SB 0690 also established six new casinos in addition to the 10 already in place throughout the state, legalized sports betting statewide, allowed video slot and poker machines at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport and allowed gambling positions and sports betting at Illinois racetracks.
