Crystal Lake City Council Approves Video Gambling With Plenty of Restrictions

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - The Crystal Lake City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday night in favor of an ordinance that will allow some businesses to install video gambling machines in the city, the Northwest Herald reports.

The vote reverses the city's former ban on video gambling. Now, Lakewood is the only municipality in McHenry County that forbids video gambling.

The proposed ordinance changes come after a group of businesses has been pushing the city to allow video gambling, which some say brings in more money for the businesses, according to the Northwest Herald. But, the new rules passed Tuesday come with several restrictions.

Under Crystal Lake's proposed ordinance, video gaming would only be allowed in establishments in which alcoholic liquor is served for consumption on the premises and as the primary business. The ordinance does not provide for video gaming in fraternal, veteran and truck stop establishments, according to city documents. The businesses also cannot put up signs that would be visible from outside the building that advertise video gambling.

And although the Video Gaming Act allows up to five video gaming machines within each licensed establishment, Crystal Lake's ordinance would restrict the number of machines per licensed establishment to three.

Crystal Lake is also proposing steep fees for businesses applying for a video gambling license. The city would charge a $1,000 annual license fee, an annual $500 per terminal fee, and a $100 supplemental liquor license application fee, according to city documents.

Other restrictions would include not allowing terminals within 100 feet of a school or place of worship, terminals would need to be operated during the business's normal hours and terminals would need to be located in an area that is restricted to people under 21 years old.

More via the Northwest Herald

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