Orland Park Holds Town Hall To Re-Consider Video Gaming

ORLAND PARK, IL -- Orland Park village trustees are seeking public input into the possibility of changing a local ordinance currently prohibiting video gaming within the corporate limits of the village. A special town hall meeting has been called for Monday, Nov. 27, beginning at 7 p.m. The town hall will be held in the Exhibition Room of the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave.

In 2009, the Orland Park Board of Trustees drafted and approved an ordinance prohibiting video gaming. Declining sales tax revenue in the village is causing the village board to review the ordinance as another potential source of revenue. Trustees want to know if Orland Park restaurants are potentially losing business to nearby communities that allow video gaming. According to the village, Orland Park’s 67 Class A liquor license holders indicated the following:

• 23 responded YES, they’d be interested in offering video gaming;
• 37 responded NO, they are not interested in offering video gaming;
• 7 said they were UNDECIDED on the matter.

Village trustees have drafted an ordinance with several restrictions that will be up for discussion on Monday evening. Individual board members have not expressed a desire either way for video gaming in Orland Park. The draft ordinance is a jumping off point for “constructive dialogue,” according to the meeting notice on the village’s website. Possible restrictions include:

• Limiting to established Class A liquor license holders (full service restaurants that have kitchens and full food menus).
• Limiting signage
• Establishing physical barriers for gaming areas inside establishments
• Limiting noise and lights from gaming machines
• Village warning sticker on all entrances that announce that Video Gaming is on the Premises
• Waiting periods for new businesses
• Requiring alarms and video surveillance of areas

Village staff have also researched feasibility of allowing video gaming in Orland Park. An economic impact study has also been conducted to determine how video gaming has affected nearby towns. The village is also planning two more town halls to discuss the possible introduction of video gaming to Orland Park on Dec. 11 and Jan. 8, 2018, at locations to be determined. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m. Read the complete draft ordinance and its restrictions.

The state gaming law allows businesses licensed to serve liquor to apply for a video gaming license from the Illinois Gaming Board, provided that municipalities permit video gaming machines within their respective communities. This includes bars, taverns, off-track betting facilities, truck stops, fraternal organizations and restaurants.

Up to five video gaming machines may be placed in a licensed establishment. Video gaming revenues, after payouts to winners, are taxed at a flat 30 percent, with 25-percent going to the state and the other 5-percent going to the local municipality. The remaining 70 percent of revenue is divided equally between the establishments and the terminal operators.

Residents and businesses are invited to attend the town hall on Monday to express their views and ask the village board questions regarding video gaming in Orland Park. Read more about the draft ordinance allowing video gaming on the Village of Orland Park website.

Patch File Photo| Lorraine Swanson, Patch Editor