Video Gaming Vote Delayed In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — Village of Plainfield trustees on Monday delayed a vote that could bring video gaming to local businesses. The issue has long been a contentious one, with some business owners saying the village's refusal to allow gaming terminals is detrimental to their bottom line, while some officials maintain that approving gaming could damage Plainfield's image.

On Monday, with Brian Wojowski absent due to an emergency, trustee Cally Larson made a motion to table the issue once again. The remaining trustees all voted in favor of tabling the vote, meaning it would likely be revisited by the board in January.

While she agreed to table to the vote, trustee Margie Bonuchi wanted to make it clear that doesn't mean she's changed her mind on the issue. "I'm not going to support video gaming in the Village of Plainfield," she said.

Larson said she felt the issue should wait until Wojowski could be there for a full board vote. Village President Michael Collins was opposed to Larson's suggestion of hosting a workshop meeting on the topic, saying the issue has come up repeatedly at village meetings and a workshop would only delay things further.

Meanwhile, trustee Bill Lamb said he would like to hear more about what the village could do to "level the playing field" for businesses that choose not to install gaming machines, adding he believes the proposed ordinance favors a few businesses, while most are not likely to adopt gaming.

The proposal, in it current form, would require businesses to pay the village a non-refundable $500 video gaming license application fee each year, along with a non-refundable $300 fee for each video gaming terminal permit sticker.

Licensed businesses would not be permitted to have more than five gaming terminals at any given time, and terminals would be placed in areas restricted to patrons age 21 and older.

In 2012, the State of Illinois made it legal for businesses to install video gaming machines such as video poker, but Plainfield trustees at the time were unwilling to budge on an existing ordinance prohibiting gaming. Back then, trustees expressed concerns including a fear that allowing video gaming would target those who could least afford it, and that customer would spend money using gaming machines as opposed to buying food and drink from local establishments.

Gaming is allowed at Plainfield American Legion Marne Post, located on Renwick Road, which is in unincorporated Plainfield Township and not the village.

Patch file photo of American Legion Marne Post by Shannon Antinori