Businesses seek OK for video gambling
Orland Park companies file paperwork after Village Board lifted ban
At least seven Orland Park businesses have filed paperwork with state regulators seeking to offer video gambling since the Village Board voted Aug. 6 to lift a longtime ban, according to filings with the Illinois Gaming Board.
Businesses seeking to have the video gambling terminals installed need approval from both the state and the village.
The village would restrict video gambling licenses to restaurants and bars that have Class A liquor licenses, a full restaurant menu and in business for 18 consecutive months.
The village initially intends to limit those with video gambling to 30 percent of Class A licenseholders, or 21, according to a letter sent by the village to eligible businesses.
Businesses filing so far with the state are Coach’s Corner Sports Bar & Grill, Fatties Pub, Indoor Golf Links of America, Mackey’s Pub, Orland Bowl, Paddy B’s Restaurant & Pub and Papa Joe’s Italian Restaurant, according to the gaming board.
In the village’s letter to Class A license-holders, it said it will be accepting preliminary applications Aug. 27 at Village Hall. From the number received, the village will determine the 21 businesses that will be approved, according to Village Manager Joe La Margo.
Orland Park had been among a few communities in the south and southwest suburbs outlawing gambling terminals.
Before the first gambling machines went live in the state in September 2012, Orland Park officials in December 2009 had opted out of the state law, essentially barring the games in the village.
Village officials decided last year to revisit the issue after some business owners said that not having the machines put them at a competitive disadvantage.
The village held a series of public forums on the issue, with comments evenly divided between those supporting a ban and those arguing it hurt small business owners.
As part of its evaluation of video gambling, the village surveyed Class A license-holders to gauge their interest in having video gambling. The results showed 23 wanted it while 37 did not, with
the remainder were undecided. The village surmised that many of the businesses opting to take a pass were chain operations that might have corporate restrictions on video gambling.
Businesses licensed for video gambling would be charged an annual fee of $1,000 per gambling terminal — state law allows a maximum of five machines per establishment — and an initial application fee of $2,500. Afterward, businesses would pay a $1,000 license renewal fee each year, according to the ordinance.
Locally, video gambling remains barred in Frankfort, Palos Heights, Palos Park and South Holland. Two months ago, Cook County officials voted to lift a ban on video gambling in unincorporated areas of the county.