Wheeling plans to limit video gambling sites

The Wheeling village board approved a new sit-down restaurant that will apply for a video gambling license with the state, but the board also plans to add ordinances to limit the number of gambling establishments allowed in town.

That is a move officials in many municipalities have thought impossible, but Village Attorney James Ferolo said “creative” towns are making it work.

Igor Shtrambrand, who owns a deli in Riverside Plaza, will open a “Russian fusion” restaurant named Deka at 401 E. Dundee Road in the same center. He also plans to move the deli next door to the new restaurant.

Russian fusion combines a hint of Russian cuisine with American and French, Shtrambrand said.

Gambling would be supplementary for Deka, not its primary attraction, said Alex Vaysman, Shtrambrand’s architect and son-in-law.

Wheeling plans to set up two new types of liquor licenses: one for restaurants that want to offer video gambling and the other for the gambling cafes that get the majority of their revenue from wagering, Village President Dean Argiris said.

Trustees want to limit the number of such licenses, with the consensus being there should be 10 licenses for restaurants and three for the cafes.

“This board is not opposed to video gaming, but it’s a question of how many more are we going to have,” said Argiris.

Ferolo said he could get a draft ordinance with the new categories of liquor licenses ready by early February, and it could go into effect April 1 in time for liquor license renewals in the village.

About 20 Illinois municipalities have passed ordinances for special liquor licenses, and “the Illinois Gaming Board has honored these codes,” Ferolo said.