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Casino cafe geared for women seeking liquor license to open in Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich trustees will be asked to approve a special liquor license for a gambling cafe on the village's far south end that would be geared toward women.

Stella's Place would operate between Walgreens and a cleaners at Courtyard of Lake Zurich, on the southwest corner of Rand and Cuba roads. Just north of the borders of Kildeer and Deer Park, the mall's other businesses include Northwest Community Hospital, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria and Chase Bank.

In addition to light food and beverages, Stella's has a rotation of casino slot and video poker games. Similar to competitors such as Dotty's Cafe, Stella's touts a projected clientele that's 60 percent women from 35 to 75 years old.

At Monday's village board session, elected officials are expected to vote on whether Stella's owner Laredo Hospitality Ventures should receive the special video gambling liquor license. Lake Zurich police Operations Cmdr. David K. Anderson said Stella's representatives complied with all requirements of the application process and are eligible for a liquor license.

Laredo Vice President of Operations Charity Jones said Friday that work already has started on the space Stella's would occupy.

"I'd say we're shooting for (opening) early May," Johns said.

Critics, such as the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, claim businesses such as Dotty's and Stella's target women because they are more likely to gamble for escape. Proponents say the cafes are a way for women to bet as a form of entertainment in homey, neighborhood atmospheres more inviting than bars.

Lake Zurich would be among the latest to join the growing casino cafe landscape.

Roughly 150 such businesses are operating in 73 Illinois towns, according to the Illinois Retail Gaming Operators Association. Association officials say the 700 machines at the gambling cafes have generated about $211 million for the state since becoming legal in 2013.

Video gambling is permitted in bars, restaurants, truck stops and fraternal orders in communities where it has been approved. Each establishment is limited to five machines, and they must be in areas accessible only to people at least 21 years old.

Five percent of net revenue goes to a municipality and 25 percent to the state, with the terminal operator and licensed establishment splitting the remainder. In addition, Lake Zurich gets a $2,500 per-location fee for an annual special video gambling liquor license. State law limits the village to charging to a $25 annual fee on each machine.

In April 2014, the Lake Zurich village board reversed a previous position and decided to allow video gaming. In less that a year, the village has received $13,602 as its cut from the gambling terminals at five establishments, with $68,011 going to the state, according to the most recent Illinois Gaming Board report.

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  Stella's Place, a gambling cafe, is proposed for the Courtyard of Lake Zurich mall at Rand and Cuba roads. Village board members will vote Monday on whether to approve a liquor license for Stella's. Bob Susnjara/bsusnjara@dailyherald.com
  Stella's Place gambling cafe has several suburban locations including Hoffman Estates. Elena Ferrarin/eferrarin@dailyherald.com
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