Village grants Wheeling AMVETS video gambling waiver

Wheeling will waive half the fee it imposes on video gambling terminals for the only not-for-profit businesses in town with the machines.

The village board Monday approved the waiver, which will apply only to AMVETS Phillip Carpenter Post 66.

Ken Neilson, the organization's senior vice president, said recent fee increases by the village have made it difficult for the post to foot the terminals' cost.

"We were surprised," Neilson said. "When we first got our machines, (the fees) were $250 for the first machine and $50 for the remaining."

That brought the fee total to $450. This year, the village increased the terminal fees, and Post 66's total came to $5,000.

"We paid that, obviously," Neilson said. "But that's a lot of money. We're a not-for-profit organization. Most of the money that we do raise through whatever fundraisers and stuff we have is all given away to veterans."

Post 66 has five video gaming terminals and serves 300 members. Neilson says the games are "very popular" with patrons.