Two Mundelein businesses fined $25,000 for underage gambling
Underage video gambling has led to $25,000 state fines for a pair of Mundelein businesses.
If the fines aren't paid or appealed within 21 days, Gregg's Olde Town Tap, 522 N Seymour Ave, and Fair Haven Lanes, 711 E. Hawley St., could lose their video gambling licenses.
The fines were handed down Tuesday during the Illinois Gaming Board's monthly meeting about video gambling in Chicago.
Gaming board member Lee A. Gould said the panel won't tolerate businesses that allow people under 21 to gamble. He called the rule a "seemingly simple requirement."
The two violations, Gould said, are "a black mark on all of us."
"If anybody wants to retain their license, they should be vigilant in ensuring this doesn't happen," Gould said.
The violations stemmed from police department compliance checks in December, Chief Eric Guenther said. The operation is similar to the department's tobacco and liquor compliance checks, he said.
"This is a vice, just like tobacco and just like alcohol, and we take it seriously," Guenther said.
In the gambling cases, a minor working with police went into both businesses and used the machines for at least five minutes without being stopped by workers, Guenther said.
In addition to the state fines, both businesses were fined $750 in February by Mundelein's administrative hearing officer, Guenther said.
A woman who identified herself as a Fair Haven Lanes owner said she had no information about the state fine and declined to comment.
A man who identified himself as the owner of Gregg's Olde Town Tap said he hadn't received notification of the gaming board's decision. He also declined to comment.
Mundelein Trustee Ray Semple, an outspoken opponent of video gambling, said businesses that offer gambling machines need to take their legal responsibilities seriously.
"The state obviously does," he said.
Mundelein's village board voted to permit video gambling in October 2012. Eight businesses have video gambling licenses.
Two of them - Lakeside Lanes, 900 S. Lake St., and Tavern on 60, at 330 Townline Road - are facing penalties for allowing underage video gambling in March, Guenther said. Those violations also occurred during compliance checks, he said.
Both businesses were fined $750 by Mundelein's hearing officer in late March. The cases have not been heard by the state gaming board.