Eligible Kane County businesses eager to explore video gambling

Kane County businesses who may profit from installing video gambling machines say they'll be very disappointed if the devices are banned in the area, particularly if it happens without a vote by the people.

There are 27 businesses with liquor licenses in the county eligible for video gambling machines under a new state law. The list would fall to 15 or 16 establishments if, as the county believes, gas stations and grocery stores take a pass.

Some eligible businesses, like the Dutch Inn West in Elgin, already have video gambling machines. Manager Liz Geissman said the business has had about four machines for many years now, though customers who win do not receive a payout.

"They're pretty popular," she said. "But they are strictly for amusement purposes."

That may change if the Kane County Board decides to take a gamble on the devices. And if the phone calls flooding Richard Caldarazzo's office are an accurate measure of interest, many more businesses may follow Geissman's lead.

Caldarazzo is the co-owner of Twin Oaks Vending, Inc., an Aurora-based company that provides video game machines for more than 50 taverns in the Kane County area.

"People call here all the time about the machines," Caldarazzo said. "Most people say they are quite interested in this. They want to have a small, legalized gambling area in their bar. Everyone in the state seems to know these machines are pretty much a gold mine for a lot of people."

Caldarazzo said a business that installs just a few video gambling machines could boost revenue by about $1,000 a week, not including any food or drinks the customer buys while playing.

Kurt Frieders, general manager of Parkside Lanes in Aurora, runs one of the businesses Caldarazzo's company hopes to supply. Frieders said he's paying close attention to Kane County's exploration of the devices.

"As a business owner, I think it's obviously something we have the potential to make money on," Frieders said. "I know some of your do-gooders complain about (gambling), but at the same time they are the ones complaining about why their property taxes are so high.

"Yes, it's gambling. But we're only allowed up to five machines. It's not like I could line 30 of them up and say, 'Look, our business isn't bowling anymore; it's gambling.' We do a million children's birthday parties a year here."

Kane County will host public hearings on video gambling Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. Caldarazzo said if the county board is leaning toward a ban, he hopes the final choice is made by voters.

"If you take it to a percentage of your voters and they say, 'No', that's one thing," Caldarazzo said. "But let the people in the community have a say. We welcome this kind of scrutiny."