Rules, fees established for video gambling in Wauconda
Wauconda bar owners and other entrepreneurs who want video gambling machines in their joints will have to buy annual permits from the village for each of the machines, according to new rules.
Each permit will cost $25, under the rules adopted Tuesday night by the village board. Five machines will be allowed at any qualifying establishment in town.
The permits will expire each April 30, regardless of when they're purchased.
Additionally:
Ÿ Establishments wanting permits must first acquire state video gambling licenses.
Ÿ Such establishments cannot have any other video gambling machine, even if it's only used for amusement.
Ÿ The machines must be located in areas restricted to people at least 21 years old, and the entrances to the areas must me within the view of employees who are at least 21.
Ÿ Video gambling machines can only be played during the hours it's legal to drink alcoholic beverages.
Violators faces fines of at least $500 for a first offense and at least $750 for additional offenses in a 12-month period. Machines without stickers can be seized and turned over to the Illinois Gaming Board.
A 2009 state law allowed video gambling at bars, restaurants, truck stops and fraternal organizations, but the first machines weren't installed until last year.
Wauconda is among the few Lake County towns where video gambling has taken hold. Trustees voted in June 2012 to allow the machines.
At the time, the operators of eight local establishments said they planned to apply for state gambling licenses. Two now have licenses, according to state records.
The village board approved the rules without discussion or opposition Tuesday.
The other Lake County towns with working video gambling machines are Antioch, Bartlett, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Noth Chicago, Round Lake and Round Lake Heights and Waukegan.
As of February, more than 4,300 machines were operating statewide, records show.