advertisement

St. Charles council inclined to keep banning video gambling

St. Charles aldermen are recommending the city keep prohibiting video gambling.

The city council — meeting as its government operations committee — voted 6-3 Tuesday night to deny a proposal to reverse the ban.

Aldermen did not discuss the matter at all. After City Administrator Mark Koenen made a presentation, Alderman Rita Payleitner recommended denying it. Payleitner was one of three aldermen who, at a committee meeting Aug. 17, voted against even considering reversing the ban.

Alderman Dan Stellato, chairman of the committee, did not vote.

The three “no” votes came from aldermen William Turner, Todd Bancroft and Art Lemke.

The council began reconsidering the city's stance in July at the request of Mayor Ray Rogina. He said he had changed his mind on the topic since voting for the ban as an alderman.

Rogina said he appreciated that the council had at least agreed to reconsider the issue. “I respect the vote, and we move along,” Rogina said.

Members of the local Fraternal Order of Moose lodge and some owners of restaurants had favored allowing video gambling.

For the city to receive $100,000 annually from the terminals, gamblers would have to lose $2 million a year on the machines, and there would have to be at least 53 machines in play, according to the city's finance director. Bars, restaurants and fraternal organizations that have liquor licenses could have up to five terminals each. The state levies a 30 percent tax on net terminal income — the gamblers' losses.

Of the city's neighbors, Geneva, Campton Hills, West Chicago and unincorporated DuPage County have banned video gambling. South Elgin allows it. And it is allowed in unincorporated Kane County.

The full city council will have to vote on the matter. Should it decide to reject the denial, the matter would then return to the government operations committee.

St. Charles aldermen refuse discussion of video gambling at Moose lodge

Two years in, video gambling a boon for business, local government

St. Charles mayor puts video gambling back on city's table

St. Charles officials still undecided on video gambling

Early indications on St. Charles video gambling vote: Aldermen not in favor

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.