DeKALB – DeKalb aldermen added a new restriction that will guarantee video gambling terminals won’t pop up in restaurants across DeKalb.

The machines will be allowed in bars, as well as in places such as bowling alleys, hotels and banquet facilities, but not in restaurants under the changes to the liquor code the City Council approved this week.

First Ward Alderman David Jacobson said he voted in favor of the change because it limits the machines to places that have age restrictions. He also supported limiting where machines can operate because of the effect on the city’s image.

“It can very quickly get out of hand when you don’t have some regulations in place,” Jacobson said. “Do you really want slot machines in every single place you go in to? I think it looks tacky.”

Mayor John Rey echoed Jacobson’s sentiments about wanting to limit the prevalence of the gambling machines. Rey said he didn’t want gambling machines to flourish in restaurants, which should be a family setting.

“In my mind,” Rey said. “I think we wanted to set parameters according to the atmosphere we wanted to have.”

The council’s discussion earlier this month about Ray’s Chicago BBQ and Slots led city staff to propose change the rules on video gambling. The owners of the business at 870 W. Lincoln Highway had planned to apply for a combination bar and restaurant license, with the intent of applying for a video gambling license later. They changed their application to a bar-only liquor license, noting the importance of video gaming to their business.

The only state requirements for obtaining a video gaming license are that a business have a liquor license and its ownership have a clean background check.

Local law requires establishments to be licensed as well. Owners are required to submit a floor plan showing the exact locations of the terminals and pay the city of DeKalb $25 for each machine.

Reports from the Illinois Gaming Board show that in July, there were 46 terminals operating out of 12 establishments in DeKalb. Those terminals brought in nearly $127,000 for the month. Under Illinois’ video gaming law, vendors and the establishment where the gaming device is located split 70 percent of the revenue collected by the machines, 25 percent goes to the state and 5 percent goes to the municipality.

DeKalb’s change brings the city’s regulations closer in line with regulations in Sycamore, where City Manager Brian Gregory said video gambling machines are limited to places such as bars and bowling alleys.

Sycamore also had 46 terminals in July, according to a report from the Illinois Gaming Board.