May 16, 2024
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Sandwich City Council raises annual video gaming fees for business owners, amends liquor license code

By David Petesch
There also are other laws that disallow things like gambling via card games. Smith said back in the day, veterans would spend time at the VFW playing poker, but that is not allowed anymore. On the other hand, Bob Sleyko, junior vice commander of American Legion Post 1080, which operates a bar and restaurant with video gaming in Joliet, said that they haven't had any problems because they follow the rules. The video gaming machines are in a separate room where you have to be 21 years old to enter. It's also monitored by video surveillance with the screens up by the bar in sight of the workers.

File photo: Video gaming machines

Business owners in Sandwich will see an increase in annual fees for video gaming machines at their businesses.

The City Council adopted three ordinances amending city municipal codes relating to liquor licensing, video gaming, and coin-operated amusement during a meeting March 7.

Video gaming machines will now cost business owners a fee of $75 per terminal every year, up from $25, while coin-operated amusement devices fees, such as electronic dart boards, jukeboxes, and pinball machines, were lowered to $50 per machine, from $150.

The state of Illinois set the initial annual fee per video gaming terminal at $25. At the end of last year, however, Gov. Pritzker signed an amendment allowing non-home rule municipalities like Sandwich to raise the fee up to $250 per terminal.

Aldermen voted 7-1 in favor of the amendment increasing the fee to $75 per machine.

Alderman Rick Whitecotton cast the lone negative vote on the motion to approve the fee hike.

“I believe it was too big of a raise at one time,” Whitecotton said after the meeting. “Sometimes just because you can, doesn’t make it right.”

Sandwich’s alcoholic beverage license code was also amended to include new classes of licenses for microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries. Should someone want to open one in the city, it will come with a $750 licensing fee.