Lake Zurich trustees informally agreed to consider an ordinance that would allow video gaming at veteran and fraternal organizations in town.
Police Chief Patrick Finlon brought the issue before the board Monday night after receiving a request from John Barrington, commander of . Finlon said that in 2009, the village board passed an ordinance prohibiting video gaming until the state had presented rules on how to conduct such gaming.
The Village Code states: Video gaming, as defined in the Illinois video gaming act, 230 Illinois Compiled Statutes 40/5, is prohibited unless approved by ordinance adopted by the board of trustees. No video gaming may be approved by the board of trustees until after the Illinois Gaming Board has completed implementation of the rulemaking process required by the Illinois video gaming act.
Since then, the state has written rules on video gaming that specify, for example: that the video gaming area be cordoned off from the rest of the facility; that access to the area be limited; and that an on-site manager be able to monitor the area during use.
Finlon added that the would be partly in charge of monitoring compliance.
Finlon met with Barrington and Building & Zoning Director Dan Peterson to discuss the issue. Peterson said the meeting was productive, with Barrington providing "a wealth of information" about video gaming. The group also discussed potential sites in the village where video gaming could be allowed. Peterson said he feels comfortable allowing such activity at the American Legion because of the size of the facility.
Peterson noted that allowing video gaming potentially could be a source of minor revenue, with 5 percent of the profits going to the village.
Trustee Terry Mastandrea asked if allowing video gaming would result in a change of hours for the American Legion — and being open more to the public.
Barrington said the Legion is open to the public every Tuesday for bingo. He said it has not been decided whether the doors could be open to the public on other days.
Mastandrea also inquired about security issues.
"I don't think we've really been a problem over there," said Barrington, noting that there have not been any police calls, even during large events like the Texas Hold 'em tournament.
