Illinois city to regulate video gambling machines

The Joliet City Council will vote on a partial moratorium on new video gambling licences for liquor establishments.

US.- The growth of video gambling machines seems to be a major concern for the Joliet City Council as they are looking to regulate the segment for the second time in two years. The authorities of the Illinoisian city will vote on Tuesday on a one-year, partial moratorium on new video gambling licences for liquor establishments.

According to Interim City Attorney Chris Regis, several businesses have requested video gaming licences as interest continues to rise. “They come in on a regular basis,” he explained. “We’ve been trying to discourage them. But we thought it best to make it official.”

Mr Regis also explained the city expects the moratorium, which would only be enforced on stores east of Route 59, to give them a year to look at this and make decisions going forward.” They expect to cap the number of video gaming licences and, even with the moratorium, the projected number of machines is likely to grow.

Areas on the other side of Route 59 will be excluded from the moratorium as the far west section of the city needs further commercial development and the authorities are trying to encourage more retail business.