Let the games begin! While some Illinois towns have said 'no dice' to video gaming, $9,700-a-month income is a godsend to Du Quoin American Legion
Some Illinois communities are embracing video poker and others are saying "no dice," but for the American Legion Roy Mitchell Post 647 in Du Quoin, the five games that were installed in early April have been a godsend.
While the Roy Mitchell post also sponsors bingo and very popular Friday night fish fries, spokesman Alan Voice said video gaming allows the post to breathe easier with respect to maintaining the facility and providing more than a dozen programs of service to the community each year.
"We fund four $1,000 scholarships for high school students," said Voice and in some years even that was a struggle, "We still have a parking lot to pay for."
Reports from the Illinois Video Gaming Board website show the Du Quoin legion post realized about $9,700 from the games during June alone.
Everyone expects that number to drop as the newness of the games wears off.
But, during June, players dropped $69,193 into the legion machines and saw a payout of $39,185.24. Of the $30,107.76 difference there is some money that comes out before the legion gets its share. There is a 30 percent tax on the $30,107.76. Of that, the State of Illinois got $7,526.95 and the City of Du Quoin will get $1,505.39. From that $30,107.76 you also have to figure a .722 percent fee which goes to a software company that electronically monitors each machine.
When all is said and done the company that owns the five legion machines--Prairie State Video Gaming--got about $9,700 and the legion got about $9,700 as their shares.
Overall, the legion's share is about 30 percent. Prairie State Gaming makes a direct deposit into the legion's bank account on the 15th and 30th of each month.
The two machines from Bali, Inc. and three machines from IGT, Inc. are valued at $75,000. Legion members, bingo guests and friends of the legion can drop money into the machines to play an assortment of games.
Payouts are from a voucher which is scanned at a central console where the payouts are dispensed. A satellite link tracks the transactions. The legion keeps 30 percent of the proceeds from the gaming.
It was in April that Southern Illinois said "let the games begin." There was a huge backlog of licensing and city ordinances involved. Prairie State Gaming was one of the first companies to get into video gaming quickly.
There are a handful of other machines at places like Veterans Inn in Dowell and the Eagles Lodge in Du Quoin. There is a video gaming parlor at the Southtowne Shopping Center and others are thinking about whether they want to bet involved. Some fraternal organizations are seeing it as a replacement income for things like pull tabs and bingo.
The public perception is mixed and some cities like Bloomington have gone on record as opposing the games. There are some critics who argue that video gaming--like the Illinois Lottery--is no more than a tax on the poor who can't afford it, yet think they might get rich quick. The Du Quoin legion is not a public gaming spot, nor is it open only to legion members. It falls somewhere in between. It has a proven track record of helping the community and opening its hall to everything from wedding receptions to community fundraisers. The games assure that work will continue.