Video Poker in Du Quoin's Future
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The first video poker machines in Illinois to legally pay winners could be plugged in as soon as September. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome, including local regulation, affordability of the machines and the fact that Illinois' gaming regulators are so understaffed it will be hard even to review and approve the thousands of business and fraternal license applications expected to hit the door.
The Du Quoin City Council will take a stab at drafting an ordinance which both regulates the presence of the games in Du Quoin--allowed under a 2009 General Assembly vote that faced many court challenges--and certainly charges for them being here.
Du Quoin is looking at a $100 annual per machine licensing fee for games that pay and $20 or $25 per machine for games that don't have a payout.
State statute allowing the machines passed a tough court test last year and, in theory, income from the machines will help fund the state's capital construction program, which includes the new $18 million Du Quoin High School. For decades, downstate lawmakers like the late Sen. Ralph Dunn fought the propagation of gaming at the hometown level--but it's here. Now, how do you regulate it in places like Du Quoin? "We will pick up some income from it," Mayor John Rednour told the council, but he said he believes that the cost of the new machines (upwards of $18,000 each) and market conditions will result in fewer machines--not more.
Regulating local gaming is breaking new ground for city attorney Aaron Atkins who told the council he has begun sorting out the 50 pages of state statute and related materials that apply to hometown gaming. Council members discussed whether it is better to limit each lodge, lounge or other business to five machines or let the market dictate how machines could be installed.
Commissioner Rex Duncan said he would favor site inspections for illegal gaming and propose that video poker machines may account for no more than 25 percent of a lodge, club or business' total revenue. Being able to audit that is tough. At the outset, commissioners said establishments should be limited to five machines, then Mayor Rednour said that because of the cost of the machines, state and local licensing fees and payouts to state or local units of government, "there will be less machines than there are now."
A local ordinance would ban "tournament nights" where a lot of money would be dropped into the machines. Atkins said he will research options that the state statue provides for and begin work on a draft ordinance.
Seventy-seven communities have voted to ban the games since the law passed. The City of Chicago appears unlikely to overturn its existing prohibition on gambling machines.
That's because 77 communities have voted to ban the games since the law passed, and Chicago appears unlikely to overturn its existing prohibition on gambling machines - which together could cost the state nearly $200 million in revenue.
The Illinois Gaming Board has completed its review of only 46 of 144 license applications received from manufacturers, distributors and "terminal operators" - the owners of the games who will place them in establishments.
Gaming officials have yet to accept applications from thousands of bars, restaurants, truck stops and fraternal organizations that plan to offer the games, or to start investigations needed to approve those licenses.
Game manufacturers have yet to be given final technical specifications from the state and still must have their games tested by independent laboratories to ensure they meet state law.
Complicating the work is the fact that the Illinois Gaming Board's staff is more than one-third smaller than it should be, said board Chairman Aaron Jaffe, leaving him reluctant to offer a hard timeline for when video poker finally will start making the state money.
The board's official position is that the games will be available by the third or fourth quarter of this year, but the year's end is a safer bet for the rollout.
The Illinois General Assembly passed the Video Gaming Act in May 2009, legalizing up to five video poker machines at truck stops, fraternal organizations and establishments that hold a liquor license.
Before the law, bars were allowed to have so-called gray games - video poker machines that were legal for amusement only but were also often known to pay illegal cash jackpots. More than 66,000 of those machines were scattered statewide, according to a legislative estimate. Those machines were supposed to be removed.
Under the measure, video poker games will have to be licensed with the state, which will be entitled to 25 percent of the game's net profits. The money is slated to help fund billions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects. Local communities will receive 5 percent of the revenue, while operators and establishments will split the rest.
Du Quoin Cleanup Days June 22-23
Public works director Dale Spencer advised the council that Du Quoin Cleanup Days will be held June 22-23 through a partnership with the Perry Ridge Landfill. The landfill will accept a specific list of household discards from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, June 22 and from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23.
Sue Lamczik--In Loving Memory
Commissioner Kathy West offered her sympathy to the Sue Lamczik family on behalf of the City of Du Quoin. Sue was a businesswoman, a past member of the zoning and park boards and worked politically to improve the town's parks and neighborhoods.
And, an Important Footnote
The nights thoughts and prayers of the council and the community extend to the family of city administrator Blaine Bastien as he deals with health issues. Mayor John Rednour describes Blaine as "the man who makes me a better mayor."