Arlington Heights is about to hitch Mount Prospect, Mundelein and Huntley in banning electronic Sweepstakes Machines , which local officials say resemble video gambling.
The machines — which don’t require money initially to play and don’t disburse money — have popped up at three liquor stores, a newsstand and a laundry facility in Arlington Heights.
After two free credits, the kiosks require money to continue playing. Winners receive coupons to shop for products at individual businesses also as, in some cases, cash.
Arlington Heights, home to Arlington International Racecourse, banned video gambling in town before it went live elsewhere within the state in 2012. This week, village trustees doubled down thereon position while not making any distinction between the sweepstakes kiosks and traditional video poker machines.
The village board unanimously agreed to draft an ordinance that might ban the devices.
“I think it’s only one big loophole,” said Trustee John Scaletta. “I think it’s even as on the brink of video gaming as you’ll get.”
Trustee Rich Baldino went a step further.
“I don’t think it’s a loophole. i feel it’s gambling,” Baldino said. “This is video gambling.”
The Illinois Gaming Board considers the Sweepstakes Machines “illegal gambling devices,” though state law doesn’t specifically prohibit them.
Cory Aronovitz, an attorney who represents Sweepstakes Machines operators, attended the board’s committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday to lobby trustees to allow the machines while fixing a process to license and tax them.
One machine could generate $10,000 per annum in tax income for the municipality, Aronovitz said.
Two representatives of a software developer for the Sweepstakes Machines also argued they assist generate income for little businesses and compared the kiosks to the Monopoly sweepstakes game at McDonald’s, during which patrons receive coupons after making a food purchase.
After a local department investigation that started in May, the Arlington Heights businesses where the machines were discovered agreed to unplug them while village officials looked into the difficulty further.
Another regulation that applies to legal gambling machines and not Sweepstakes Machines is that the legal machines are only allowed in establishments that have already got a liquor licence . S Sweepstakes Machines , however, are often placed anywhere. In fact, on the web site of an area sweepstakes machine manufacturer and distributor, Jackpot Gaming, the corporate makes it clear that these machines aren’t bound by an equivalent laws because the IGB sanctioned machines. “Electronic promotion kiosks haven’t any restrictions in the least ,” reads the online page and lists the kinds of locations they will be placed, including liquor stores, bars, laundromats and convenient [sic] stores. altogether caps it then states, “NO liquor licence REQUIRED!”
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