Journal & Topics Media Group

Niles Trustees Up Number Of Video Gambling Terminals Allowed In Businesses


Video gambling machines at Niles’ Cafe Win. (Cafe Win photo)

Without debate, Niles trustees Tuesday (Aug. 27) updated an ordinance increasing the number of video gaming machines from five to six at each of 26 locations where video gaming is allowed in the village.

The change in the local ordinance comes after Senate Bill 690 was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Friday, June 28, which made several changes to gambling-related state laws. Those changes include allowing a Chicago based casino, making changes to rules regulating horse racing and increasing the number of video gaming machines from a maximum of five to a maximum of six at any given location.

All but two of the 26 video gaming locations in Niles have five machines. The two with fewer, Wildwood Tavern and Twin Dragon, both have four machines each.

Assistant Niles Liquor Commissioner Pat Byrne said although he has received many phone calls inquiring about increasing the number of machines in establishments, no businesses have applied for additional video gaming terminals in Niles yet.

In the fiscal year 2018-19, bets placed at Niles’ 26 video gaming locations totalled nearly $93,893,000. Taxes and fees from video gambling paid the village $377,400 during that time.

The most wagering in Niles (in the fiscal year that ran from May 1, 2018 to April 31, 2019) was at Cafe Win where $11.9 million was wagered. Winnings at Cafe Win totaled nearly $11 million and taxes paid to the village of Niles totaled $47,301.

Niles instituted video gaming three years ago. At the time, part of the reason for allowing it was the closure of Lucky Magee’s, an off-track betting parlor at Golf Mill Shopping Center, in January 2015. Lucky Magee’s paid Niles $247,296 in 2014 in taxes and fees.

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