In a definite shift from its longstanding opposition, the Will County Board turned out in favor of the proliferation of video gaming in unincorporated boroughs, casting aside a 2015 ordinance that has kept these areas in a pseudo-prohibition state. This latest bid for modernization, approved with a 17-1 vote, ended a ban that has been in effect since 2015, fostered by then-chairman Jim Moustis, who cited concerns over gambling expansion from those within his constituency. The Chicago Tribune reported, that board members strategically played their hand to bridge the gap between businesses in unincorporated areas and those in gaming-friendly municipalities.
While proponents of the repeal highlight fairness and the boost to small business survivability, critics remain steadfast in their disapproval. Herald of the prohibition, Jim Moustis, painted the expansion of gaming as a menace to the economically vulnerable, blasting it as “predatory” and “addictive,” a sentiment rehashed from earlier concerns of gaming being a gateway to community corruption and crime. According to a Shaw Local report, Moustis challenged boosters of the repeal to present even "one good thing" that the expansion would yield, only to have fellow board member Rachel Ventura reply that tax revenues could benefit state-funded education.
On the topic of money – because let's face it, that's what the flashing lights and dinging of video gaming terminals really scream – the county is projecting to at least double its current annual gaming revenue of about $325,000. Vince Logan, a member of the board, wagered that "It is a savior for a lot of businesses," as he told the Chicago Tribune. This potential financial windfall is however paired with a newly approved $250 fee per gaming terminal, a split cost borne by both the terminal operator and the business owner.
Not everyone is throwing their chips on the table, however. Board Chair Judy Ogalla voiced her objection to the terminal fee, expressing a preference for slim government hustling within its fiscal lanes. The same argument for a lean operation might be the very reason why a proposal designating future gaming revenue for special purposes failed to advance past committees, as outlined in the Tribune. Ogalla emphasized to the paper, “Government needs to live within its means.”
Looking ahead, businesses interested in joining the gaming scene will be looking to renew these gaming licenses annually, concurrent with their liquor licenses – because it seems in Will County, where there’s liquor, there might just be a slot machine. And as the county rolls the dice on this gamble, the question lingers: will it pay off in spades for the local economy, or is it a roll of snake eyes for community sanctity? Time, and undoubtedly, revenue reports, will tell.
