Title
Ordinance prohibiting new video gaming licenses in unincorporated Lake County.
Staff Summary
• On August 13, 2013, Lake County passed an ordinance allowing video gaming in unincorporated areas of Lake County and established requirements for video gaming licensing.
• The ordinance has been in place for nearly six years and staff, through the administration of the ordinance as well as through the Health and Community Development Commission (HCDC), has annually funded addiction prevention and treatment programs.
• There are approximately 380 venues in Lake County where 1,800 machines are located.
• Since the introduction of video gaming, approximately $56,000,000 has been spent and not recouped in video gaming machines in unincorporated Lake County and $360,000,000 lost county-wide.
• Research indicates there tends to be a higher concentration of problem gamblers surrounding gambling venues. The social impact includes increased incidents of police activity, bankruptcy, foreclosure, job loss, divorce and suicide.
• This action prohibits further licensing of video gaming in unincorporated Lake County. Current license holders will be able to continue operating.
• The operation of video gaming terminals at any video game location that has either been granted a license, by the Illinois Gaming Board, to operate a video gaming establishment prior to the enactment date of this Ordinance or that is eligible for and has submitted a complete application to the Illinois Gaming Board for a gaming license prior to the enactment of this Ordinance shall be exempt from the prohibition.
• An exempted business location described in the bullet above, that has operated continuously and is in full compliance with liquor and gaming licensing requirements, may upon sale of the business, retain its exempted status. This exempted status shall be contingent upon the subsequent business owner’s eligibility for, and compliance with, liquor and gaming licensing requirements. No such exemption will apply if a business has ceased operation as a valid liquor license holder in Lake County or has its liquor license revoked.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, Public Act 96-34, Public Act 96-37 and Public Act 96-38 were approved on July 13, 2009 and comprise the provisions of the Video Gaming Act; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board adopted an Ordinance Prohibiting Video Gaming within the Unincorporated Area of Lake County on October 13, 2009; and
WHEREAS, on August 13, 2013 the Lake County Board repealed the ordinance prohibiting video gaming in unincorporated Lake County; and
WHEREAS, many licenses have been issued for video gaming in Lake County since the ordinance allowing gaming was passed in 2013; and
WHEREAS, there are approximately 380 venues in Lake County where 1,800 machines are located; and
WHEREAS, since the introduction of video gaming, approximately $56,000,000 has been spent and not recouped in video gaming machines in unincorporated Lake County and $360,000,000 lost county-wide; and
WHEREAS, many families in Lake County have experienced the negative impacts of video gaming addiction; and
WHEREAS, the social impact of video gaming addiction includes increased incidents of police activity, bankruptcy, foreclosure, job loss, divorce and suicide; and
WHEREAS, Lake County has set aside revenue generated by video gaming to fund programs designed to prevent the negative impacts of gambling and addiction treatment; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board finds it in the best interest of its citizens to amend Chapter 115 of the Code of Ordinances specifically pertaining to video gaming, and
WHEREAS, in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of its residents, this ordinance is being updated and amended, and
WHEREAS, the Financial and Administrative Committee recommends the attached changes be made to Chapter 115 of the Lake County Code of Ordinances pertaining to video gaming and recommends approval by the full County Board.
NOW THERFORE BE IT ORDAINED, that the Lake County Board hereby amends Chapter 115 of the Lake County Code of Ordinances pertaining to video gaming, as attached hereto, and that these amendments become effective immediately upon adoption of the Lake County Board.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Lake County Clerk shall send a copy of this Resolution to American Legal Publishing to be incorporated into the Lake County Code of Ordinances, as attached.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Preamble of this Ordinance is hereby adopted as if fully set herein. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval as provided by law.
DATED, in Waukegan, Illinois on June 11, 2019.