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 s...
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