Every month, her profit has gone up. But this week, it might fall to zero.
Mary Ann Ullrich, who owns Long Grove’s Village Tavern with her husband Chip, said that for the past year and a half, video gambling has brought her restaurant more money with each month. And she said it hasn’t caused a single fight or burglary.
But video gambling exists in Long Grove on a temporary permit, begun in the spring of 2014 and set to expire on Dec. 9. The Village Board is scheduled to consider either eliminating the activity, giving it a temporary extension or beginning the process of permanently sanctioning it at their Dec. 8 meeting.
More Top Picks Best Garage Air Conditioners
Ullrich said she planned to go to that meeting and lobby in favor of the machines.
“This is about businesses in this town trying to survive until this town turns around,” she said. “Video gambling has proven out to do that.”
On Dec. 1, the village’s Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals gave a 3-2 recommendation to eliminate video gambling. The trustees will take that recommendation into account before making the vote that will finalize the practice’s future. At the Chatter Box of Long Grove, owner Steve Besbeas said he hoped the trustees will ignore the recommendation.
“They don’t want to see any progress in downtown Long Grove,” Besbeas said of the zoning board. “It’s a rip-out of money out of restaurants’ pockets.”
This summer, Village Hall hired a professional polling firm to survey its residents. Those who responded were overwhelmingly against the idea of making video gambling a permanent fixture. When asked if they supported or opposed the idea, 53 percent said they “strongly opposed” the concept, while a combined 32 percent offered either “strong” support or “somewhat” support.
Video gambling machines look like traditional slot machines, but the restaurant owners said they carry a different appeal: using controls like what are found on arcade games, gamblers play slots, cards and other games on the digital screen, winning or losing real money.
Ullrich pointed out that they do not require any exterior signs or lights to bring passers-by in.
“It’s all word-of-mouth,” she said.
Records from the Illinois Gaming Board show that four Long Grove businesses offer a combined 14 machines. To date, gamblers have poured $3.9 million into them, and lost a cumulative total of $345,000, records show. Off that action alone, the state has taken in $86,000, and Village Hall more than $17,000.
Ullrich said her take has steadily increased, from $3,200 in her first full month back in 2014 to $8,000 in September.
Village President Angie Underwood said that, if the Village Board does affirm video gambling, it will have to first make another temporary extension, while the staff writes the paperwork that would become a permanent ordinance. She said she expected a large crowd in Village Hall on Dec. 8.
“It’ll be interesting, at the board meeting,” Underwood said.
Twitter: @RonnieAtPioneer