The Oswego Village Board has approved a request for a video gambling license at Bucky’s Express at Route 34 and Orchard Road on the village’s far west side.
Trustees earlier this year approved an ordinance that created a new liquor license classification to allow video gambling and on-premise consumption of alcohol at gas stations and convenience stores in the village.
The Illinois Gaming Board permits video gambling in establishments so long as the location holds an on-premise liquor license. The Village Board approved video gambling in Oswego in 2013.
Village staff was approached by owners of Bucky’s Express with a request for a video gambling license for the business at 6551 Route 34, Village Clerk Tina Touchette said in a report to trustees.
The gas station and convenience store currently holds a Class B-1 liquor license and needed to be reclassified to a Class B-2 liquor license in order for the business to apply for a video gambling license.
Site plans were reviewed by the village’s chief building inspector and a walk-through of the business was done Aug. 31, according to village documents.
The plans at Bucky’s Express include having a gambling area less than 50% of the publicly accessible area of the store and a permanent barrier to separate the gambling from general consumers, according to the village’s requirements.
With the B-2 liquor license, the business will be authorized to sell beer and wine for consumption in the video gambling area. The business must also apply for a video gambling license through the state.
Only adults 21 years old and older will be allowed in the gambling area, officials said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.