After more than five years of uncertainty, the Village of Plainfield has finally rolled the dice by approving video gaming in the community.
The board Monday approved an ordinance that allows video gaming, with trustees Patricia Kalkanis and Cally Larson being the only two dissenters.
Proponents of video gaming say the Village of Plainfield not only loses the gambling dollars, but the money spent on beer and food when customers frequent establishments in neighboring communities that have gaming machines, such as Joliet which has more than 70 units around the city.
While the City of Joliet has establishments that allow gaming, residents in nearby Bolingbrook in 2021 voted against a referendum asking if they supported businesses having video gaming.
In Plainfield’s case, several trustees, particularly Kalkanis, have always expressed concern that it could forever change the direction of the downtown corridor.
“It looks like a lot of board members want businesses I do not think are needed,” she said.
Village Administrator Joshua Blakemore said video gaming is a profitable enterprise for communities as Crest Hill received $205,308 in sales revenue last year. Lockport received $340,000; Romeoville, $400,000; and Shorewood took in $109,039.
Last year, the Illinois Gaming Board reported more than $32 billion was wagered at video gaming terminals throughout the state, resulting in more than $830 million in tax revenue for the state and $144 million to municipalities and counties.
The approval in Plainfield does come with a stipulation that requires businesses to have a half-wall or another type of barrier to separate the video gaming terminals from the dining room section. The board also did not support a zoning text amendment that would have restricted video gaming terminals inside businesses located in the historic downtown district, where bars and restaurants operate on Lockport Street.
The village of Plainfield will treat video gaming like a liquor license, as it can be added or removed. Terminals will be permitted in Plainfield beginning May 1 of this year.
“The number one reason to have video gaming in Plainfield is to support small businesses,” said Mayor John Argoudelis.
The approved amendment did not include a previous draft that would have required businesses to have been open for at least 18 months before they could apply for a gaming license.
While Argoudelis argued that stipulation only hurts new businesses and puts them at a disadvantage, Larson said it at least proves that a business in Plainfield could be successful without having to put gambling terminals in their establishments.
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