At its May 1 meeting, the Evanston, Illinois city council’s Human Services Committee voted 3-2 to change its gambling ordinance to allow video gambling terminals in bars and restaurants.
Under the proposal, sponsored by Eighth Ward Council Member Devon Reid, council staff would report their findings to the committee in three months.
Per the Evanston RoundTable, Reid said one of the goals of the measure was “making sure that city code aligns with the world as it is today and with our values as they are today.” Reid said although he personally dislikes gambling, he was concerned that police enforcement of the current city code “is potentially putting our city at legal liability and missing an opportunity to make sure that we are not over-policing certain communities.”
In addition, he said gambling “is potentially a good source of revenue for the city. You know, our dollars are potentially leaving Evanston or certainly leaving Evanston because we don’t have this and we could keep more of the money local,” as reported by the RoundTable. Reid noted allowing the gambling machines would benefit businesses and generate revenue for the city.
He pointed out that in Illinois, “gambling is legal here. You’re allowed to gamble under state law. Certainly, it is regulated under state law, and I think we need to more closely mirror state law on this issue.”
Noting Evanston’s gambling law was written in the late 1950s, Reid said if he downloaded the DraftKings sports gambling app on his phone, “the Evanston Police Department would be able to confiscate my phone and place me under arrest.”
Ninth Ward Council Member Juan Geracaris expressed support for Reid’s proposal. Per the RoundTable, he said, “I’ve spoken with a number of residents who are in favor of loosening our code around gambling, just specifically for small businesses and this is like a first step.”
Seventh Ward Council Member Eleanor Revelle, who voted against the proposal, inquired about a statement from the Evanston Police Department that was provided for the council meeting. It read, the EPD “does not object to licensed sports betting and other forms of gambling via the internet including through mobile applications except by any person under the age of 21 years old. The EPD does not recommend modifying the Code to make a distinction between gambling on private and public property.”
Revelle asked EPD Commander Ryan Glew, who was at the meeting, how often the department actually enforces the ordinance. He replied, “We have not had a gambling arrest in approximately 10 years.”
Reid said the current ordinance doesn’t address what could not have been foreseen when it was adopted in 1957, like cellphones and other devices on which people can gamble, as well as “the legal machines that we would potentially want to see in our city.”
He added current law also doesn’t note some forms of gambling may be considered “as more of a cultural pastime in certain communities. I don’t think we should have in our code something that criminalizes something that potentially is innocent,” Reid said, as reported by the RoundTable.
Several residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, including former Ridgeville Park Commissioner Dan Coyne, who said, “Thank you for engaging this conversation on what I think is a potential resource not only for our small businesses, but also for our city budget. I understand the hesitancy, given the historical addictions and corruption in this particular field. But as in all new legal endeavors, one can envision oversight guardrails and proactive supports.”
Rob Bady, a sales rep for Eureka Entertainment, owners of the Universal Gaming Group, a leading operator of video gaming terminals in Illinois, added, “You can gamble on your phone. You can, of course, gamble at CVS through the lottery, which we’ve all done when it’s hit a billion dollars.”
In 2009, the Rules Committee voted 8-1 against allowing video gambling machines in city bars or restaurants. At the time, then-Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said, “I don’t think we would be making that much money from it, and I understand the consequences are devastating.”
Then-8th Ward Alderman Ann Rainey, the lone vote against the gambling ban, said it was inconsistent for city officials to say, “We trust you in the service of alcohol in the city of Evanston to people 21 and over, but we don’t trust you with five video poker machines, if you want them.”
