Recently the Illinois Gaming Board has been granting electronic video gambling machine licenses to more non-traditional locations, such as gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. When the games first were allowed in 2012, they were limited to bars and restaurants with liquor licenses, truck stops and fraternal and veterans establishments.
However, since the beginning of this year, the gaming board has issued 26 new gaming licenses in the Illinois Valley counties of La Salle, Bureau and Putnam—and more than half of the licenses were for non-traditional locations.
Cyle Dickens, manager of Beck’s convenience store in LaSalle, said, “When we opened up, we applied for our license and that was in 2015. We didn’t get one right away because we were considered a non-traditional establishment. Restaurants and bars, they would get theirs all day long. Now, you might see an influx of machines at gas stations.”
The gaming board informed Dickens the store would be re-inspected in January and by March the machines were installed. “There are times where our machines are filled up and people have to get turned away. I thought it would be something where you get a few people coming in, but no. We have people here all of the time,” Dickens said.
He added, “Another interesting part is we haven’t seen a drop off in our lottery sales. When you see some of these revenue numbers it’s like, ‘Oh my God.’ It just keeps growing.”
In fact, in March, players put $3.54 million into the games in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties, setting a new record. Before then, monthly totals topped $3 million only three times. April totals were $3.28 million, making it the second-highest earning month.
Revenue from the games for the city of La Salle rose from $12,000 to $17,500 between February and March. Finance Director John Duncan IV said, “I thought our revenue had stabilized until these other locations had opened up. You can see where Beck’s jumped right into significant revenue.”
But not every location comes out a winner with video gaming machines. At Nina’s Mexican Market in La Salle, Manager Mila Tintori said, “We wanted to try something new but it didn’t work out.” The combination market, deli and restaurant is located on a downtown block with three other gaming parlors. “I guess they took them out because they weren’t making the money they were supposed to. Now we have more room again in our restaurant, though,” Tintori said.
