I’ve known about this loophole but haven’t seen the sweepstakes machines.
According to the article below, Skokie has prohibited them.
I’m agnostic about this stuff although I do get annoyed when I am trying to buy a candy bar at 7-11 and the clerk is taken up doing god knows what with someone buying lottery tickets making me wait.
Although it is sad seeing people throw their money away.
On the bright side, during all my visits to these machines over the past two weeks, I've yet to see someone actually playing them besides me and other folks looking into them with me. Local journalists are funding the whole business at this point!
These things are going to be huge now that they are mentioned on foiagras! Streisand effect here we come.
Seriously though I suppose that in addition to not collecting the tax of gaming machines there is probably no age limits as well not that any kid would be dumb enough to use those machines with smart phones and school iPads to do real sports betting
Interestingly, the machines at the Citgo Station on Asbury (by Chute) have signs on them saying you have to be 18+ in order to play the game, which seems pretty clearly like an admission that they are gambling and not "amusement" or "gift certificates" which do not have an 18+ requirement to play. Any one can play a PacMan machine.
But given this loophole, I may be able to make my dream of turning Harley Clarke into a New Orleans-style gambling, I mean, sweepstakes operation now. We are one step closer to "Colonel Prizker's House of the Rising Sun" becoming a reality. Jennifer Pritzker, gimme a call!!
I’ve stopped going to the Barnaby’s in Niles because my 4 year old is drawn to their “game room” like a moth to flame. I’ve never seen a person in the game room. Is it really worth for businesses like that?
Thanks for shining a light on this, Tom. These machines have a sleaziness that smacks of organized crime. They stink of a certain vice-like stench that’s not typically found on the North Shore. I’m surprised Evanston allows this.
I did not do much more than look at one of the licenses you posted and see that it shows the addresses where the permitted machine is assumed to be located. Is there a penalty of any sort for moving a machine and not updating the license?
I’ve known about this loophole but haven’t seen the sweepstakes machines.
According to the article below, Skokie has prohibited them.
I’m agnostic about this stuff although I do get annoyed when I am trying to buy a candy bar at 7-11 and the clerk is taken up doing god knows what with someone buying lottery tickets making me wait.
Although it is sad seeing people throw their money away.
https://www.forestparkreview.com/2019/09/10/sweepstakes-machines-find-way-into-town/
On the bright side, during all my visits to these machines over the past two weeks, I've yet to see someone actually playing them besides me and other folks looking into them with me. Local journalists are funding the whole business at this point!
These things are going to be huge now that they are mentioned on foiagras! Streisand effect here we come.
Seriously though I suppose that in addition to not collecting the tax of gaming machines there is probably no age limits as well not that any kid would be dumb enough to use those machines with smart phones and school iPads to do real sports betting
Interestingly, the machines at the Citgo Station on Asbury (by Chute) have signs on them saying you have to be 18+ in order to play the game, which seems pretty clearly like an admission that they are gambling and not "amusement" or "gift certificates" which do not have an 18+ requirement to play. Any one can play a PacMan machine.
But given this loophole, I may be able to make my dream of turning Harley Clarke into a New Orleans-style gambling, I mean, sweepstakes operation now. We are one step closer to "Colonel Prizker's House of the Rising Sun" becoming a reality. Jennifer Pritzker, gimme a call!!
If you wanna go to hell
You should take a break
At the Sodom and Gomorrah
On the shores of the Lake!
I’ve stopped going to the Barnaby’s in Niles because my 4 year old is drawn to their “game room” like a moth to flame. I’ve never seen a person in the game room. Is it really worth for businesses like that?
Does Meemaw own these establishments? Truth is stranger than fiction.
I am just waiting for a machine on Central Street - ha!
Someone call the Spice House and let them know of this new revenue stream!!
Thanks for shining a light on this, Tom. These machines have a sleaziness that smacks of organized crime. They stink of a certain vice-like stench that’s not typically found on the North Shore. I’m surprised Evanston allows this.
They don’t allow this, but either the ordinance is poorly written or state law supercedes.
I did not do much more than look at one of the licenses you posted and see that it shows the addresses where the permitted machine is assumed to be located. Is there a penalty of any sort for moving a machine and not updating the license?
Every one wants to be a winner! How much taxes does the city get for having machines in Evanston?
For these machines: $0
If they voted to approve gaming, then they would get a 5% tax on all revenue, which is probably not that much money overall.
So the businesses would benefit more!