Weeks after Morton village board trustees opted out of video gambling, many local bar owners continue to express concerns about the future loss of business.
“It all came down to morals,” said Bill Ingold, owner of Red Rock Bar and Grille, which opened in 2008.
At the meeting last month, local church pastors spoke out against gambling’s addictive qualities, along with it going against family values. And, with a unanimous decision of 5-0, it makes Morton the first municipality in Central Illinois to opt out.
“We were shocked in the way they did it,” Ingold said. “All my patrons were like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Ingold argued that Morton should have waited until all the details were finalized in Springfield before deciding to opt out.
Like most bars, he fears the board’s decision will cause people to leave Morton bars for businesses in surrounding towns where video gambling is allowed.
While Red Rock only has two machines — which Ingold said they do not profit from — Ingold looked forward to the prospect of video gambling in the future.
“It’s entertainment to them. People should have their choice ... If you’re against it, don’t go there,” Ingold said. “It’s no different than the lottery.”
Ingold added that video gambling would have increased the value of the business, as well.
“It will be tougher to ever sell the bar to another business,” he said.
Marie Arendell, owner of Schooner’s in Morton, has many of the same concerns as Ingold.
However, her bar has been open for 25 years, with video gambling machines in the business the entire time.
“By not keeping the machines, they’re forcing the patrons to go to another city,” Arendell said. “I do think it will affect a lot of businesses.”
First, smoking was banned, and now video gambling is being taken away in the bars, she said.
“It’s just a little amusement. There’s nobody in here that’s addicted,” she said, adding she wishes board members would come into her bar to see how video gambling is not a problem. “It’s completely different that what the Par-A-Dice is or what Vegas is.”
Morton Police Chief Nick Graff said the machines must be out of the bars by July, when the Revenue Tax Stamp on the machines expires.
Graff said paying out on the machines is illegal in Illinois, and bars breaking this law have never been an issue.
“I’m not aware that they pay out, but I suspect they do,” Graff said.
Whether bars pay out or not, Graff said they are still a money-making machine for bar owners.
Graff said he was aware of some bars holding contests in the past and handing out items like T-shirts and hats for prizes — which is legal.
“I think the concern is that these machines have to come out,” he said.
