As gaming grows, City Council considers new restrictions

Gambling is massive enterprise in Kewanee.

And at Monday’s assembly, the City Council mentioned whether or not or to not change how playing is regulated within the metropolis.

Last yr, income from the gaming machines in Kewanee bars and gaming parlors totaled $6.4 million. 

Gambling revenues are taxed by the state, and a share of that tax goes to the town. Last yr, Kewanee obtained about $350,000.

A metropolis ordinance permits as much as 150 of the gaming machines to be in native institutions.

While there aren’t fairly that many right here but, City Manager Kasey Mitchell advised the City Council Monday that machines have been ordered that may take up the remainder of the allowed areas.

“Do we further restrict these licenses?” Mayor Gary Moore requested because the dialogue started. “There’s only so many gaming machines that a community can support.”

Councilman Adam Cernovich stated he’s principally involved with institutions that do no different enterprise apart from the gaming machines. Mitchell stated there are seven such companies in Kewanee.

Cernovich stated some communities within the Quad Cities have ordinances that require that companies with gaming licenses diversify and provide different providers. He prompt that Kewanee would possibly profit from such a requirement.

“I think most will diversify rather than give up this revenue stream,” he stated.

Cernovich additionally prompt limiting gaming-only companies to sure elements of the town.

Other communities which have imposed the diversification by gaming companies have given them a few years to conform.

But Moore stated such a requirement would “put a huge burden on them no matter how much time we give them.”

The council didn’t take any motion on playing Monday.