Tinley Park Officials Pass New Barrier Wall Requirement For Video Gaming Areas

Tinley Park IL

19 February, 2021

10:53 AM

Description

By Jon DePaolis, the Richard Free Press: TINLEY PARK, Ill. — The Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees has added a new requirement for businesses looking to add video gaming to their establishments. Trustees voted 4-1 Tuesday, Feb. 16, to amend the Village's video gaming rules to require businesses to add a 7-foot barrier wall for the gaming area. However, per the text of the ordinance, "if said barrier walls prohibit applicant from complying with [the code], applicant shall maintain video surveillance of the gaming area at all times. If applicant provides sufficient evidence that the gaming area is fully contained in an area of the establishment that can only be accessed by persons 21 or older, the requirement of a 7-foot barrier wall is not applicable." "This amendment requires the video gaming area to be bound by a 7-foot barrier wall or fully contained in a 21-and-over area," Mayor Jacob Vandenberg said during the discussion. "All video gaming practices must also be in compliance with the Illinois Video Gaming Act. "Thank you for your consideration on this. This will certainly help, I believe, on the administration side of things — particularly fielding questions from potential new businesses." Trustee Cynthia Berg cast the dissenting ballot on the new requirement. "I feel this is an economic hardship on the businesses," Berg said. "I know we've been kicking it around for a long time, and I'm glad it is quantified. But I just feel like it's not good for us right now." Trustee Diane Galante was absent. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.