The La Salle City Council is acting to stop the growth of video gambling parlors in the downtown area.

The seven-member council recently voted 5-1 to limit the number of parlors to five, the number currently operating. One council member, who works at one of the parlors, abstained from voting. If any of the five existing establishments close, they cannot be replaced; if all eventually cease operations, there would be no parlors.

Parlors need a liquor license from the city before they can obtain a state video gambling license.

The council member who led the effort, Mark Schneider, said a couple of downtown business owners told him they are troubled by the number of parlors that have popped up because mini-casinos "don't fit" the hoped-for image of the business district. Specifically, business owners said parlors conflict with efforts to draw tourism and additional retail shops.

Three of the five downtown parlors are on one block, two on one side.

The parlor proliferation is dealing the downtown a bad hand, in the view of Amanda Andreoni, who owns Marien Mae Bridal Boutique.

"I'm very thankful the city has taken the necessary actions needed to ensure the integrity of our awesome downtown. We have so many businesses thriving, with momentum in place and vibrant entrepreneurs seeking a space for their business.

"La Salle must protect its investors and businesses that have worked so hard to create a fluent downtown, this was a positive move in the right direction," Andreoni said.

Schneider noted the gambling establishments take up ground that could otherwise be used for prime retail space. Further, Schneider pointed out the city wants to obtain official historic status for the downtown, and if the Kaskaskia Hotel reopens, gambling parlors would be even more out of place.

There are 29 establishments in La Salle with state-authorized video gambling, of which 12 are downtown. Schneider noted that without gambling parlors, there still are seven downtown bars or restaurants with video gambling. La Salle's cut of gambling proceeds is about $160,000 per year.

What are the thoughts of Ottawa Mayor Robert Eschbach?

"I'm not crazy about gambling establishments downtown, but we don't try to regulate their number. Rather, we let the market take care of itself. Our downtown is vibrant, because we have a good mix of retail and restaurants and when you have such vitality, most gambling establishments can't afford the rent," Eschbach observed.

Eschbach added that several years ago, there were tattoo shops in downtown Ottawa, but those closed or moved.

There are no gambling parlors in Ottawa's downtown, but a number of bars in the business district have video gambling. One gambling parlor that operated on the corner of Jefferson and La Salle streets has closed.

In Streator, there are no standalone downtown parlors, but several elsewhere and Mayor Jimmie Lansford said he doesn't want to see more.

"A gambling parlor needs a restaurant-bar liquor license. There are a limited number of these licenses available and the City Council has said that's all there's going to be. I'd rather issue one to someone opening a restaurant," Lansford noted.

The mayor added the market is saturated with gambling parlors and any new ones simply take revenue from existing establishments.

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La Salle limits downtown gambling parlors - MyWebTimes.com