Public Comment
There were two speakers during the public commentary section.
The first speaker was Anita Bedell, Executive Director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Additional Problems. Ms. Bedell expressed her disappointment in the Governor’s decision to extend his executive order allowing for the virtual registration for online gambling accounts and stated concerns regarding the ability to confirm the age of participants.
The second speaker was Dr. Sandra Bury, Mayor of the Village of Oak Lawn. Dr. Bury thanked the IGB for their work and briefly discussed the Oak Lawn amusement tax, also known as a “push tax,” in which a penny per push is taxed on video gaming terminal (“VGT”) plays. Dr. Bury stated that Terminal Operators (“TOs”) are not in compliance with the push tax and that the IGB’s silence has emboldened TOs. Dr. Bury stated that if TOs continue to ignore the push tax, the Village may issue temporary or permanent suspension of the local license