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Once again, the 2009 Illinois Video Gaming Act (VGA) is facing legal problems. To help reduce budget deficits, the VGA legalised operator-run video lottery terminals (VLTs) as part of a more general bill. The Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association (ICMOA), like most state associations, has supported operator-involved VLT legislation since the 1980s.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 potential networked poker games in liquor-licensed locations were anticipated after launching later this year. The state expected between $375m and $500m a year in taxes.
The legal challenge is not based on economic or moral issues, but rather on a legislative technicality. Opponents claim it improperly mixed separate legislation into one package, which violated Illinois law against combining unrelated matters into a single vote. Advocates say that the entire bill relates to fund-raising, conforming to legal constitutional stipulations.
After multiple postponements, the VLT issue is on hold. A decision date is uncertain, but a ruling against the ICMOA would nullify the VGA and require the state legislature to pass another individual law.
However, supporters worry that the VGA has become controversial, and may prove difficult to reintroduce on its own. Before the court case, almost 80 cities and counties had opted out of participating in the planned VLT market.
