‘It came as a shock’: Edwardsville groups react to gaming ban – The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Edwardsville American Legion Post 199 is among the organizations that say it can benefit from video gaming.

Edwardsville American Legion Post 199 is among the organizations that say it can benefit from video gaming.

Photo: Intelligencer File Photo

Edwardsville American Legion Post 199 is among the organizations that say it can benefit from video gaming.

Edwardsville American Legion Post 199 is among the organizations that say it can benefit from video gaming.

'It came as a shock': Edwardsville groups react to gaming ban

EDWARDSVILLE When a revised version of an ordinance allowing video gambling was voted on by the Edwardsville City Council on Sept. 25, proponents of the measure felt certain that it would pass.

But they were in for a surprise.

The council voted 3-4 against video gaming, with aldermen Jack Burns, Craig Louer and Art Risavy voting for the amended ordinance, which would have allowed the areas fraternal organizations, the Knights of Columbus, the Loyal Order of the Moose and the American Legion post, along with Class A and Class D liquor license holders to conduct video gaming.

The original video gaming ordinance would have allowed many bars and restaurants and other local businesses to have video gaming.

On Sept. 10, the administrative and community service (ACS) committee unanimously voted to modify the original ordinance.

With a limit on indoor dining and indoor drinking [due to the coronavirus], we have lost a lot of revenue, said Steve Bollman, manager of On the Hill Golf Course and Lounge at Edwardsville American Legion Post 199. Video gaming would be a great source of revenue that historically fraternal organizations have had. We had a couple of people from the city tell us that we had nothing to worry about and we would be getting the machines.

They said that the city cares about the fraternal organizations and the veterans organizations and they wanted to make sure [the video gaming ordinance] goes through to help those organizations, which are struggling at this time. That some of them went back on their word and changed their vote is kind of a sore subject.

Rob Eberhardt, a Post 199 board member and former post commander, is among those who spearheaded the push for video gaming.

Like Bollman, he was surprised not only by the amended ordinance being voted down but by some businesses being excluded.

It came as a shock because we felt we had enough support from the city, Eberhardt said. Running a restaurant is tough enough and running a Legion post is just as tough. Throw the pandemic on top of it and youve got some people who are in critical condition in terms of economics.

When Mayor [Hal] Patton came up with the proposal [for video gaming], it made great sense and he told me he hoped it would help the businesses that were struggling, as well as the service clubs in the area. He did extensive research on the impact that video gaming would have in the area and the new revenue that would be produced is significant.

The rejection of video gaming left some members of fraternal organizations feeling like they had been misled by the city. They feel that the alderman that voted against the ordinance are not representing the views of most residents.

Its not so much what you think its what the people of Edwardsville think, said Jim Acra, governor of Edwardsville Moose Lodge 1561. There was not one person that came to these meetings to oppose this. It was very disappointing because people didnt stand up and vote the way the way they need to vote.

I feel bad about the businesspeople of Edwardsville who are going to miss out on this. Then they turned around and voted so that nobody will be able to have it.

For organizations such as the Moose Lodge, video gaming could have a huge financial impact at a time when it is needed most.

Our gaming people have done games at the Moose Lodge for 30 years and they told us conservatively that if we bring in these machines, it could bring in $10,000 a month, Acra said. The big portion of our money was from renting our hall for parties and fundraisers and we havent had anything like that since March.

We did get a loan, but we also had money in the bank, so were blessed in two ways. But its still a huge challenge for us. If we get this money [from video gaming], we could do things like put down new carpeting in our social quarters, which is the bar area, and we could do some other improvements.

Bollman, likewise, cited a growing need for additional revenue at the American Legion.

We have much-needed maintenance on our building and we need money for scholarships, Eberhardt said. A lot of that money [from video gaming] can go to good things up here, including the citys Fourth of July fireworks display. They had to move it this year, but hopefully, we will get it back.

Were a not-for-profit, so there are no owners that benefit from the money we make here. It all goes back into the place or around the community. It helps us keep the prices low for hall rentals, weddings and fundraisers on the golf course. Events like that are what keep this place open.

For owners of bars and restaurants, the loss of potential revenue from video gaming is equally disappointing.

I didnt go to the first city council meeting [on Sept. 1], but Steve Seibert [co-owner of Big Daddys with Tim Bauer] told me about the second one, said Jason Armbruster, co-owner and operator of the Foundry Public House in Edwardsville. We didnt know a lot about it, but once we got into it, we found that could help so many people out.

Theres a lot of talk about addiction, but we as bar owners deal with that every day. If we have a bad drunk, we kick them out, and if we had bad gamblers, we would get them out too. Thats our responsibility to the public.

Armbruster was especially upset that bars and restaurants were excluded from the video gaming ordinance before it even came to a vote.

It was a weird situation and they tried to give it just to the fraternal organizations and gas stations, which is totally unfair, and even a lot of people in the fraternal organizations said you cant do that, said Armbruster, whose business partner at the Foundry is Rodney Lanham. In a day and a half, we got 370 signatures [supporting video gambling], but no one from the council ever came to my bar and got my opinion about it.

For a lot of people on the council, everything was I this and I that, and it doesnt seem like they are representing the people. It seems like they have their own agenda.

Armbruster said that if video gaming eventually is approved by the city, the Foundry does not intend to have any machines installed. But he supports the rights of other businesses and organizations to have video gaming.

Were fortunate enough that we have a huge patio, so were doing way better than most, even if were down 60 percent on the year, Armbruster said. But places like the Corner Tavern can totally use that revenue stream and the city could use it. Youre talking hundreds of thousands of dollars if everybody gets on board with it.

The earliest that the issue could be put before the voters is the April 6, 2021, consolidated election.

Proponents of video gaming feel they would have the voters support.

Were looking to have this put on the ballot in April, but its unfortunate that it has to do that long, Acra said. At the Moose Lodge, were going to move on and do what we need to do to survive. I know several of our members are going to be adamant about not getting some people reelected to the City Council, and that also comes up in April.

The citys share of the tax revenue would have been directed to water system improvements, business development programs, including faade improvement grants and historic renovation grants that directly benefit businesses.

For now, though, neither the city, nor local businesses and organizations, will be able to generate revenue from video gaming. Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Maryville all banned video gaming. It is allowed in Madison County.

There are a lot of businesses that wont reopen unless they get something like this, Armbruster said. Its legitimate help and its not a handout. The businesses and the city can gain revenue and the state will get their cut.

Theyre constantly making it sound like were going to have degenerates coming in here and were going to put big neon signs in front of our building saying Slots. Its unfortunate that every other county around us has gaming and Edwardsville doesnt.

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'It came as a shock': Edwardsville groups react to gaming ban - The Edwardsville Intelligencer