In February 2024, our village board approved a new ordinance aimed at striking a balance between regulating video gaming operations and maintaining the village’s character. Since video gaming is allowed in Bartlett, we had to work through the liquor licensing in order to help regulate the amount and type of video gaming in Bartlett.
This ordinance created two distinct liquor license categories—Class V and Class VC—designed to better differentiate between restaurants with incidental gaming and video gaming cafes where gaming is the main attraction.
I want businesses to be able to have the revenue stream from video gaming, but I don’t want to compromise the integrity of the lifestyle expected by Bartlett residents. This ordinance is how our board looked ahead to help prevent over expansion without limiting businesses.
Key Elements of the Ordinance
- Two New Add-On Liquor Licenses:
- The ordinance requires a fee of $25 for each of these add-on licenses.
- Class V licenses are tailored for restaurants where gaming terminals are incidental to their primary operations.
- Class VC licenses are for video gaming cafes, where gaming serves as the core focus.
- Regulation Criteria:
- Establishments will need to meet specific criteria to be eligible for these licenses:
- Gaming revenue will be a key consideration, as it helps distinguish whether the primary focus of the business is on food service or gaming.
- The presence of a commercial kitchen and seating capacity are essential to ensure these spaces serve more than just gaming customers.
- There will also be size requirements and food service standards to prevent gaming cafes from operating as purely gaming destinations.
- Distancing restrictions will limit how closely gaming establishments can be located to each other, preserving the village’s atmosphere and avoiding the clustering of gaming cafes.
- Establishments will need to meet specific criteria to be eligible for these licenses:
- Licensing Limits:
- The total number of licenses will be capped, with 10 licenses available for Class V businesses and 12 licenses for Class VC businesses.
- Existing businesses with gaming will be grandfathered in, ensuring they are not displaced or unduly burdened by the new ordinance.
Benefits of the Ordinance:
This ordinance offers a comprehensive framework for regulating video gaming within the village, balancing the interests of business owners, residents, and the overall community. It aims to prevent an uncontrolled expansion of gaming while allowing interested businesses to explore new revenue streams.