Gambling is big business in Kewanee.
And at Monday’s meeting, the City Council discussed whether or not to change how gambling is regulated in the city.
Last year, profits from the gaming machines in Kewanee bars and gaming parlors totaled $6.4 million.
Gambling revenues are taxed by the state, and a percentage of that tax goes to the city. Last year, Kewanee received about $350,000.
A city ordinance allows up to 150 of the gaming machines to be in local establishments.
While there aren’t quite that many here yet, City Manager Kasey Mitchell told the City Council Monday that machines have been ordered that will take up the rest of the allowed spaces.
“Do we further restrict these licenses?” Mayor Gary Moore asked as the discussion began. “There’s only so many gaming machines that a community can support.”
Councilman Adam Cernovich said he is mostly concerned with establishments that do no other business besides the gaming machines. Mitchell said there are seven such businesses in Kewanee.
Cernovich said some communities in the Quad Cities have ordinances that require that businesses with gaming licenses diversify and offer other services. He suggested that Kewanee might benefit from such a requirement.
“I think most will diversify rather than give up this revenue stream,” he said.
Cernovich also suggested limiting gaming-only businesses to certain parts of the city.
Other communities that have imposed the diversification by gaming businesses have given them a couple of years to comply.
But Moore said such a requirement would “put a huge burden on them no matter how much time we give them.”
The council didn’t take any action on gambling Monday.
