A measure that would expand “video gaming” in the state passed out of a House committee today. It would allow licensed businesses that create alcoholic beverages to also have a gaming license.
It would apply to a Tilton business called Rumshine, which makes flavored rum, as well as other craft distillers across the state that want to offer the video gambling machines.
Anita Bedell, a long-time anti-gambling activist, says there are already too many video gambling sites – and they take advantage of people who are already poor:
"So expanding them, making them more available, especially at a place where they distill alcohol is totally inappropriate and we ask that you would vote no on this bill."
Illinois legalized video gambling in 2009. The state has more than 22-thousand machines.
