Beaumont council adopts ordinances to ban gaming sites and machines after public hearing

The Beaumont City Council held a public hearing and approved two ordinances that amend the city code to prohibit gaming sites and gaming machines within city limits.

At the hearing, resident Jimmy Pete urged the council to "stay the course" and ban gaming operations that he said cluster in lower-income neighborhoods and harm residents. Pete told council he counted more than 66 gaming venues with over 450 machines in the area and said those locations do not provide the community services — parks, libraries and fresh groceries — that neighborhoods need.

Council then voted to adopt the ordinances amending Article 6 of the city code. Both measures passed after the public hearing; staff presented the ordinances with no formal recommendation. The council did not add further conditions at the meeting.

Supporters of the ban said prohibiting the machines responds to community concerns about targeted gambling outlets; opponents had argued that businesses could be harmed, but the council majority voted to proceed.

The ordinances take effect per the city code schedule; enforcement and any appeals will follow the city's administrative code and legal process.