East Dundee board approves ordinance defining 'gaming cafés' as special use in B-2/B-3 districts

The East Dundee Village Board voted July 6 to adopt an ordinance amending village code sections to define "gaming café" and create a special-use pathway for such businesses in B-2 and B-3 commercial districts.

Trustees discussed the ordinance's key elements before the vote: a proposed 2,500-foot spacing between standalone gaming cafes, whether to cap the number in town, and whether to require a commercial kitchen or a partnership with a local restaurant so gaming operations are tied to food service. Supporters argued the definition prevents businesses from masking gaming operations as bars; opponents urged caution about overconcentrating gaming uses in the downtown and pointed to potential property-value impacts.

During debate, one trustee urged that a gaming café should be allowed only if it helps nearby restaurants or provides a commercial-kitchen partnership. Another trustee noted the ordinance leaves room for variance requests and emphasized that a special-use approach lets the board consider proposals case by case.

The board called the question and adopted the ordinance by roll call. Recorded on the roll were yes votes from Trustee Saviano, Trustee Coonsie, Trustee Mahoney, Trustee Oakland and Trustee Sauter; Trustee Gupta was recorded as stepped out. The ordinance will be enacted per normal code-adoption timelines (no ordinance number was specified at the meeting packet reading).

What's next: Staff will finalize ordinance text and next steps for codification; applicants seeking gaming-café special-use permits must follow the new process and meet any objective criteria the board adopts.