Gaming licenses to be tougher to get in Orland Park

By Jeff Vorva

It’s going to take longer to receive gaming licenses in Orland Park.

The village board passed an ordinance April 15 that would allow table service businesses open at least 36 consecutive months to apply rather than the previous 18 months, and extended the probationary period to 18 months instead of six.

“By extending the amount of time, it pushes away those places that have no intention of operating as a restaurant long-term,” Pekau said.

“We haven’t had any of that, but we certainly have had some of those inquiring and they want to suck it up and act like a restaurant for six months to get the license and then turn into one of these gaming operations. We don’t want that.”

Pekau said that the village allowed gaming in 2018 because local restaurants were losing customers to restaurants in neighboring communities that had video gaming. But he doesn’t want it to get overwhelming.

“We’re experiencing a very, very aggressive gaming industry and they want gaming in gas stations and grocery stores,” Pekau said. “People from grocery stores say ‘we can’t make it without (gaming machines).’ Then you are in the wrong business.”

He said that at the time the village gave the green light, residents responded to a survey, and it was split down the middle between those who wanted gaming and those who didn’t.

“Morally, I have no opposition to gaming, however, I think approving gaming in the state of Illinois was bad,” Pekau said. “Sin taxes are not usually a good idea. It means that you are screwing everything else up.”

Concert lineups set

The 2024 Centennial Park West Concert Series lineups have been finalized.

The park, which has gone through major renovations since last summer, is scheduled to open up June 8 with Gary LeVox, the lead singer of Rascal Flatts. Jessie Haines and Hunter Hayes are the opening acts.

On July 13, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo hit the stage and will be backed up by Robin Taylor Zander, the son of Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander.

The series closes on Aug 17 with three tribute shows.

The headliner is One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel, who is the voice of Freddie Mercury in some of the songs in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.”  Opening the show will be Glory Days, a Bruce Springsteen tribute band, and Billy Nation, a Billy Joel tribute band.

General admission is $25 per concert or $60 for all three. There are limited $40 front-of-stage tickets for each show in limited quantities.

Tickets are available at orlandpark.org/cpwconcerts.