On May 8th, Accel Entertainment traveled to Springfield, IL with a large group of supporters to help spread the message of the Bet on Main Street coalition. The coalition is comprised of small business owners who have gaming in their establishments and other advocates of the route gaming industry. The group took to the Capitol on Wednesday, May 8th in order to educate lawmakers in Illinois about the state of the industry.
Springfield is currently considering a proposal to raise taxes only for these locally-owned businesses, and not for out-of-State-owned corporate casinos in order to increase revenue to the State. More than 6,000 bars, restaurants, VFWs, and American Legions rely heavily on the income from the licensed video gaming terminals in their locations. This income helps meet obligations and make business improvements – including paying wages, renovations, and hiring new staff. These Illinois small businesses grow and reinvest in Illinois, and to experience a tax rate increase will cause serious cuts in their income and can lead to devastating impacts such as downsizing and closings.
On Wednesday, May 8th video gaming advocates flooded the Capitol building in order to speak to their representatives about Bet on Main Street’s message – when considering a new gaming tax policy, bet on main street businesses and not out-of-State owned casinos. The video gaming terminal industry already pays the highest percentage of taxes (30%) when compared to Illinois casinos or horse racing. According to the coalition, these taxes have amounted to $1.5 billion in revenue to the State since 2012. In addition to the boost in State funds, video gaming has also created an estimated 700 new businesses and supports over 32,000 jobs.
Accel Entertainment wants to thank everyone who traveled to Springfield to support the Bet on Main Street coalition. Accel also wants to give a special thank you to our establishment owners who took the time out of their schedule to help make our industry’s voice heard and show Illinois lawmakers how much video gaming has helped their local establishments.
We're just getting started in our efforts to protect video gaming - Illinois' major economic driver. If you want to learn more about Bet on Main Street or get involved with the coalition, visit https://betmainstreet.com/ for more information. If you haven't already, please sign the Bet On Main Street petition and encourage your friends, neighbors, and fellow local business owners to do the same.