Gunshots were heard at about 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the 5200 block of West Pensacola Avenue in Portage Park, at about the same time a stolen vehicle was read story
Cell phone store with slot-style machines reported
by BRIAN NADIG
Slot-style machines could recently be seen inside a cell phone store that has opened at 4466 N. Milwaukee Ave.
A spokesman for the city Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said that inspectors were unable to gain entry to the business and have referred the matter to the Chicago Police Department Vice Control Section.
The 16th (Jefferson Park) Police District also has asked vice control to look into the matter, according to a district spokesman.
The city issued a limited business license for Lucky’s Wireless earlier this year to allow the sale of cell phones and accessories but visible through the store’s windows are eight slot-style machines.
In Chicago it is not unusual for businesses to offer what they call “sweepstakes” machines, which are similar to traditional slot machines.
A Nadig Newspapers employee was at the store recently and a worker had said that residents can play the machines with cash and the store pays out cash winnings or a credit towards cell phone accessories. The store has sent out mailers to residents in the neighborhood offering a $10 matchplay.
The hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The Illinois Gaming Board considers sweepstakes to be a gambling device.
In recent years, sweepstakes can be seen in laundromats, gas stations, convenience stores and other businesses on the Northwest Side, but the gaming board only enforces gambling laws in municipalities where gambling is legal, often leaving local or county law enforcement to deal with the matter.
In Chicago, gambling-style devices which offer anything of value to players are not allowed, and machines which are for entertainment purposes only must have a tax stamp issued by the city, according to the business affairs department. In addition, businesses are restricted to three amusement devices unless they have public place of amusement license, which permits four or more devices.
In many suburbs, slot machines have been legal in bars since 2012. A recently approved bill calling for the expansion of gambling in the state could lead to a casino opening in Chicago.
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story. Skip every pop-up.
Get the full weekly edition delivered to your inbox — no interruptions, no waiting. Just local news the way it was meant to be read.
Only $19.50/year — less than 38¢ a week
Subscribe Now
This is just part of today’s coverage. Get the full story - every article, every ad, every page. Subscribe now.
The Latest From Our Community
by BRIAN NADIG About a dozen smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson read story
by BRIAN NADIG At least nine smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson read story
by BRIAN NADIG Violent offenses reportedly are down 34 percent on the CTA from a year ago as the agency targets a section of the Red Line where criminals are read story
Two men reported that a man fired shots at them at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the 5300 block of West Berteau Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. A 25-year-old man reported that read story
The second annual “Sip and Shop” in “Jeff West” will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, running along Lawrence Avenue from Austin Avenue on the west and Major Avenue read story
Browse by Category
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story.
Skip every pop-up.
No pop-up ads — ever. Just stories, the way they were meant to be read
Full weekly edition delivered to your inbox every week — no waiting, no missing issues
Support local journalism and help keep our community connected
Only $19.50/year
That's less than 38¢ a week
Purchase Digital Subscription
Paypal
$19.50
/year
You can submit your payment via Paypal with a Credit Card. You DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT.. Just click the “Paypal Subscribe” button below to iniate your secure payment! You will be directed to a Secure Paypal page in which you can pay with a Paypal account if you have one, or you can select "Pay with Debit or Credit Cardt" option below and process your payment via credit card.
Venmo
$19.50
/year
You can submit payment of $19.50 for a 1 year subscription to Nadig Newspapers' Venmo account using this link. Please include the email address in the comment/note section that you would like the digital subscription sent to.