by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (June 20, 2019) – “Entertainment, hospitality, restaurants—those are ‘in,'” explained Administrator Dan Podgorski to the Village Board at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, June 18. He was asking Trustees to consider a proposal from Dave Hoffman and Terence Dunleavy of Hawthorne Race Course Inc. “We are a major interchange along 80/94,” said Podgorski, “and wherever possible we want to add some amenities and entertainment options for people who are coming into Lansing—and also for residents who live here and in the surrounding area.”
Hawthorne Race Course Inc./Voska Ventures LLC was on the agenda to request a full liquor license for the new business they want to open at 2 River Place, Unit G, near the LifeSource/Vitalant blood donation center. Hoffman and Dunleavy had approached Podgorski 10 months ago and expressed a desire to expand their Off Track Betting offerings into Lansing. “They liked our market,” said Podgorski. “They liked our proximity to Indiana, and also the 80/94 corridor.”
Off Track Betting, known commonly as OTB, is licensed gambling on horse racing outside a race track.
Podgorski had lunch with Hoffman and Dunleavy at their Off Track Betting location in Manteno, Illinois, several months ago. He described the setting to the Trustees as “basically a sports bar and restaurant, and I think it’s gonna be a great addition to Lansing.” Hawthorne Race Course Inc. also has Off Track Betting locations in Oak Brook Terrace, Crestwood, Joliet, Glendale Heights, and Ottawa, Illinois.
In their presentation to the Board, Hoffman and Dunleavy affirmed that they are interested in the 2590-square-foot property in River Plaza. Showing photos of the Manteno location as an example, they explained that a large bar will be the focus of the new business, and it will be surrounded by booths and carrels equipped with monitors on which sporting events and track races could be broadcast from around the world.
Hawthorne anticipates that their proposed venue will also become a social gathering place for occasions such as the Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown, and Breeders Cup. Hoffman mentioned that they opened their Ottawa location just before Derby Day, and “quite a few” people came out to celebrate the event.
Though Podgorski referred to the proposed business as a “restaurant,” Hoffman and Dunleavy told the Board, “We’ll start off with bar food as the menu, and then we’ll expand as we go further into the operation,” but they did not provide a specific timeline for when the operation might reach restaurant status.
Revenue projections
Hawthorne Race Course Inc. has projected “about $6 million” in pari-mutuel waging handle (total bets received) at the proposed Lansing location. The gaming expansion bill (SB 690)—which Governor Pritzker has indicated he will sign—will increase the maximum number of video gaming machines from five to six per licensed location, so Hawthorne anticipates that the handle at their facilities will double or even triple.
Video gaming revenue is projected to be $750,000.
Dunleavy later clarified that Lansing’s share of the video gaming revenues will be 5%, and of the pari-mutuel revenues will be 7%.
Revenue projections related to food and beverage sales are $150,000.
Questions from the Trustees
Following the presentation by Podgorski, Dunleavy, and Hoffman, Trustees asked a number of questions. Those questions and Hawthorne’s answers are provided below:
Trustee Maureen Grady-Perovich: “Are you limited in the number of video gaming machines?”
Hoffman: “Yes we are—5, and 6 with the new bill.”
Trustee Saad Abbasy: “Will Hawthorne have any participation when sports betting becomes legal, and if so will that become a part of this Lansing location?”
Dunleavy: “Yes, Hawthorne is awarded a sports book license…that is granted by the Gaming Board. Once that occurs, the law further provides that 3 of its current 16 OTB licenses may have a sports book. So I know that Hawthorne has a very keen eye on the Indiana border, for the purposes of placing that sports book in the right place. I can’t commit; I’m just the lawyer, but that is certainly in the plan.
Trustee Mike Fish: “Could you define “bar food”? Is it, like, frozen pizzas?”
Hoffman: “Yes, I think we start with a TurboChef [oven] and microwaveable appetizers, and it expands into a little bit of a kitchen area. And this will be done in steps.”
Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust: “I have a question about revenues. The numbers that you’re talking about, the profit numbers, what percentage of that winds up being a benefit to the Village?”
Dunleavy: “For the video gaming revenues, the municipality receives 5%, and for the pari-mutuel revenues it’s 7%. …We project the first year $100,000 for the village.”
Trustee Abbasy: “I’m a little curious about your projected timeline for going to a full service restaurant. Is it, like, a one-year timeline?”
Hoffman: “That really hasn’t been determined. That timeline has not been developed.”
Trustee Zeldenrust: “Can you talk a little bit about how gambling actually works? I was reading up on this, and I read that in Quincy the people don’t have a clue about how to bet, so [gambling] didn’t really turn into money, either for them or for the town. But in Grayville they’re very horse savvy, and they’re makin’ a ton. So how does that work, and how does that affect revenue?”
Dunleavy: “There really are two forms of gaming. Race tracks are pari-mutuel, which is essentially ‘we bet amongst ourselves.’ The state takes their cut across the top, and then the odds determine who gets what, but essentially we’re all betting amongst ourselves, the pari-mutuel pool. That pool increases with the amount of dollars that go into it, so the more savvy horse players will raise that number. The tax to the community is directly tied to the projected handle. Handle is tied also to the quality of horses that run on the track. What Bill 690 will do is dramatically increases purses for the horsemen that will run at Hawthorne, and therefore increase the quality of the horses, which will attract more bettors to bet on horses. Video gaming is our random number generators—each machine has a random number generator that automatically resets after each play. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, that’s my lucky machine,’ but that’s fallacy. It’s a random number generator that resets every time. And there’s a set payout that cannot be less than 80%.”
Hoffman: “Most of our machines at the OTB locations, the BGTs are averaging about 91.5% payout. So 92¢ of every dollar bet is returned.”
Dunleavy: “And the current state average for BGT is approximately a $140 win. So that means by machine, per day, the average across the state is $140, each actual individual device.”
Trustee Fish: “What are your hours, and are you open seven days a week?”
Hoffman: “Open seven days a week, and the hours will be tied to the pouring hours of your liquor license. So that would be 8:00 in the morning until midnight, 2:00am, whatever the liquor ordinance allows.”
Dunleavy: “Keep in mind that racing is worldwide, and the signal is coming in, so you can bet on L’Arc de Triomphe from France, you can bet on Hong Kong Jockey Club, you can bet in Japan, etc. So for an ‘hours’ perspective, that’s the kind of need you have to fully expand your offering.”
Trustee Abbasy: “Will Hawthorne be sharing revenues from the new proposed ‘racino’ racetrack in the six or seven townships in the south suburbs?”
Dunleavy: “Yes, SB 690 provides for two licenses associated with pari-mutuel. One does actually go to Hawthorne. I mean, it’s not said in the bill, but the definition is there. So Hawthorne receives a gaming license that they have to file with the IGB, but once that’s achieved, then Hawthorne Race Track will convert into what’s called a ‘racino’—casino, race track—where slot machines will be placed therein. In addition there is an authorization for yet another standardbred trotters race track in the five townships south of Chicago, of which this is one. So somewhere in that range another standardbred track is authorized to be built.”
Voting on the license
The New Business Request for Full Liquor License will be placed on the July Board meeting agenda for vote. Because of the July 4 holiday, the next meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 7:00pm at the Municipal Court Complex (the police station), 2710 170th Street.
Lansing residents who have questions about Off Track Betting, video gaming, or Hawthorne Race Course may contact their elected officials, who have been researching the issues surrounding this request. Trustee email addresses and phone numbers are listed on the Village website, though occasionally messages left at the assigned phone numbers do not get through to the intended Trustee:
- Email Mayor Patty Eidam, or call 708-895-7208
- Email Administrator Dan Podgorski, or call 708-895-7202
- Email Trustee Mike Fish, or call 708-832-4568
- Email Trustee Maureen Grady-Perovich, or call 708-832-4563
- Email Trustee Saad Abbasy, or call 708-832-4569
- Email Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust, or call 708-832-4570
- Email Trustee Brian Hardy, or call 708-832-4564
- Email Trustee Mike Manno, or call 708-832-4566
By definition, to gamble is an uncertain event whose result may be determined by chance or accident or have an unexpected result by reason of the bettor’s miscalculation. No one person would willingly consider this as a sure thing unless one has already entertained desperate measures. Is this where we are Lansing? The answer lies in what you do from here on in.
Has the Village lost sight of the ongoing problem with drugs and prostitution at the hotels on the north side of town. Adding legalized gaming to this mix will cap a corruption that follows money. Do you think Walmart would appreciate the ramped-up theft from those who think just one more pull will get him/her that dream life? Will the come-on offer from Dunleavy et al, fall away to an increase in crime prevention that cannot be paid for from the gaming? With gambling the house always wins…Lansing you are not the house in this scenario.
I would like to see a show of strength in the town of Lansing from the elected officials that distances the residents from the struggle that is temptation to seek that which will not satisfy. Understanding the ramifications that will prevail in allowing this to come to Lansing are paramount to the well-being of us all. Ask yourself what your responsibility as Village leaders is in all this. Will you sleep well at night knowing that you provided an avenue for addiction, corruption, poverty, divorce, and a mass exodus of the residents who will be vehemently opposed to gambling or the stricken revenue it will bring? What homeowner wants a shining new anything for the town paid for by someone who lost their savings chasing a promise that doesn’t exist? Will those homeowners still standing have to foot the bill that was once suppose to be covered by projected revenue?
I am sick and tired of those that chose to trash our town as it is. There is garbage in our alleys and roadways with little regard for finding a suitable receptacle. There are properties that are not maintained or abandoned conducive to dwindling home ownership. Do you think for one minute putting a price tag on Lansing will inspire others to take better care of this town. Selling out never earned respect. Setting a bar that incorporates a high work ethic, Godly fellowship, and leading by good example based on love for every man will grow a resident base Lansing can be proud of with long lasting affect. Just ask the newly formed Human Relations Committee if you need further proof. What love is shown to others by giving them that which will destroy them. Knowingly and willingly presenting this lifestyle with open hands will be the ruination to come. You can dress this up anyway you see fit to pass it off as what Lansing needs, but it will not change the fact that it is all about want. In years to come when it is realized what a poor choice it was to bring gambling to Lansing, will all those involved still be living in Lansing with their head held high?
Mr. Podgorski, you seem very taken by all the bells and whistles of this venture. What is in it for you?