Evanston City Council members voted 5-2 Tuesday night to reject a proposal from Ald. Devon Reid (8th) to permit slot machines in local restaurants.
Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd) called the machines one of the most addictive forms of gambling and said it would be an “unnecessary harm” to bring it into the community.
Reid had argued that the proposal, to permit video gambling as an accessory use in up to nine Evanston restaurants would help restaurant owners make up for revenue lost as a result of changes in dining habits in the wake of the pandemic.
But Wynne said the benefit to businesses would be relatively small compared to the harm it would bring.
