Regulatory Body in Illinois Tightens Grip on Video Gaming Business over Suspected Mafia Association
Illinois Gaming Board Revokes License of Steak'n Egger Over Illegal Gambling and Organized Crime Ties
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has revoked the video gaming license of Firebird Enterprise Inc., the license holder of Steak'n Egger restaurant in Cicero. This decision comes after the IGB found ties to illegal gambling and organized crime activities, as well as an attempt to hide these facts from regulators.
The revocation stems from testimony provided during the 2010 racketeering trial of alleged mob figure Michael Sarno. Jeffrey Bertucci, the controller of Firebird, admitted to operating illegal video gambling machines for years at locations in Cicero and Chicago. Bertucci obtained these machines through individuals federal agents had identified as tied to the Chicago Outfit.
Despite these admissions, the IGB initially licensed Firebird with Bertucci's earlier case dismissed without a formal conviction. However, the board became aware of the extent of Bertucci's admissions only after an unrelated 2019 letter from Bertucci's lawyers referenced his cooperation at the Sarno trial.
The omission of key details by Bertucci violated licensing rules. He never shared this information during the application process or when questioned later by regulators. The board's concerns were further heightened by the fact that some of the names of these individuals were well-known to police due to their alleged ties with mob-linked gambling operations.
Administrative Law Judge Michael Coveny recommended that the license revocation be dismissed, citing lack of conviction and limits in Illinois law requiring actual convictions for illegal gambling to revoke licenses. However, the IGB overturned that advice, emphasizing Bertucci's past concealed illegal activities and dishonesty with regulators as grounds for revocation.
The Gaming Board stated it would carefully examine the matter before taking any enforcement action against Bally's Casino. The revocation of Firebird's license adds to a growing list of concerns over criminal infiltration in Illinois' gaming industry. In the past, Illinois regulators have taken tough stances in similar situations, such as fining the Grand Victoria Casino $3.2 million in 2003 for purported mob-affiliated business relationships.
Gaming activities at the Steak'n Egger restaurant on Ogden Avenue were deactivated on Friday following the board's ruling. The revocation of Firebird's license is a clear message that the IGB takes its role in maintaining the integrity of the gaming industry seriously.
In related news, Bally's Casino in Chicago made headlines over possible connections to a contractor flagged in federal organized crime probes. The Gaming Board has not yet taken any action regarding Bally's, but has stated that it will carefully examine the matter before taking any enforcement action.
- The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is scrutinizing Bally's Casino in Chicago due to potential ties to organized crime, following the revocation of Firebird Enterprise Inc.'s casino-and-gambling license for illegal gambling activities and connections to the Chicago Outfit.
- The revocation of Firebird's license and the concerns over criminal infiltration in Illinois' gaming industry has brought gambling-trends and crime-and-justice into the forefront of general-news discussions.
- The IGB's decision to revoke Firebird's license underscores the importance of honesty and compliance in the gambling industry, as failures to adhere to these principles can lead to license revocations and investigations by regulatory bodies.
