Godfrey Makes Progress Towards Video Gaming Ordinance Changes

Village of Godfrey Board of Trustees

GODFREY – Godfrey is one step closer to passing new regulations on video gaming within the village.

Village Board members gave an “Ordinance Regulating Liquor and Gaming” a first reading at their Jan. 20, 2026 meeting, with a second reading and final vote set for Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.

Currently, businesses holding Class A and Class N liquor licenses are eligible for video gaming licenses in Godfrey. Class A licenses apply to restaurants, while Class N licenses apply to convenience stores.

Under the newly amended ordinance, only businesses with Class A liquor licenses would be eligible for video gaming. Any business currently holding a Class N license will be “grandfathered in” under the new ordinance and allowed to continue video gaming operations until the business either transfers ownership or fails to renew its liquor license.

Of the village’s 22 businesses with Class A licenses, only nine currently do not offer video gaming; however, any of these businesses could still apply to add video gaming operations under this new ordinance, as long as the establishment meets certain village requirements, including over 50% of all revenue coming from food sales.

The proposed ordinance also lowers the number of liquor licenses allowed in the village as businesses close or as licenses are revoked or allowed to expire. According to Village Attorney Bryan Dooling, once a business is taken over by new ownership, the new owners will not automatically be granted a video gaming license by the village.

When an existing business with a Class A license renews their liquor license, Dooling said they will also be required to renew their gaming license. If a business applies for a liquor license with the intent to add video gaming but does not state that intent in their initial application, Godfrey officials would then have legal grounds to deny their application.

Dooling added that the current limit on the number of liquor and gaming licenses allowed in the village could be amended if the village wishes to pursue future business proposals involving liquor sales or video gaming.

Stay tuned to Riverbender.com for the latest coverage as the Godfrey gaming ordinance receives a final vote. A full recording of the Jan. 20, 2026 Village Board meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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