Godfrey Approves Updated Ordinance On Video Gaming, Liquor Licenses

Village of Godfrey Board of Trustees

GODFREY – After years of discussion, Godfrey trustees have finally approved an updated ordinance tightening the village’s regulations on liquor licenses and video gaming.

Village Board members voted 5-1 to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Village Code regarding alcoholic beverages and gaming at their April 21, 2026 meeting.

Under the updated ordinance, all businesses seeking a video gaming license must first obtain a Class A liquor license, which carries an annual fee of $500. They must also obtain a gaming license with an annual fee of $250. No licensed establishment is allowed to have more than six video gaming terminals on the premises.

The ordinance also requires new and existing businesses seeking gaming licenses to show the majority of their revenue is not, or will not be, made from video gaming. Liquor sales under a Class A license are only allowed if associated with a restaurant or other business earning at least 50% of its revenue from food and beverage sales.

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New applicants are required to submit a business plan demonstrating their projected sales will meet this food and beverage sales criteria; renewing applicants will need to submit documentation to the village showing the establishment will continue meeting these requirements.

Trustee Gerard Fischer said he would rather “grandfather” in existing businesses and not subject them to these new revenue reporting requirements each year they renew their licenses. He said the village should “show our gratitude” to small business owners by making the process as simple as possible. He cast the sole vote against approving the new ordinance.

Convenience stores with existing liquor sales and video gaming operations will be “grandfathered” in and allowed to continue such operations under their Class N licenses, which also carry $500 annual fees. The village will not grant any additional Class N licenses after the new ordinance takes effect on May 21, 2026.

The ordinance also contains a “Non-Retroactive Enforcement” clause which essentially allows businesses that were previously allowed to have video gaming but would not meet the new ordinance requirements to keep their gaming operations as long as they continue operating under their current ownership and otherwise abide by the terms of the ordinance regarding annual license applications and fees. Any Class A license holder currently without video gaming would need to apply for a gaming license no later than Dec. 15, 2026 to be grandfathered in under this new ordinance.

Under the new ordinance, the number of Class A liquor licenses allowed in the village will decrease each time any of these licenses are revoked, expire without renewal, or cease to exist for any reason. If a business is sold or transfers ownership, its liquor and gaming license will not automatically transfer to the new owner – however, the new owner may apply and be approved for a gaming license if the business intends to continue with a similar or identical business plan.

Trustees have been discussing the topic since 2023, when a committee was formed to look into further regulating video gaming in Godfrey. The ordinance had been drafted and sent back to the committee in 2025 before additional discussions involving Village Attorney Bryan Dooling prompted various additions and revisions to be made. The item was then given a first reading in January of 2026 before the village approved a 60-day moratorium on accepting new liquor licenses on Feb. 3, 2026 to work out the final details of the new liquor and gaming ordinance.

A full recording of the April 21, 2026 Godfrey Village Board meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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