A veteran is suing the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and several administrators for revoking a gaming license in the Land of Lincoln.
Matthew Monson, the proprietor of Veterans Video Gaming Team (VGT), Equitable Veteran Solutions, and Vemco, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
In the lawsuit, Monson contends that the IGB and board members violated equal protection by revoking VGT’s terminal operator license during the business’s sale. Monson also argues that the IGB refused to approve Vemco and Equitable Veteran Solutions’ hearing requests, generating additional problems for Monson and his properties.
In the lawsuit, Monson argues that the IGB neglected to renew Veterans VGT’s terminal operator license, which was first authorized in 2017. Monson claims that Veterans VGT maintained the requisite annual license renewals until 2021.
That year, Veterans VGT agreed to sell all of its assets to J&J Ventures Gaming, which is likewise licensed as a terminal operator.
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The deal was approved by the IGB after an investigation of the proposed agreement. As a result of the accepted transaction, Veterans VGT did not renew its license for 2022.
The license renewal issue becomes pricey.
Veterans VGT’s inability to renew its license by the May 2022 deadline resulted in its expiration, and the IGB sent a notice to submit a license renewal application and pay a $5,000 cost. Veterans VGT apparently informed the IGB of their refusal to submit a renewal application and pay the price.
In accordance with an IGB document, “the Board may only renew a license upon receipt of the annual fee and any renewal forms provided by the Board;” Indeed, “a license shall expire if the annual fee is not received by the Board prior to the expiration of the license.” Despite the permitted sale and the failure to renew its license, the IGB filed a disciplinary complaint against Veterans VGT for failing to reveal sales agents on time.
The suit, which included a $100,000 punishment, also alleged misrepresentations before the Board. Veterans VGT responded to the allegation by asking for a hearing.
According to court filings, Veterans VGT’s request for a hearing was denied after the company waited nearly a year to be assigned an administrative law judge. As a result of the delay, IGB filed an updated lawsuit, attempting to withdraw Veterans VGT’s license, which it had failed to renew. Veterans VGT reacted with two unique responses to the complaint.
Illinois regulator affects various industries.
The IGB’s authority over licensing also had an impact on Monson’s Vemco company, which plans to offer casino equipment in partnership with minority-owned enterprises.
Vemco applied for a casino supplier license with the IGB in November 2021 and was denied two years later, despite the company’s attempts to withdraw the application. Vemco, a separate corporation from Veterans VGT although being controlled by Monson, was purportedly refused because to the IGB’s complaint against Veterans VGT.
“There is a substantial, bona fide, actual and justiciable dispute regarding punishments levied by the IGB against Matthew Monson and his related entities, for allegations pending against Veterans VGT which have not been adjudicated to final order,” according to the suit.
Vemco requested a hearing on the subject, but has yet to meet with the IGB. Monson seeks a jury trial on all points presented in the lawsuit, including the IGB’s demands that J&J Ventures and Golden Nugget Danville distance themselves from the veteran.
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