Kane County green lights gambling spot just outside Geneva

A split Kane County Board vote has cleared the way for a video gambling café near Geneva, despite concerns from neighbors and local officials. The business will share a strip mall with a martial arts school and a gun store.

Sam Kraft
April 09, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

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A plan to bring a video gambling café to a strip mall near Geneva received narrow approval from the Kane County Board.

Here’s what to know:

Cafe Parlay would open at 33W624 Route 38, just east of Kirk Road, in a building that also houses a martial arts school and a gun store.
The business needed a zoning change to allow alcohol sales, which is required for video gambling under state law.
Residents and officials raised concerns about the proximity to children and potential parking shortages.

Cafe Parlay also has locations in Wheeling and Pingree Grove. Here’s the Facebook page for its Pingree Grove location.

Learn more in this Daily Herald article and watch the Kane County Board meeting video recording discussion starts at 1:34:00).