Illinois gaming officials show Louisiana video poker mogul the door

Here in Louisiana, Nicky Nichols is a video poker mogul known for his colorful family history and closeness to power brokers. But Nichols may be sidelined in Illinois, as The Chicago Tribune reports. The Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday denied video gambling licenses to seven companies tied to Nichols. Last summer the Tribune detailed Nichols’ Louisiana business practices and his move to cash in on Illinois’ video poker gold rush. The move by regulators came as they are nearing a rollout of the slotlike machines in bars across the state. A central computer system—long a roadblock to implementing the 2009 law—is ready to go. As for Nichols, board Chairman Aaron Jaffe was tight-lipped about why the licenses were denied. The board has broad authority to reject applicants; negative assessments about whether one is “a person of good character, honesty and integrity” may be a factor. “There were a lot of people who had a lot of problems,” Jaffe says, adding that the board found Nichols’ Louisiana work and associations to be “troubling.” Paul Jenson, an attorney for Nichols, says he isn’t sure if he would appeal the ruling as he waits for an official notice detailing the issues regulators found. Read the full story here.