- The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) revoked the gaming license of a Chicago diner due to alleged organized crime ties.
- Steak’n Egger in Cicero had their gaming machines deactivated on Friday after the board ruled to shut down their gaming activities.
- Jeffrey Bertucci, owner of the Steak’n Egger, allegedly hid information regarding his connection with organized crime and illegal gambling operations before obtaining a license.
CHICAGO – A Cicero diner lost their gaming license over alleged mob ties and prior illegal gambling. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) officially revoked the license of Firebird Enterprise on Friday, which is operated by Steak’n Egger restaurant owner Jeffrey Bertucci.
According to a release, the restaurant’s video gambling machines were shut down on Friday.
“Adopted in part and rejected in part an Administrative Law Judge Recommended Decision regarding discipline of Firebird Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Steak N Egger – Racine and revoked establishment’s video gaming license.”
Organized Crime, Illegal Gambling Reasons For License Revocation
The IGB recently discovered that Bertucci testified in a 2010 criminal trial for mob boss Michael Sarno, who was well known as “Fat Mike”. Sarno received 25 years for racketeering charges and for his involvement in the bombing of a competitor’s business back in 2003.
During Jeffrey Bertucci’s testimony, he told the grand jury that he had operated illegal gambling machines across different diners in Chicago and even acknowledged that operating these machines at that time was illegal. However, he lied about the degree of his involvement to IGB members when applying for a license, which led to Bertucci ultimately being rewarded the license for Steak’n Egger in 2018.
The IGB wasn’t aware of the full extent of Bertucci’s past with illegal gambling, but it’s still surprising that they simply took his word for it and didn’t implement a quality background check. Regardless, the Cicero diner no longer offers gambling as of Friday, August 1.