Appleton approves alcohol license for new pizzeria but denies appeal for gambling machines

Posted by author March 6, 2025 Gambling

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Appleton has wrestled with gambling concerns at two new businesses in the past month, denying one alcohol beverage license and approving another.
Council members found differences in intent between the two, saying the successful applicant operated in good faith.
Wisconsin law states bars and taverns can have up to five video gaming machines for amusement only. Payouts are illegal.

APPLETON — Elected officials granted an alcohol beverage license to Pizzeria Pub & Bar on Wednesday, moments before upholding the denial of the business’s license for five amusement devices, four of which were determined to be illegal gambling machines.

The Common Council approved the beverage license on an 11-2 vote and confirmed the denial of the amusement device license on a 13-0 vote.

Council member Chad Doran sought to tie the issues together. He noted the business owner, Satbir Singh, not only had sought approval for illegal gambling machines at Pizzeria Pub & Bar, 1200 N. Sharon St., but another of Singh’s businesses, the adjacent Badger Mobil, 1201 N. Badger Ave., recently was assessed 120 demerit points for alcohol violations.

Badger Mobil was convicted in January for not having a licensed operator on the premises (40 demerit points) and for serving alcohol to a minor (80 demerit points). The violations occurred Oct. 14.

Appleton’s municipal code calls for the suspension of a license for 10 to 90 days when demerit points total between 150 and 199 within a two-year period.

The conglomeration of issues was too much for Doran, who, along with Katie Van Zeeland, voted against the beverage license. He said Appleton should be very judicious and careful in granting alcohol licenses to ensure operators follow laws and regulations.

“It is much easier for us to not issue a license than it is for us to take one back,” Doran said. “These violations, these three things together give me enough pause to not want to grant this license.”

A majority of the council held a different view and approved the beverage license for Pizzeria Pub & Bar.

Council member Denise Fenton said Singh filled out the amusement device application in good faith and “really wants to follow the law.” She said Appleton has a defined process to deal with the violations at Badger Mobil.

“I think that we need to consider this as a separate business,” Fenton said.

In February, the council denied an alcohol beverage license for David Boulanger, owner of Delaire’s coffee and board game bar, 823 W. College Ave., due to suspicions that the business’s actual plan was to install illegal gambling machines on the premises.

Council member Alex Schultz found differences in intent between the two.

“Today we’re reviewing an applicant who came forward in good faith and submitted a request for amusement devices not realizing they couldn’t have them,” Schultz said of Singh.

In reviewing Pizzeria Pub & Bar’s license application for five amusement machines, Appleton police determined four of them were illegal gambling machines and recommended the license be denied.

Singh appealed his case, which is why it came before the council for a vote.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Administration, video gaming devices are not legal anywhere in the state, except in authorized tribal gaming facilities. “Bars and taverns may offer five or fewer devices for amusement only, meaning they must be free to play or not provide anything of value as a prize,” the DOA says.

Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.