W. Chicago panel won't gamble on video gaming

A West Chicago city council committee voted swiftly and unanimously Wednesday night to recommend a ban on video gambling.

Despite Mayor Michael Kwasman's call for community dialogue on the issue, only a handful of residents turned out for the Public Affairs Committee meeting. Two business owners who want to put video gambling machines in West Chicago establishments also came to argue against a ban.

"It's really about jobs, about small companies like myself surviving," said Edward Velasquez of Palos Hills, who has had to cut his number of employees from 23 to 10 in just four years. "If you opt out, (people) could go to the next community, and that will hurt small businesses in West Chicago."

Velasquez puts juke boxes and other coin-operated machines in local businesses.

The full council is expected to vote on the recommendation at the Nov. 16 meeting.

"I don't think (video gambling) fits with the direction our city council has been going," said Alderman Matt Fuesting, a committee member.

In July, Gov. Pat Quinn approved a $31 billion capital improvement package that allowed video gambling, expected to raise $367 million a year. Towns have the ability to outlaw the machines, but those that allow video gambling will receive 5 percent of each machine's profit.

Ron Bolger, a board member of the Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association, estimated West Chicago could get $11,250 a year per video gambling location. Each location can have up to five machines.

Villa Park and Bloomingdale voted earlier this week to prohibit video gambling. The growing list of DuPage County suburbs outlawing the machines also includes Addison, Wheaton, Winfield and Naperville.

Committee members said West Chicago could revisit the issue after the Illinois Gaming Board develops rules on how video gambling will operate and be regulated.

But Nancy Smith, who is involved with both the American Legion and the VFW, said both are "well-run, well-regulated" organizations that should have the option of adding video gambling machines.

"The community benefits greatly from the funds we raise" through bingo and raffles, said Smith, who is also West Chicago's city clerk. "Maybe the people at the Legion and the VFW might not want to do this, but I would like to see them have that choice."