Fox Lake businesses support video gambling
Fox Lake Mayor Ed Bender says his town might have more at stake when it comes to deciding whether to allow video gambling.
Like other leaders across Lake County and the suburbs, he worries that allowing poker machines in bars and restaurants could hurt the village's reputation.
On the other hand, it could attract gamblers from towns where the machines are prohibited - and keep Fox Lake patrons from heading across the border into Wisconsin, where video gambling is legal.
"I can really see both sides of the argument," Bender said. "But we'd also like to give residents and business owners a chance to discuss it."
It's unclear how much revenue could be generated for the village and state should video gambling be allowed, he said.
Fox Lake village leaders discussed the issue this week at a village board meeting. In attendance, Bender said, were about 10 bar owners who asked leaders to vote in favor of allowing the machines.
"This is an opportunity for a business like my own to attract customers that we have lost through other laws," said Tony Bodanyi, owner of Jimmy V's Sports Bar. "Video gambling is legal in Wisconsin and they are allowed to smoke there.
"But with Wisconsin adopting a smoking ban (going into effect July 5, 2010), and if Fox Lake allows video gambling here, we will get back to working from an even playing field."
Bodanyi wouldn't say how much business he's lost since January 2008, when the Illinois smoking ban went into effect. Other tavern owners in Fox Lake have said their business is down about 30 percent.
Bodanyi said he knows of numerous former customers who head 10 minutes north to Wisconsin thanks to the state smoking ban and the legal video gambling machines.
"This is definitely a chance to bring them back," he said.
The Fox Lake village board will review the gambling issue in the coming months, Bender said, adding he is being lobbied by multiple business owners in town who want legalized video poker.
"It's something definitely worth looking at," he said. "But, I think there is plenty of discussions and a lot of homework needed to be done before the board votes for or against it."
The idea does have some opposition. Fox Lake Police Chief Mike Behan wrote a letter to the board stating he feels video poker would just add problems to Fox Lake.
"I am against it because it causes more alcoholism, drunken driving and causes more financial problems in families," he said. "I personally feel it would be a detriment to the families in Fox Lake."
He said gambling is an "impulse" buy, and impulse buys tend to increase when alcohol is involved.
"Plus, we could see an increase in fraud and embezzlement cases that our department would need to investigate during the year," he said. "But, as a police department, we will do whatever the board asks of us. And, if they decide to allow video gambling, then we will police it."
Towns who allow video gambling are not required to vote to approve it, but towns can vote to ban gambling, officials said. Currently, Lake County has banned video gambling in unincorporated areas, with Libertyville following suit. Most towns are expected to weigh the options within the next year to determine if it's right for them.