Wood Dale residents oppose video gambling

Editor’s note: Story corrected 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 to reflect outcome of the vote, which was misinterpreted in earlier versions.

Wood Dale voters made it clear Tuesday they want their local officials to pull the plug on video gambling.

With all 16 precincts reporting, roughly 57 percent of voters said the city should ban the machines.

The city council originally rejected the machines, but then decided to allow them as officials sought additional revenue in a struggling economy.

Tuesday’s vote, however, is merely advisory and doesn’t require officials to take action to ban the machines.

With gambling currently allowed in Wood Dale, the state receives 30 percent of the net terminal income, with 5 percent going to the city.

Illinois Gaming Board officials said earlier this fall that 632 other cities and counties enacted ordinances to allow video gambling.