Downers Grove delays decision on video gambling

Downers Grove commissioners this week postponed a decision on whether to reverse the village's ban on video gambling.

The village council voted 5-2 for the delay, which was proposed by Commissioner Chris Gilmartin. He was backed by commissioners Greg Hosé, Rich Kulovany, Nicole Walus and Mayor Bob Barnett.

Commissioners Danny Glover and Leslie Sadowski-Fugitt voted in opposition.

Illinois legalized video gambling statewide in 2009. But Downers Grove was among many towns that were allowed to pass local laws to opt-out.

A few commissioners said more time is needed to study the issue of whether Downers Grove businesses were at a competitive disadvantage with other towns that allow video gambling. Hosé cited the need to collect more data with a consultant like the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation.

"I'm not necessarily saying 'No,'" Hosé said. "I'm kind of saying, 'Not at this moment.'"

He acknowledged he wanted a delay because many residents in opposition personally reached out to him in the 48 hours before Tuesday's vote.

Glover and Sadowski-Fugitt both spoke out against tabling the decision.

"This was actually identified as a priority action item in our long-range plan," Sadowski-Fugitt said. "So we have had months to address concerns of data or lack thereof."

Glover particularly cited "falsehoods and inaccurate descriptions" shared by video gambling opponents via email and social media over fears of increased crime or decreased property values.

Glover said images shared by gambling opponents showed businesses in other towns with features that would not be allowed as part of the Downers Grove ordinance. For instance, terminals would not be visible outside an establishment and be kept in a separate gaming room.

"While I am in this industry, I have no plans to change my business model in an effort to implement video gaming," said Glover, who is a restaurant owner. "Any notions that I have anything to gain professionally, financially or politically are completely baseless."

It is unclear when Downers Grove might schedule another vote on video gambling. Both Warrenville and West Chicago recently overturned their video gambling bans in the past two months.