Base gambling decision on evidence

Some Naperville bar and restaurant owners have asked the city council to reconsider their ban on video gaming in the city. The council has not committed to discussing the ban in any future meetings. In support of the ban, Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli is quoted as saying that he did not see a “compelling reason” to allow video gambling.

Mr. Mayor, the “compelling reason” to allow video gambling is that your constituent bar and restaurant owners claim to need it to survive. If, however, you and the council have a compelling reason to maintain the ban, please present objective evidence to support your position.

Video gaming has been legal in Illinois for 15 years. There is a wealth of empirical evidence from surrounding cities and counties that the council can gather that would either support or refute their case for the ban. If the council believes that sites with video gaming machines are a public nuisance, they can visit selected establishments with machines (including stand-alone video gaming parlors) and record the dates they acquired their terminals. With that information in hand, they can interview local law enforcement to determine if these sites required increased police interaction after video terminals were installed.

With hard evidence, the council can make a data-driven decision to support or repeal the ban and avoid subjective and moralistic arguments.

Randy Harris

Campton Hills