Gurnee may ban video poker

Gurnee village board members say they'll take a wait-and-see approach on whether to seek a local law prohibiting video gambling.

At an informal committee meeting Monday night, Gurnee officials agreed to pursue an ordinance similar to what Buffalo Grove approved. With such a measure, video gambling would be banned in Gurnee until the village board expressly permits installation of the devices.

Gurnee trustees are expected to formally vote next month on whether to have a local law mimicking Buffalo Grove's ordinance. Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said the village would have time to see how the Illinois Gaming Board shapes the video gambling rules before determining whether to pursue an outright ban.

Municipalities such as Gurnee and counties controlling unincorporated areas are allowed to ban the machines. But that means not receiving a 5 percent take on gambling revenue, possibly losing out on thousands of dollars annually.

Gurnee Village Attorney Bryan Winter said projections show an establishment with a maximum of five machines could produce $11,250 for the town annually.

But even if Gurnee were to have video gambling, said Trustee Greg Garner, the social costs of problem gamblers could prove too much.

"In my opinion," Garner said, "gambling is a bad word. I was always taught not to gamble."

Chris McSwain of Rolling Meadows-based A.H. Entertainers spoke at Monday's meeting and said his company plans to buy and install the devices that would be additional entertainment for bar-goers. He said A.H. would keep some of the gambling revenue to recoup its investment.

"I see a huge up side to you at 5 percent of the revenue," McSwain told the Gurnee village board.

Video gambling is part of a package of revenue generators for a $31 billion public works initiative signed into law last month by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Taverns and restaurants, fraternal and veterans establishments, and truck stops may have the maximum five machines for video poker and the like. The maximum bet is $2, and the most a gambler could win on any one hand is $500.

In the Chicago area, Rosemont, Country Club Hills and the DuPage County Board already have banned video gambling.

Last week, officials in the small Lake County town of Mettawa directed attorneys to draft an ordinance barring video gambling. Formal village board approval is expected next month.

Video: Gurnee board weighs the revenue