Fox Lake wants input on video gambling

Fox Lake residents and business owners are being asked to participate in an online survey about whether the village should allow video gambling in certain businesses.

Trustee Val Griseta said the village board is using the survey to collect responses to help guide trustees in deciding the matter.

The survey is at the village's Internet Web site, foxlake.org. It is made up of 10 questions, four of which ask whether gambling should be allowed. The remainder ask for information regarding names, addresses and e-mail addresses.

"Honestly, I'm on the fence about it right now," Griseta said of the video gambling issue. "I can really see both sides of the argument, which is why trustees are really looking for input from the people in town."

She said board members will review the survey in the coming weeks to help them make a determination on whether to support gambling in licensed bars, restaurants and fraternal organizations.

The survey comes on the heels of a board meeting where business owners asked the village board to support the controversial gambling law.

Fox Lake tavern owners said they want it because it would "level the playing field" in competing with businesses 10 minutes to the north in Wisconsin. Tavern-goers in that state have the right to smoke and gamble inside of bars and other alcohol-serving establishments.

Fox Lake bar owners said their revenue stream dipped about 30 percent after the statewide smoking ban began Jan 1, 2008.

With Wisconsin outlawing smoking in bars next year, bar owners believe they would be on equal ground if they can offer video gambling.

It remains unclear how much revenue could be generated for the village and state should video gambling be allowed.

The Video Gaming Act, signed into law in July, is earmarked to fund a third of the state's $31 billion public works program known as a capital bill. Towns that allow video gambling are not required to vote to approve it, but can vote to ban gambling, officials said.

Lake County has joined Cook and DuPage counties in voting to ban video gambling in unincorporated areas. Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Kildeer, Mettawa and Hawthorn Woods are among the local communities that have taken similar steps.