Elburn OKs video gambling
The Elburn village board voted 5-1 Monday and reversed its ban on video gambling.
Trustee Ken Anderson cast the only “no” vote. “How does this improve the quality of life in Elburn?” he said.
Trustee William Grabarek changed his vote from one he made in September 2009, satisfied that the state has come up with adequate regulation of video gambling.
“I'd like to see how it goes,” he said, and noted the village could use any of the revenue due from the machines.
And if residents don't like it, they can conduct an advisory referendum on the matter, Grabarek said.
“It's not up to me from a moral standpoint to dictate to people how to run their lives,” President Dave Anderson said.
The change was requested by Trustee Jeff Walter, who said owners of two businesses had asked him to bring it back.
Video gambling is allowed in neighboring Maple Park and Sugar Grove, as well as unincorporated areas in Kane County. There is a bar just south of Elburn that was one of the first in the state to start video gambling last year.