Palos Heights Says No to Video Gambling

Palos Heights aldermen decided not to pursue changing city law to allow video gaming in restaurants and bars during Tuesday night’s city council meeting, after months of discussion.

Aldermen Donald Bylut, Robert Basso, Dolores Kramarski, Jeffrey Key and Jack Clifford voted against directing the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would amend or repeal current laws in order to allow video gaming in the city.

Aldermen Michael McGrogan, Jerry McGovern and Alan Fulkerson voted in favor of the ordinance.

During discussion before the vote, Key said emails he received from residents in the 1st Ward were “overwhelmingly against” video gambling, and that he would prefer money be spent locally on goods, services and merchandise.

“I sympathize with businesses,” Key said. “I don’t like the idea of businesses suffering. But if it’s the only way businesses can stay in business, there’s a problem and gambling isn’t the problem.”

McGovern said one of the main reasons he was in favor of the ordinance involved a report given by Palos Heights Police Deputy Chief Dave Delaney, where police checked nearby municipalities that recently began allowing video gaming and did not see a rise in crime.

“It’s not creating any disturbances in bars or taverns,” McGovern said. “It’s another way for a business to make money. If I decide I want to put $5 in a gaming machine I don’t know where you get the opportunity to stop me.”

McGrogan said people who contacted him about the issue were mostly in favor of allowing video gambling.

“Lots of vices are out there,” McGrogan said. “I see spendaholics ruin their lives. The moral issue is no question, but on the other hand I believe people should be allowed to spend money the way they think best.”

Earlier in the meeting, Dominick Buscemi, owner of Sam Buca’s, also noted that tragic circumstances could occur from legal items such as alcohol and tobacco, according to the Regional News.

McGrogan also said that many of the aspects of gambling never were discussed by the council, including allowable advertising, hours of operation and others.

Clifford echoed a suggestion made in June by former mayor Dean Koldenhoven that the issue should go to referendum for residents to decide whether gambling would be allowed. Clifford also said government can’t control what drives addictions in people.

“Government can only govern so much,” Clifford said.

Fulkerson argued against putting video gaming on a referendum because that wouldn’t decide implementation issues, such as signage and hours of operation.

“If you don’t want them putting up a sign that says 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next morning you decide that here,” Fulkerson said. “Same with hours of operation.”

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