The state of Illinois has passed a law that allows cities to offer video gambling machines to raise money for capital improvements. Wheaton, a city in Illinois, is going to be holding a vote soon and most likely the city will be banning video poker machines.

The city council will be voting on October 5th on a local law that will prohibit the machines from the city. Mayor Michael Gresk commented: “I don’t think (video gambling) is appropriate for our city. It’s not the kind of entertainment we want in Wheaton.”

Back in July, the governor of Illinois allowed video gambling in a $31 billion capital improvement package. Towns and cities in the state have the option to outlaw the machines if they so choose. Many members of the city council in Wheaton support the ban as well.

The new law to be voted on, if passed, will remove the video poker machines from any “public place, fraternal establishment or veteran’s establishment” in the city corporate limits. Those who choose to keep the machines, if the ban is passed; they could be fined $1,000 to $5,000 a day.



- 2009-09-23