Whether Mokena will allow video gambling could be decided at the village board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.
Mayor Joe Werner said he will present an amendment to an existing ordinance that bans gambling. If the board does not act on the amendment or fails to approve it, video gambling would continue to be prohibited in the village under the current regulations.
Werner said he is bringing the proposal forward so residents will see the board finally make a decision on the issue.
"We took a long time to analyze it and get input," Werner said.
After polling residents and businesses, the mayor said 80 percent of residents have no opinion, while about 13 of 50 eligible business said they would use the gambling devices. Based on those numbers, allowing video gambling would result in $49,000 in annual revenue for the village, Werner said.
To help finance a roughly $30 billion capital improvement plan, Illinois lawmakers in 2009 legalized video poker machines at licensed restaurants, taverns, truck stops, fraternal groups and other locations where alcohol is allowed.
The law allows local governments to opt out of the plan and prohibit the machines. While some machines are being tested, a statewide launch of video gambling has yet to occur.
William Martin VFW Post 725 in Mokena is among the organizations saying it needs video gambling to survive.
"Without video gaming, we are in the red today," post Cmdr. Jim Hogan said recently.
Five "amusement only" machines were taken out of the VFW in August.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:50 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:50:09 GMT
The tornado that struck Oklahoma on Monday took a devastating toll in the number of lives lost and property destroyed. But amidst the anguish and destruction there is another heart-wrenching tragedy.
The tornado that struck Oklahoma on Monday took a devastating toll in the number of lives lost and property destroyed. But amidst the anguish and destruction there is another "heart-wrenching" tragedy -- displaced pets.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Britain is bracing for clashes with right-wing extremists and possible copycat terror attacks after the slaying of a young soldier, adding some 1,200 police to potential trouble spots.
Both of the suspects accused of butchering a British soldier during broad daylight on a London street had long been on the radar of Britain's domestic spy agency, though investigators say it would have been nearly...
Friday, May 24 2013 9:32 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:32:16 GMT
Some aldermen have questions as a City Council committee gets ready to hold a hearing on Mayor Emanuel's proposed changes to the Chicago parking meter deal.
Some aldermen have questions as a City Council committee gets ready to hold a hearing on Mayor Emanuel's proposed changes to the Chicago parking meter deal.
Former Chicago Bears lineman and FOX contributor Dan Jiggetts is an advocate for preventing the sale of high capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. He's also working on Rocky's Law with Governor Quinn.
Former Chicago Bears lineman and FOX contributor Dan Jiggetts is an advocate for preventing the sale of high capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. He's also working on Rocky's Law with Governor Quinn.
Amid lingering concerns about his national security policies, President Barack Obama is outlining measures to clarify the deadly use of drones against terror suspects.
President Barack Obama sought Thursday to advance the U.S. beyond the unrelenting war effort of the past dozen years, defining a narrower terror threat from smaller networks and homegrown extremists rather than the grandiose...
Thursday, May 23 2013 4:36 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:36:47 GMT
The Obama administration has picked a private attorney and former federal prosecutor to head the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Thursday.
The Obama administration has picked a private attorney and former federal prosecutor to head the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Thursday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:18 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:18:06 GMT
Illinois legislation allowing public possession of concealed guns has passed the House Judiciary Committee. It was a compromise backed by Speaker Michael Madigan.
Illinois legislation allowing public possession of concealed guns has passed the House Judiciary Committee. It was a compromise backed by Speaker Michael Madigan.
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