Gurnee bans video gaming

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There will be no video gambling or other electronic gambling devices in licensed establishments in Gurnee, the Village Board decreed Monday night..

Updated: April 22, 2012 1:15AM

There will be no video gambling or other electronic gambling devices in licensed establishments, the Gurnee Village Board decreed on Monday night..

“We are a family community and gambling doesn’t fit us,” Mayor Kristina Kovarik told trustees before a unanimous vote was taken to ban the activity locally.

Actually the ban is a re-ban, one that is nearly three years old, but not very well publicized, according to Village Attorney Bryan Winter.

In September 2009, the Village Board passed an ordinance to ban video gambling. However, the prohibited activity never was included in the Village Municipal Code, causing public confusion.

Since then the code has been placed on the village Web site and it was thought by village officials that now would be a good time to formally reiterate the board’s policy.

From what staff can gather, apparently there has been little interest in video gaming from bars, restaurants or fraternal and veterans organizations that are eligible.

When the state passed the legislation several years ago as a potential revenue-raiser it provided municipalities an “opt-out” opportunity. Nearly all Lake County communities have now taken advantage of that by opting-out of participation.

In other action, trustees approved purchase of a $96,000 software package. The cost will be spread over two fiscal years. The software would upgrade and expand the administrative possibilities of both the Community Development and Public Works Departments, particularly in issuing building permits and invoicing license fees.

Assistant Village Administrator David Ziegler said the system would be a real convenience to residents who wish to obtain a building permit, or conveniently do business with the village online by computer rather than come into Village Hall.