Video poker is a hot-button issue right now in Illinos.  The Chicago Tribune wrote about it recently One State's Video-Gambling Experience Bodes Ill for Illinois:

By legalizing video gambling, Illinois is poised to go down a path that led Sioux Falls, S.D., to accumulate mom-and-pop casinos, pawn shops and payday lenders on almost every major street.

Here's another perspective from neighboring Tazewell County Board member, and McLean County Pundit Contributing Writer, John Ackerman:

Video Poker Gambling in Tazewell County

Recently the State of Illinois passed a measure along for Video Poker Gambling throughout the state. The new law allows for Municipalities and Counties to reject this form of gambling in their communities. As such, I would like to know what your thoughts are on this subject.

Last year I took the time to visit each of the Townships and Municipalities in my district. The opportunity gave me a chance to further understand the upcoming needs and issues that are affecting each part of this district.

Now with this subject coming forward, I feel it is time again to take the opportunity to visit with each of the municipalities. With this issue coming forward soon on the county level, I want to better understand the feelings concerning the extension of gambling in the county. Several counties to the north have already taken steps to pass resolutions banning the extension in their jurisdictions.

However, here in Tazewell County I believe it would be pointless for the county board to ban this extension if the majority of the municipalities in the county feel differently. With the vast majority of bars and halls where these machines could be located under the jurisdiction of the municipalities in Tazewell County, I do not want to setup multiple levels of standards that could be confusing.

Possibly a resolution could be made that would ban Video Poker Gambling in townships where the municipalities in that township have also banned Video Poker Gambling. This would help to ensure that the Municipalities and the Townships surrounding them have the same standards in place on this issue.

With this in mind, please take this opportunity to discuss your feelings on this upcoming issue with your closest Tazewell County District Three municipality. I will be setting up times to stop by and meet with them over the next few months and you can look for the postings of these meetings on the website under the Events Tab.

John C. Ackerman

(309) 635-7624

www.JohnCAckerman.com