Mayor Almost Overruled Trustees On Video Gaming

It's a safe bet that video gaming is not coming to Niles, or anywhere else in Illinois, anytime soon. 

However, Mayor Robert Callero announced at last week's village board meeting that in the village, he considered vetoing the board's action.

However, the following day, Jan. 26,  the Illinois Appellate Court a complex piece of legislation that would have raised money for $31 billion worth of bridges, roads, schools and other construction projects statewide through video gaming and other means. 

The court's action effectively killed the possibility of video gaming in the state, although many political observers speculate the Supreme Court will overturn the Appellate Court decision or the General Assembly will resurrect the legislation in some form. 

Callero offered several reasons for overruling the Niles' trustees vote to keep video gaming out of the village. He had mentioned them before in public meetings when stating his support for bringing video gaming to Niles. 

His reasons included, among others:

• Niles bars had already lost business because of anti-smoking laws, and he wanted to support them. 
• If other villages permitted video gaming and Niles did not, Niles bars would lose further business to other communities.
•  Gambling already exists in and near the village through raffles, off-track betting, bingo and other games of chance. 

"Because Trustee Hanusiak stated that the trustees can vote at a later time  to remove the ban (video gaming won't be operational until 2012) and then the striking down of the Act by the Appellate Court the following day, I will not veto Ordinance 2011-02, but I also will not sign Ordinance 2011-02," the mayor said at the meeting.

In response to a question from Trustee Jim Hynes, Callero clarified that if he declines to sign an ordinance passed by the board, it still becomes law after 30 days. 

Consequently, the mayor's action has no practical effect on the the board's vote to ban video gaming in Niles.