It's not game over yet for the 25 businesses in the unincorporated areas of Tazewell County that depend on 'amusement only' video gaming to bring in customers. Tonight Tazewell county board members voted to send the issue back to committee for further discussion.

VFW Post 1232 sits just outside Pekin city limits. Because the VFW is in the unincorporated area of Tazewell County, it's one of 25 businesses that could lose the right to have video-gaming machines in their facilities.

"We lose revenue and things like that to help pay bills and also probable members", said Lenny Gray, VFW Post 1232, Commander.

Last summer, the state legislature passed a law legalizing video poker-gaming in establishments. Participating establishments will only be allowed five machines and must pay taxes on their payouts.
But the law also allows municipalities to opt out.

"Once we allow the video gambling, it will be here for good. Once the Genie is out of the bottle, it's not going back in", said David Zimmerman, Tazewell County Board Chairman.

Zimmerman is strongly in favor of a gaming ban,
He told News 25 before the meeting, if there wasn't majority support for a ban, he would take it off the table. "There's still so many questions involved with this bill, so much ambiguity, that we thought it would be better if we send it back to committee", said the Chairman.

Board member, Paul Hahn, said, "I myself think the best way to handle this is put it on the ballot for the November 2010 election".

And although the board did not vote on a ban, several business owners and residents took the floor to voice their disapproval. In the end, many in attendance said they're glad the board is taking time to discuss the bill.

Larry Hartley, representative for the Illinois Coalition for Employment and Business Growth said, "Right now they're taking a prudent step to this to inform themselves of the benefits of this program".

"If we folded up, where else would the veterans go? We've go returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, this is a place for them to come relax, and enjoy with their buddies from the service", said the VFW Commander.