Video Gaming Forum to be Held Thursday at St. Peter's in Forest Park

With no plans scheduled for another town hall forum on video gambling, a Forest Park civic organization will conduct its own at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 500 Hannah Ave.

The Forest Park Review reports that the discussion will feature Timothy Lattner, from Lattner Entainment, a licensed terminal operator who has contracted with two taverns for the gambling machines should video gambling be approved.

Speaking in opposition will be Kathy Gilroy, a former Forest Park resident who has spoken for years about the effects of gaming on citizens. Stan Zegel, the publisher of the Winfield Register, which covered a citizen's movement to place a non-binding referendum about video gaming on the November ballot, also will be featured, according to the Review.

No Forest Park elected officials were invited to the forum, village officials said.

The event is sponsored by Citizens United in Forest Park, a group that promotes good government. Efforts to reach the group were unsuccessful.

The question of whether video gambling should be brought to Forest Park had been discussed last year.

While the village has a ban on gambling, Illinois has passed a law allowing communities the option of putting gaming machines in liquor establishments.

To do that, the village would need to "opt-in" with the state, and toward that end, Mayor Anthony Calderone scheduled forums for Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. The latter forum was cancelled.

A survey could go out to get a pulse of the community, officials said.

Since the state law on video gaming was changed, Berwyn and North Riverside are the only area communities that have opted in with the state. Maywood, River Forest and Oak Park have decided to continue the ban.