Palos Heights Revisits Video Gaming In Public Hearing Monday

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Palos Heights City Council’s License, Permits and Franchises Committee will reopen video gaming at a special public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, March 7 at the Parks and Recreation Center, 6601 W 127th St. The meeting will be held in the Orchard Room.

Members of the committee will talk about ideas for limited gambling while taking the temperature of the residents about this controversial issue. A referendum to bring video gaming to Palos Heights was defeated 3,319 to 2,522.

Alderman Brent Lewandowski, who chairs the committee, said it was imperative to get as much public input as possible, The Regional News reported.

“Maybe there will be a whole bunch of silence,” Lewandowski told Regional News reporter Jeff Vorva. “Maybe it will be full of people with torches and pitchforks and we would say ‘forget it.’”

Ald. Jerry McGovern brought up the issue again in December 2020, as a means to help bars and restaurants make up for lost revenue during the pandemic shutdown.

According to The Regional News, McGovern said that since the referendum setback, the state has updated its gambling laws and soon betting at all the professional sports venues in Chicago will be commonplace.

There are 17 Class A (bars and restaurants) liquor license owners in Palos Heights and one Class F (golf course) license.

Those who cannot attend and still want their opinion heard should contact Lewandowski at blewandowski@palosheights.org.