Bolingbrook's Video Gambling Referendum Projected To Pass

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The Village of Bolingbrook's advisory referendum asking residents about allowing video gambling licenses is projected to pass, with a 1,000 vote lead as of 7 a.m. Wednesday.

15,269 people voted "yes" and 14,246 voted "no," according to unofficial results.

The advisory question on the ballot read: Should the Village of Bolingbrook allow a limited number of video gambling licenses within the corporate boundaries of the Village?

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

YES - 15,269 votes

NO - 14,246 votes

The Board approved putting the question on the ballot back in August, at that time, Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta said that since the pandemic, many restaurants are still financially distressed and video gambling could provide a revenue stream.

"We want to know what the community says," Alexander-Basta said.

Bolingbrook voters have previously turned down a question about video gaming machines, back in 2021. Currently, the Village does not allow video gaming in its boundaries.

According to the Illinois Gaming Board, Bolingbrook prohibited video gaming in a 2012 ordinance.

Bolingbrook is one of a few communities in the area that does not allow video gambling. Nearby communities of Romeoville, Plainfield, Joliet, Lemont all allow video gambling; and the Will County Board recently reversed a nine-year ban on video gaming in unincorporated areas.