The McHenry County Board could decide as soon as next week whether to ban video gambling machines from dozens of eligible businesses or let voters make the call.

The board's Liquor and License Committee this week forwarded measures for each of the options to the full board, which will take up the issue at their next meeting on Nov. 3.

Board members could approve the ban, hold an advisory referendum on Feb. 2 or ban it temporarily until the referendum settles the debate four months down the road.

Liquor committee Chairman John Hammerand said he favors the third option.

"Even if we pass a ban, it would still be a good litmus test," he said of a proposed referendum. "It would show the will of the people."

If it approves a ban, the county board would join its peers in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties who in recent weeks have voted to opt out of the state legislation allowing video gambling machines in bars, restaurants and other establishments. Kane County also is considering a ban.

County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said the board should not be hasty to approve a ban. Instead, he suggests board members hold off on any decision until the Illinois Gaming Board releases a final set of rules for how video gambling will be governed.

"A lot of thought has to go into this decision because there's a lot of money on the table," he said. "I'm of the attitude that we should wait until the rules come out."

Any action the county board takes would affect about 44 eligible establishments located outside municipal boundaries.

In order to get a referendum question on the February ballot, the board would have to pass a resolution endorsing it no later than Nov. 30.

State legislators approved video gambling over the summer as a means of funding as much as a third of their $31 billion capitol spending bill. McHenry County is expected to receive more than $180 million from the bill - funding Koehler fears will be jeopardized if local governments ban video gambling.

"The biggest losers could be the taxpayers of McHenry County," he said.