The debate of allowing video gambling in the city of Clinton continues to be an unresolved issue that soon must be acted upon by the Clinton City Council.

On one side the city has the voice of the business community, pushing for a ban on video gambling to be lifted because they claim they're dependent on the revenue from those machines. On the other side you have the pastoral community opposed to the ban being lifted claiming statistics show the effects of gambling effect a lot of those who take part in it. They also say the community will be effected by factors of divorce, theft, and even suicide.

The debate is one the members of the Clinton City Council are not taking lightly. Clinton Mayor Carolyn Peters says she is torn because she understands both sides of the argument.

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Commissioner Jerry Milton points to the amounts of money people in other communities would have to spend to make the businesses profitable. He says it is quite a bit of money people would have to lose before businesses and cities make money. He also recognizes this is a big decision for him and his constituents.

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Commissioner John Wise made no debate about his decision. He explains he has been a "no" vote in the past and he will remain a no vote. He says the money that is promised to back to schools or whatever else is simply not significant enough to continue to allow these in the community.

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Commissioner Tom Edmunds expressed concerns over people leaving town to get their fix of gambling and driving home under the influence of alcohol. He also feels enforcement to this point of allowing these machines to gradually become the problem they are would continue to be a problem if the ban is maintained.

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It has recently been brought to light of businesses with these video gambling machines of illegal payouts. Commissioner Nan Crang explains this has not been brought to her attention, and despite these allegations, she says she will not judge anyone on what they chose to do in their free time, and so she is not opposed to the ban being lifted.

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The City Council tabled a decision, allowing the undecided parties on the Council to gather more information. A decision could be made Monday evening when the Council convenes for their second August meeting.