In a week Collinsville aldermen are expected to take up the video gambling question after voters on Nov. 6 said they'd like to have it in their city.

Unlike Belleville, where the referendum was binding, Collinsville leaders are essentially faced with the results of an opinion poll. They can ignore it.

We're against the insidious creep of gambling. We don't think it's a healthy revenue source because no product, service or value is created. Gambling just moves money around instead of creating wealth.

But the people have spoken, and they want to play video poker in Collinsville's bars. We think the democratic expectation outweighs the potential social ills.

Isn't it interesting that we won't let someone smoke in a bar for fear they will create cancer in themselves or others, yet we are willing to let some guy lose his family's paycheck? Bet we see that happen a lot in the coming years.