As state regulations governing electronic gambling take shape, Gurnee officials decided Monday they want no part of it.

The village board voted 5-0 to prohibit video gambling and other electronic gambling devices. A previous ordinance from 2009 banned electronic gambling, pending the state’s rule-making process.

Village officials have harbored concerns about how electronic gambling might impact the town’s image as a family friendly community.

“It really doesn’t fit in,” said Mayor Kristina Kovarik. “Is it worth selling our souls–and how hard we’ve worked on our image, our brand if you will–for a few thousand dollars.”

Although the state has not yet completed the rule-making process, purveyors of electronic gambling devices have started to push their products, officials said.

Kovarik said she received two calls from local business owners who described high-pressure sales tactics.

“They were very aggressive, very confusing to business owners,” she said.

With that in mind, the village should make the ban permanent before any village business strikes a deal with a vendor to supply the machines, said Village Administrator Patrick Muetz.

He also said Gurnee’s previous tentative stance may have sent the wrong signals to vendors. Gurnee had been among six communities and two counties considering a ban.

“It looks like the fact we’re considering it, is attracting sales people,” Muetz said.

As of December 2011, 77 communities and four counties, including Lake and McHenry counties had banned electronic gaming. Five communities and three counties are not supporting a video poker ban, including Kane County, Wauconda, Lake in the Hills, Peoria County, Rock Island, Homer, Springfield and Sangamon County.