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From John O'Connor, December 1, 2010 - 9:14 PM
Illinois Senate approves major expansion of gambling, including first-ever Chicago casino
By John O'Connor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois senators, seeking a big solution to a bigger problem, approved a major expansion of casino gambling Wednesday.
The proposal to add five state-regulated casinos, expand existing ones by two-thirds, and give horse racing tracks slot machines, would generate $1 billion annually in new tax revenue for a state suffering a deficit of as much as $15 billion, proponents say.
But it still must get through the House and a skeptical Gov. Pat Quinn.
The Democratic governor said earlier Wednesday he didn't know the details of the legislation, but said what he'd heard about it made it sound unacceptably "top-heavy."
The proposal's sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, who has proposed past gambling expansions that have failed because of their size, acknowledged the proposal is "huge."
"But we've got a huge deficit in the state of Illinois. We have huge problems," Link said. "You don't look at little things to fix it. You look at big things to fix it."
The vote was 31-20 in the Senate to allow four new riverboat casinos — in Rockford, Danville, the northern Chicago suburb of Park City, and a south suburb yet to be named — along with a land-based gambling house in Chicago.
The state's nine existing casinos could immediately add wagering positions for 400 patrons, to 1,600 each, and another 400 in 2013.
And six tracks for horse racing, an industry that has suffered in the 20-year history of riverboat casinos, would be able to add slot machines. Three of these "racinos" would be in Cook County and three elsewhere.
Chicago-area tracks could put in 1,200 slot machines each; up to 900 would be allowed for the other racing stations.
Money from those slot machines would significantly boost horse-racing purses, revitalizing a sagging industry in which Illinois was once a national leader, advocates say.
Quinn said he hadn't seen the legislation and wouldn't say whether he supported it. But, he said, "I'm not for a top-heavy expansion of gambling." He did not elaborate.
Republicans, too, bemoaned the sheer size of the bill.
"This is a gigantic bill, a huge package," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale. He voted "yes" because of the concessions to horse racing interests. But he suggested Republicans would demand more say in the final package, anticipating changes in the House that would require Senate concurrence.
From John O'Connor, December 1, 2010 - 9:14 PM
Illinois Senate approves major expansion of gambling, including first-ever Chicago casino
By John O'Connor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois senators, seeking a big solution to a bigger problem, approved a major expansion of casino gambling Wednesday.
The proposal to add five state-regulated casinos, expand existing ones by two-thirds, and give horse racing tracks slot machines, would generate $1 billion annually in new tax revenue for a state suffering a deficit of as much as $15 billion, proponents say.
But it still must get through the House and a skeptical Gov. Pat Quinn.
The Democratic governor said earlier Wednesday he didn't know the details of the legislation, but said what he'd heard about it made it sound unacceptably "top-heavy."
The proposal's sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, who has proposed past gambling expansions that have failed because of their size, acknowledged the proposal is "huge."
"But we've got a huge deficit in the state of Illinois. We have huge problems," Link said. "You don't look at little things to fix it. You look at big things to fix it."
The vote was 31-20 in the Senate to allow four new riverboat casinos — in Rockford, Danville, the northern Chicago suburb of Park City, and a south suburb yet to be named — along with a land-based gambling house in Chicago.
The state's nine existing casinos could immediately add wagering positions for 400 patrons, to 1,600 each, and another 400 in 2013.
And six tracks for horse racing, an industry that has suffered in the 20-year history of riverboat casinos, would be able to add slot machines. Three of these "racinos" would be in Cook County and three elsewhere.
Chicago-area tracks could put in 1,200 slot machines each; up to 900 would be allowed for the other racing stations.
Money from those slot machines would significantly boost horse-racing purses, revitalizing a sagging industry in which Illinois was once a national leader, advocates say.
Quinn said he hadn't seen the legislation and wouldn't say whether he supported it. But, he said, "I'm not for a top-heavy expansion of gambling." He did not elaborate.
Republicans, too, bemoaned the sheer size of the bill.
"This is a gigantic bill, a huge package," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale. He voted "yes" because of the concessions to horse racing interests. But he suggested Republicans would demand more say in the final package, anticipating changes in the House that would require Senate concurrence.
