 The plan, which already has gotten the approval of the Illinois
Senate, would make way for five new casinos and video gaming at
horse racetracks. Issuing the licenses, performing the inspections
and taking on the responsibilities of new gaming would fall to the
Illinois Gaming Board.The gaming board doesn't deal in
hypotheticals or comment on pending legislation, according to board
spokesman Gene O'Shea. If the plan makes it through the Illinois
House of Representatives and gets Gov. Pat Quinn's signature, the
gaming board would then start to plan for it, O'Shea said. He did,
however, comment that an expansion of gaming would require more
staff.
If previous gaming expansions are any indication, the likelihood
that this most recent attempt would be quick out of the gate is
slim.
In 2009, the Legislature legalized video gaming in certain liquor
establishments, truck stops, and fraternal and veterans clubs
throughout the state, but so far the system needed to run video
gaming hasn't been implemented. In fact, the gaming board had to ask
for a second round of proposals because of a mistake in the first.
New proposals were received just this month.
Illinois Sen. John O. Jones said the sluggishness of getting
video gaming off the ground hurts Illinois twice. First, it fails to
bring in money promised to help pay for a $31 billion capital
program, and secondly, it hurts manufacturers of video gaming
equipment.
Jones said that for the most part he supports the proposed
legislation, but he sees it hitting the same rut as video gaming.
"It could take (the gaming board) forever to sell those five
casino licenses, and if you're doing this, that's what the state of
Illinois needs, is cash money coming in the door as soon as possible
so we can pay our bills," said the Mount Vernon Republican.
As one of the most vocal anti-gaming activists in Springfield,
Anita Bedell said a gaming expansion would cost the state more money
in social services than it would bring in.
And any money that might come in wouldn't start flowing for a
while, according to Bedell. She highlights Des Plaines, which has
been working to open a casino since the 10th riverboat gambling
license became available a decade ago, as an example of the problems
the state faces when it comes to new gaming.
"They approved moving the 10th license in 1999 and it took 10
years for that license to be issued and it's not even open yet. ...
The video gaming they passed last year, they're not getting any
money out of that either, yet. That could be another six months or
longer. Just because they pass it doesn't mean they are going to
have instant revenue to deal with and pay back all their bills,"
said Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol
and Addiction Problems.
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Illinois Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, is sponsoring the most
recent plan in the Senate. Even if it is passed by the House and
signed into law in January, Link said his legislation doesn't go
into effect until July 1, giving the gaming board a hard start.
"There would be a six-month lapse period for everyone getting
into gear as far as what needs to be done before the bill even goes
into effect, which I think is more than an adequate amount of time
to start getting things in order," he said.
Both Link and Jones said they have heard the complaint from the
gaming board that they are understaffed to get 2009's expansion up
and running as fast as some want, but they haven't asked for extra
help.
Link said that if more bodies is what the gaming board needs to
do its job, then all it needs to do is ask.
"I think the General Assembly is more than willing to work with
the gaming board. ... I don't want to hire a bunch of people for
temporary jobs and have them on the payroll permanently, but I think
there are things we would look at, see if there needs to be some
temporary help put in," Link said.
The plan must pass the House before the new General Assembly is
sworn in on Jan. 12. Link said he is working with Rep. Lou Lang,
D-Chicago, to make sure his bill gets through the House.
"The Senate always seems to be a tough chamber, and I think if
you can pass it out of the Senate, I think its chances in the House
are going to be pretty good," Link said.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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