 State Rep. Lou Lang, who has introduced similar bills in the past,
is putting his cards on the table -- again. Under his new proposal,
five casinos would be built, one each in Danville, Rockford, Park
City, somewhere in south suburbs and then the city of Chicago. Ten
riverboats would expand, and horse-racing tracks around Chicago
would allow slot machines."It's not about gambling; it's about
economic development and job creation," said the Democrat from
Skokie.
Former state Rep. Bob Molaro, who represents the horse-racing
industry, said Lang's bill has a 50-50 chance of passing, because
"the time is now" and Illinois needs that extra influx of revenue.
"You're talking about an extra $400 (million) to $500 million,
just from (a) Chicago (casino), going to the state treasury,
education or debt relief -- and that's something that we can't pass
up," Molaro said.
Chicago's newly elected Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants a casino in
downtown Chicago, as does Gov. Pat Quinn, who said he wants to
"invest in education, bring in more revenue and create jobs."
However, existing casinos are concerned about competition with
additional slot machines at racetracks, said Tom Swoik, executive
director of Illinois Casino Gaming Association.
ICGA is a nonprofit that represents seven out of nine riverboat
casinos in Illinois.
"The gambling industry has been down, so why would you create
more venues? You're not creating more gamblers," Swoik said.
Gaming revenue has been on a recent downward spiral. This past
year, riverboat casinos raked in $383 million, compared with $699
million in 2005, while horse racing brought in only $7 million,
compared with $12 million in 2005, according to Illinois' Commission
on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
COGFA, a commission created by the General Assembly, provides
research and information about state and national economics, revenue
projections and operations to the Legislature, according to its
website.
Illinois' money managers, meanwhile, oppose gambling expansion,
which some argue would bring in additional state revenue. State
Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has said she supports casinos, unlike
state Treasurer Dan Rutherford.
"My belief is you do not take and make major public policy
decisions strictly on what the revenue (is) that you intend to
generate. ... I don't want Chicago to be a Las Vegas," Rutherford
said.
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State Rep. Patrick Verschoore said he supports the gambling
expansion because "it would be a great revenue-enhancer for the
state."
The Democrat from Rock Island said he is not concerned about
competition because Jumer's Casino in his district is about 180
miles away from Chicago.
But state Rep. Keith Farnham, D-Elgin, is not sold on the
gambling expansion.
"It would have an effect on the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin,
which is very important to our community," he said. "It helps us
through the Grand Victoria Foundation, (which) funds social services
in our community, so I'd have a problem with that."
The measure will be discussed in a House Executive Committee by
Thursday. The spring legislative session ends on May 31.
Lang, the measure's sponsor, is taking chances.
"We have a week left. Some people say, 'It's only a week left.' I
look at it as a week of opportunity to get something done that would
really benefit Illinois," he said.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By MARY J. CRISTOBAL]
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