Illinois Governor Calls Gambling 'Problematic'
Last week we posited that the progress Illinois lawmakers are achieving toward figuring out how to resolve the state’s increasingly worrisome pension crisis might eventually lead to legalized online gambling for Illinoisans. We speculated as much because Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has said in recent months that he would not focus on gambling matters until the pension fiasco was sorted out, and he also stated that he didn’t expect lawmakers to divert their attention, either.
Now that is appears that legislators are making some headway toward reducing the state’s pension liability to its retired public workers, which currently stands at about $97 billion, we may see Illinois become a serious contender for the next state to permit Internet-based gambling. So far, three states have cleared the way for online wagering, with Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey all enacting legislation that will allow residents to log onto online poker sites and in the case of New Jersey and Delaware, place other forms of Internet wagers as well.
Speaking recently of Internet gambling, Quinn said, “I think that’s problematic. It’s a brand new idea and there hasn’t been much review on that at all. Anytime you have something brand new it shouldn’t just be thrown into a bill at the last minute.”
While there has been support for expanding land-based casino gambling in the state for years, the issue of Internet gambling is a relatively new one in the state, having only been recently proposed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan). Earlier this month, Governor Quinn vetoed a gambling bill that would have put five new land-based casino properties in the state, including one in downtown Chicago.
Link, as promised, quickly introduced a new bill, and one that is quite similar to the previous one in that it would also clear the way for the construction of five casinos. This time around, however, Internet gambling is also on the menu. Concessions to Governor Quinn include language that would bar casino interests from making campaign contributions, an issue that was cited as being a major concern of Quinn’s.
Though Governor Quinn has historically been somewhat atypical of other Democratic leaders in his staunch opposition to gambling expansion, his use of the word “problematic” to describe the new casino bill, online wagering and all, has been interpreted by some as a softening of his views.
In the past, Quinn has been unequivocal in his rejection of gambling despite support from other political heavyweights in the state, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel has lobbied for the opening of a casino in his city since taking office, and recently said that casino revenue would go toward helping the cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools, the third largest school system in the nation and one that recently announced it would be shuttering dozens of schools as part of a cost-saving measure.
This month when he vetoed the earlier gambling bill, which was actually passed back in May of 2011, Quinn said, “This is a bad bill for the people of Illinois. As I made clear when I vetoed Senate Bill 1849 last summer, I will not approve of any gaming legislation without strong ethical standards, comprehensive oversight and dedicated resources for education.”
Exactly what Governor Quinn will do if and when the new gambling bill hits his desk remains to be seen. Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the country, and could be an important part of the US online gambling market as it takes shape. The issue likely won’t be picked back up again by legislators until May.
