Online Wagering Proposed in Illinois
When we reported recently that a casino expansion bill in Illinois that was originally passed nearly two years ago – way back on May 31, 2011 – had been vetoed by that state’s governor, Democrat Pat Quinn, we noted that the sponsor of the bill had promised to quickly introduce a casino expansion bill which he believed the Governor would view more favorably.
What the legislation’s sponsor, State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan), did not mention at that time was that the new bill would have provisions for online gambling, something that was not included in the 2011 legislation. Like its predecessor, the bill introduced to Illinois state lawmakers last week calls for the construction of five new land-based casinos in addition to permitting slots machines in Illinois racetracks.
The new casinos would be located in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, suburban Lake County, as well as a location in Chicago’s south suburbs, an area that is located particularly close to border casinos in Indiana. Officials in the Hoosier State have been very concerned in recent months as neighboring states have been opening casinos at a steady clip.
The state-owned James R. Thompson Center located in downtown Chicago’s theatre district has been suggested as a potential site for a new casino, a location that would also pose a major threat to Indiana properties. The state lacks the resources to execute a badly-needed renovation of the building, which has major problems with its air-conditioning and heating systems and needs various other repairs.
While Governor Quinn in the past has expressed opposition to gambling expansion of any sort in his state, Illinois is currently facing a pension deficit that can only be described as catastrophic. The fund remains in the red to the tune of nearly $97 billion, with Governor Quinn having accused lawmakers in recent months of not paying enough attention to the urgent pension crisis.
Meanwhile, there are some in the Land of Lincoln who oppose the new gambling bill, at least in part on the grounds that it has been brought forth in a hasty manner.
According to State Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine), “It just seems incredibly rushed to me.”
Other detractors cited the continued inaction on the issue of online poker and other forms of Internet wagering at the federal level as a reason to oppose the regulation of online betting in the Land of Lincoln.
Said Anita Bedell, an opponent of gambling expansion in the state, “It’s not clear that the federal law would allow this to happen. Illinois would be entering into muddy waters.”
Governor Quinn, however, who was months ago reported to be in talks with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel with regard to the Chicago casino property, of which Emanuel is a major proponent, appears to be softening his stance on gambling. The state is not only facing a pension shortfall, but also desperately needs revenue that can be put toward schools.
In a recent budget address, Governor Quinn said, “Gaming expansion has to be done right. It must have tough ethical standards, a campaign contribution ban on casino operators and no loopholes for mobsters.”
