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| Gambling Expansion Bill Heads to Full House |
(IRN)-Perhaps this time it will pass, another gambling expansion proposal which, if it becomes reality, would be the largest expansion since Illinois legalized gambling in 1989.
While such ideas have sputtered and stopped in past years, this one would place a land-based casino in Chicago, riverboat casinos in Rockford, Danville, Park City, and a south suburban city; add slot machines at Illinois racetracks, and add slots at O'Hare and Midway airports.
After representatives of existing casinos complained, the sponsor, State Representative Lou Lang, added a goodie for them: a 5 percent tax credit. Lang says combining all that with video poker starting once and for all would bring $1.3 billion to the state in a year.
A House committee Wednesday approved Lang’s bill, which could come up for a vote in the full House as early as Thursday.
The gambling industry is not in a good position these days, but neither is the state, which could be pinning its financial hopes on the expansion. A lobbyist for the horse racing industry, former state lawmaker Bob Molaro, says this could be the last chance for his clients: "This is the last breath for our industry," he said. "We have other bills that we tried to get slots. This is the only bill out there that can save this industry, save these families. This is common sense, no matter what anybody tells you, me included."
Governor Pat Quinn has called the bill "top-heavy." However, Lang said he met with Quinn recently where he said Quinn "did not refuse to sign it."
SB 737 has passed the House Executive Committee.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 01 06 11 by Newsroom |
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