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Quinn's "Las Vegas of the Midwest" Talk May Not Be Hyperbole

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 7, 2011 4:30PM

Gov. Quinn has repeatedly stated that he's open to the idea of a Chicago casino yet feels the state legislature's move to expand gambling in Illinois is too "top-heavy." Quinn has been quoted as saying he doesn't want to see Illinois become the "Las Vegas of the Midwest."

WBEZ's Steve Edwards took a look at the proposed sites for new casinos in Illinois under Senate Bill 744 and mapped out their locations if Quinn signs the bill into law. Edwards discovered that, counting existing casinos in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan, there would be 22 gaming facilities within 90 minutes of downtown.

Looks like Quinn wasn't merely saying "the sky is falling" just to say it, eh?