Casino Action

By vouchey in News on Nov 10, 2004 3:06PM

If you like gambling, and you live in Chicago or the south suburbs, get pumped, because odds are some action is coming your way. Or at least, that's what it looks like.

We think.

Mayor Richard Daley has been pushing for a downtown casino for a while. Most likely on Navy Pier. And Illinois Senate President Emil Jones likes the idea, along with building another casino in the south 'burbs. To boot, Governor Rod Blagojevich and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan haven't really made much comment against new casinos. But then, they haven't made much noise for casinos either. Ergo, a powerplay has begun and it is only a matter of time before casinos are built.

Jones wants the casinos because he likes the jobs and revenues. Daley really wants the casinos because he wants the money for his growing city budget. Madigan and Blago like the leverage the casino gives them over other state leaders.

Fun stuff!

So, the question remains: When will we get more casinos? Probably not in 2004. The state legislature is working through their abbreviated "veto session", and there's still a few snags left in the legislation, let alone a lot of politicking still to be done. But if Chicagoist had to guess, watch for a deal to be cut next spring.