Springfield Approves Chicago Casino, Gambling Expansion in Busy Day of Legislation

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 31, 2011 3:20PM

The genie's one step closer to being out of the lamp. The Illinois House approved a major expansion of gambling in the state yesterday, including plans for a Chicago casino , casinos in Rockford, Danville, Park City and the south suburbs and slot machines to racetracks across the state and even O'Hare and Midway Airport. Officials in Des Plaines, which owns casino license and is trying to get a gambling palace off the ground, must be thrilled with this news. So must Gov. Quinn, who warned against Illinois becoming "the Las Vegas of the Midwest." Gives us an idea for a slogan. "What happens in Illinois spreads like back acne across the state."

Any subsequent protests by Quinn on the matter may prove fruitless,a s Senate President John Cullerton said that the governor's involvement in putting together a state budget has been so minimal that it's "irrelevant." The gambling expansion was the highlight of a busy day for the General Assembly that included a measure allowing ComEd to win easier rate hikes in exchange for financing smart-grid technology; the Illinois Hosue killing a workers comp reform bill championed by Quinn; passage of the Illinois DREAM Act, which now awaits Quinn's signature; and forming a $33.2 billion state budget that was $2 billion less than what Quinn proposed in February.

Skokie Rep. Lou Lang, who sponsored the gambling bill, said, “It’ll be dramatic help for the economic engine of Illinois, which is the city of Chicago.” Again, not going to go over well downstate. The bill, if Quinn signs it into law, is expected to generate $1.5 billion in licensing fees which will likely go to the state's backlog of unpaid bills. Mayor Emanuel, who indicated that a Chicago casino was a priority, had a hand in getting some legislators aboard the proposal. at least four southern Illinois members normally opposed to gambling who backed Lang in exchange for support of constructing a clean-coal power plant in Downstate Taylorville. Rep. Luis Arroyo offered his support for gambling expansion with a pledge to include language in the bill that would guarantee funds for foreclosure relief. What that has to do with gambling expansion, we have no idea.