Gambling On Casinos
By Sean Stillmaker in News on Jun 12, 2011 6:00PM
Gov. Quinn is still in decision-making mode on the gambling expansion bill that’s sitting on his desk. The legislation would add five more casinos in the state including one in Chicago. He’s already expressed concern over the additional casinos allowed in the bill, which has sent lawmakers scrambling to negotiate.
In two weeks since the bill landed on his desk he’s had 739 phone calls and emails against the bill and 799 in support. Quinn has said he’s ok with a Chicago casino, but putting casinos in Rockford, Danville, Park City and a south suburb of Cook County, slot machines at racetracks and even in O'Hare and Midway Airports is “excessive.”
The over 400 page legislation is packed with amendments by certain lawmakers for their constituents and the wants of special interest groups that provided tremendous lobbying efforts. Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) gave the Tribune some excellent insight on the negotiation process.
If slots at tracks come off, you can't pass the bill. If the money for downstate agriculture comes off, you can't pass the bill. If you take out casinos for Danville and Rockford, it might damage the ability to pass the bill.
Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) is the chief sponsor of the senate bill. His district includes Park City and told Chicago News Cooperative if his casino is left out he’s not calling the bill for vote.
Everyone talks about how casinos are such a great economic development - an estimated $1.5 billion could be generated this year. But what kind of development are we exactly talking about?
We’re preying on the vices of others to fill our budget holes. Gambling is not a dependable revenue source. The Great Recession has dealt casinos the worst blow in revenues in their history. Revenues finally rebounded this year with an increase of just under 1 percent.
In Illinois our nine current operating casinos have been on the straight decline since 2008, where they went from $1.983 billion to $1.374 billion this year in total gross revenue, according to the latest American Gaming Association report.
Our legislators should be pounding away at real economic development that’s sustainable in the long run. Implementing alternative energy resources, bringing in technology companies and manufacturing jobs all come to mind. Instead we waste our time creating a service/entertainment economy.