The Daily Herald has a good story today about what could happen now that the Gaming Board has pulled Emerald Casino’s license to operate a riverboat in Rosemont.

Q. Is this the end of a chance for a casino in Rosemont?

A. Technically, no. The legal battles continue, although Tuesday’s vote by the Illinois Gaming Board makes things harder for backers of a Rosemont casino. In theory, even if they lose all their appeals, Rosemont could still be a part of a future proposal, but Attorney General Lisa Madigan has said unanswered questions remain about Rosemont, Mayor Donald Stephens and ties to organized crime, which he and the suburb deny. It’s unlikely she’d ever sign off on a casino in Rosemont. […]

Q. What will happen next?

A. Tuesday’s decision doesn’t resolve a number of continuing legal battles, and attorneys for Emerald and Rosemont already are vowing to appeal at both the state and federal level. Rosemont attorney Bob Stevenson said he expects a federal appeals panel to grant a “stay,” or essentially freeze everything. Emerald attorney Robert Clifford predicts it’ll could take two to five years for all the appeals. […]

Q. Is there a chance the last license will never be used?

A. It’s possible. We’re already at nearly eight years of things being tied up in the courts, and it’s possible we could see another five on Emerald’s proposal for Rosemont alone. Who knows what the future will bring? However, there’s a lot of money at stake, and Illinois schools, which receive casino funds, have lost between $500 million and $1 billion, gambling board Chairman Aaron Jaffe estimated. Both the General Assembly and Gov. Rod Blagojevich have said they support casinos because they create such revenue.

Read the whole thing.