* It really is amazing how local newspapers have bought into the contradictory spin on gaming expansion. For instance, Phil Luciano’s column…
Take a good, long look at the [East Peoria] Par-A-Dice [casino]. Maybe even take a picture, while you can.
Could the dock and hotel become a post-gambling ghost town? It’s happened elsewhere. It could happen here.
The culprit? A lazy, shortsighted state government. […]
Now, all they see is dollar signs. And rather than work to base the state’s economy on creating solid jobs and businesses, they’d rather take the easy way out and grab for gambling.
Right now, the Par-A-Dice generates $7 million in local revenue a year. Kiss that sum goodbye. Maybe all of it.
Riverboat reps and local leaders fear the same thing I’ve carping about for years: Chicago will suck away business. It’s not as if the Par-A-Dice is supported solely by area bettors. Tourists and gamblers come in from elsewhere. But if they have a choice between making a trip to Peoria or the Windy City, where do you think they’ll go?
So, the state should be working to create good jobs, but it absolutely should not mess with East Peoria’s admittedly evil jobs in the process by adding some competition far away? OK. And a Chicago casino will kill the Peoria-area’s facility, even though it’ll be 160 miles from there? Right. Even Luciano’s own newspaper thinks that last point is a bit much, although it still wrings its hands…
As such, it’s no surprise that not one local legislator voted for this expansion, with the Par-a-Dice in our backyard producing some $7 million annually to East Peoria and Peoria city coffers. Local government officials fear that number will plummet with downstate competition in Danville and Springfield.
There seems to be less objection to a casino in Chicago, which already is a global tourism draw that could be in line to capture even more outside dollars, of which there is no surplus in Illinois. […]
Again, gambling is the easy yet desperate path here. It’s a substitute for genuine fiscal discipline that for too long has been lacking in Springfield, which is what led to this fiscal meltdown in the first place. If anyone thinks Illinois can sin its way to prosperity - through reliance on gambling and taxes on smoking, drinking, etc. - they’re delusional, looking to quick fixes rather than real ones.
Gambling is the “easy and desperate path” except when it’s in our town!
* And then there’s the St. Louis Post Dispatch…
As happy as the track operators are with SB 744, operators of Illinois’ nine existing casinos are as worried. Revenue was off 4.2 percent last year to $1.37 billion. The bill would add five new casinos, including the mega-casino in Chicago, plus allow slot machines at racetracks and at Chicago’s two airports. That would take Illinois from 12,000 gaming positions to 39,000, putting a saturated market under water.
In the St. Louis market, adding 800 new gaming positions at the two Metro East casinos and 900 at Fairmount would mean a nearly 15 percent expansion. The bistate market is still struggling to absorb the competition from the River City Casino in Lemay that opened last year.
We tend not to worry about the problems of an industry that preys on human weakness. But Missouri and Illinois both have become addicted to gambling taxes. And then there’s the question of the thousands of employees who make their livings in the gambling industry. Hundreds of casino workers could suffer if Mr. Quinn signs SB 744. Hundreds of workers in the thoroughbred industry could suffer if he doesn’t.
He should veto it. The whole thing, including the Chicago casino.
Yes, more competition in an Illinois industry that’s been protected for decades would be just terrible, wouldn’t it?
* On the flip side is Rockford, which doesn’t have a casino and really, really wants one…
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must be tired of seeing signs that say “Wisconsin is open for business.” He can take a shot at our neighbors to the north by signing the bill that would bring a casino to Rockford. […]
What about the social costs? Studies have found that there are likely to be increases in divorce, separations, marital problems and bankruptcies to name a few. Those problems also occur when a person is unemployed or underemployed.
Other studies show the disadvantages of gambling are exaggerated. In 2000, the Public Sector Gaming Study Commission found “no link between gambling, particularly casino-style gambling, and crime.”
Gambling is not the holy grail of economic development, but if any community in Illinois should be able to expand its tourism and entertainment options, Rockford should.
Problems, schmoblems. We want us a casino, baby!
* Even the Chicago Sun-Times is getting into the act…
The governor, like us, is unhappy about lumping in so many other gambling sites with Chicago’s, calling the bill “excessive” and “top-heavy.”
He’s absolutely right about that.
But here’s what Quinn will see when he finally gets his microscope in focus: A bill that will draw in much-needed revenue for Chicago and the state. The state is already slashing social services, education funding and threatening deep cuts to state employee pensions. Adding new revenue is one of the only ways available to soften that blow slightly, to ward off even more draconian cuts in years to come.
We’ve long supported efforts to reduce state spending, but Illinois is quickly reaching a point where the government’s ability to provide core services is in jeopardy.
The bill really sucks, but we need the money, so sign the darned thing.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:48 am:
Hard to see how the expansion bill, if enacted, would negatively impact either Peoria or St. Louis.
Joliet, Indiana, Elgin, Aurora and Des Plaines, that’s another story.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:49 am:
The East Peoria folks have the least to be concerned with. If anything the racinos at the Fairgrounds would take more business away than Chicago. It’s not like they’re giving a boat to Peoria to compete with the one on the otherside of the river.
- Skeeter - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:50 am:
I’m just not getting the anger of the Chicago casino. Put a casino (even better, put a bunch of them in hotels) in the city and who would want to have a convention in Las Vegas any time between March and October? Go where it is 110 each day or go to a centrally located place with better weather? If done right (a big if) and if we could get the real reforms we need at McCormick Place and Illinois convention business will boom.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:51 am:
The only good argument for increased gaming is that we’re losing money to Indiana and Wisconsin. Towards that end, casinos in Chicago, Rockford and Park City (wish it were downtown Waukegan) make some sense, the rest is negative bloat.
- too obvious - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:51 am:
Someone should ask Kirk Dillard to name some of the farmers he said were leaving Illinois for Indiana because we don’t have enough gambling. That’s pretty much what he strongly claimed on the floor prior to his yes vote.
Land seems hard to transport, but what do I know.
I assume Dillard was really talking about wealthy race horse owners like his friend Jim Edgar. Anyone have any clue as to how much a Jim Edgar might benefit from this bailout program for the dying horse race industry?
- Deep South - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:54 am:
===But if they have a choice between making a trip to Peoria or the Windy City, where do you think they’ll go?===
I like Chicago and all, but given a choice in this instance…I’d probably choose Peoria.
Its closer, probably cheaper to eat and sleep, and well, it ain’t Chicago.
So much for civic pride on the part of the newspaper.
- OneMan - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:56 am:
Beacon news did the same thing about local casino impacts.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/5713513-417/city-expansion-of-gambling-would-be-bad-bet-for-aurora.html
- Secret Square - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:57 am:
Call it reverse NIMBY-ism, or OIMBY-ism… Only In My Back Yard
- anon - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 9:58 am:
No offense but I could care less if this impacts STL negatively… if they could they would do the same to us. After the stupid comments the Governor of Missouri made after the flooding in Southern Illinois..
I can understand the potential fall out we can have in Illinois with gambling. It isn’t a good idea to have “too many” casinos because that will take the appeal away from one particular location or a few.
- ANON - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 10:05 am:
The Lumier casino in downtown St. Louis hurt East Side Casino’s a lot more than this bill would do. But I don’t imagine the PD whined about that opening.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 10:24 am:
Slots at the tracks probably will hurt the ESL and Alton boats. I don’t know how much.
- Ray del Camino - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 10:31 am:
Hey, anon@9:58–It was a state legislator, not the Governor of MO, who said the dumb stuff about Cairo. Yes, he was a pinhead. But it wasn’t Jay Nixon.
- x ace - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 10:32 am:
Seems highly unlikely that Fairmount Park’s current management can put together a slots operation that will have any significant long range negative impact on existing STL area casinos. Also, seems unlikely that a major industry player would be interested in that location in that market. But then , Who Knows ?
- mokenavince - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 10:35 am:
Casino gambling was sold on the idea that it would rejuvenate old river towns,by and large that happened,now larger towns need help. Let’s hope it works.
- Joe - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 10:55 am:
Last time I looked the Illinois Gaming Board still had jurisdiction over gaming and any expansion. Quinn can direct the board to move forward on Chicago license and the others be placed in Interim Study.
- LKB - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 11:27 am:
What about the present casino employees who will most likely all be eligible for public assistance if this expansion becomes a reality? They will most likely experience huge wage loses.
- Andy Rickshaw - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 11:32 am:
Kirk Dillard said that trainers and jockeys were leaving the state because many other states allow slot machines at their tracks. When he mentioned farmers, he said that some of them who rely on growing hay and grain to be fed to racehorses have had their business negatively impacted because so many horses have left the state, which is totally true.
- too obvious - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 11:46 am:
Come on Andy, you’re spinning out of control. Farmers are constantly clawing for more land to farm in Illinois and a few horsies more or less doesn’t make an iota of difference on prices or demand for their products.
And you are in fact misrepresenting the “arguments” Dillard made on the floor.
In reality Kirk Dillard was just demonstrating once again why he lost a primary to a guy who thought the biggest problem in Illinois was that we aren’t able to gas animals on a large enough scale.
- Pkes - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 11:57 am:
- too obvious - They were speaking of the horse farms as well as the farmers. The breeding operations are a HUGE park of the Illinois agriculture. The farmers supply feed to the breeding farms as well as the race tracks. A large amount of Illinois breeders are leaving Illinois. They are sending their horses to other states such as Indiana. Many owners and trainers are no longer breeding to as many Illinois stallions, mares from other states are not coming to Illinois to be bred to them. Thousands of Illinois bred foals used to be born here. This in no longer the case. At one time, Illinois had one of the largest and finest breeding operations. People liked to have Illinois conceived and foaled horses as they were eligible for certain races in Illinois with big purses. This is no longer the case since Indiana and Iowa have the slots at their tracks. Their purses are now much higher than Illinois.
- Crabby645 - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:12 pm:
A casino in Chicago would be great, but they need the right company to run it, ie…Wynn, Trump etc.The city of Chicago knows nothing about running a casino, if they are going to do it, do it right!!!
- too obvious - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:15 pm:
Nice try.
Dillard specifically only talked about “farmers.”
But I can understand why he didn’t want to make reference to the real beneficiaries, thoroughbred owners like his friend Jim Edgar.
Point is everyone knows Dillard and the other Republicans supported this massive wealth transfer because of their GOP friends like Edgar and big GOP donors like the Duchossois family.
Dillard just looks like a bigger fool when he tries to con us into believing it’s about the “jobs” or the “farmers.”
It’s all simply about rewarding the people who give them money. We get it. Just be honest about it. It’s just business as usual in Illinois. Rs doing exactly the same thing they attack the Ds for doing. Another day, more pay to play on steroids.
- Pkes - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:24 pm:
too obvious - Maybe you should look up the number of thoroughbred and standardbred farms in Illinois. Yes, Jim Edgar has some horses but not nearly as many as the majority of the farms. They are very large businesses.
- HappyToaster - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:46 pm:
Interesting article from ft.com:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e2397e52-8849-11e0-a1c3-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1OEbEMZZc
“Since 1989, the number of races in the US has fallen by 37 per cent…the amount being bet has plummeted 60 per cent over the past 15 years, from $2.94bn in 1996 to just $1.2bn last year.”
The slot subsidy isn’t going to solve the declining public interest in horse racing.
- too obvious - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:46 pm:
“They are very large businesses.” I disagree with your premise. But I would also note that Illinois was also once a major manufacturer of covered wagons as we were the jumping off point for folks going west.
The horse racing industry is going the way of the covered wagon and should be allowed to follow its natural market course. It’s just a dwindling fan base of elderly persons who go to the track anymore. The action is just too slow for the younger generations raised on instant gratification of video games. This was just an Obama like bailout, a temporary delay in an industry’s natural decline. Tax money’s been diverted from better uses to do it.
But at least we won’t have to waste time on any future Dillard statewide run.
Every conservative I know who was willing to forgive him for the Obama ad is saying that’s it. Between his championing of the huge gambling bill and his vote for the Illinois DREAM Act, no one in the base wants anything to do with him anymore.
Dillard’s betrayed Republicans for the last time. He’s used up any goodwill he had among the base. He might as well cut another ad for Obama for the 2012 campaign. No one would be surprised at this point.
- The Feeble Quinn - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:52 pm:
According to the stats I heard during the debate, if the entire package is approved, Illinois will go from 25th to20th or 21st in the nation in gambling density. That means 20 states will still have more gambling spots per citizen than Illinois will.
I would hardly call that the Las Vegas of the Midwest as it has been referred to repeatedly.
And to the person who stated Rockford, Chicago and Park City are the only ones that makes sense, you have not done enough homework. Danville meets, and has met for over 20 years, the criteria that the original areas were chosen for when the riverboats were first approved 20 years ago. Danville will draw from Indy, Terre Haute and other central Indiana places that no other existing, or proposed casino would.
A study revealed that a projected 65% of Danville’s gaming participants would be form out of state.
- Pkes - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 12:57 pm:
I am 26 & in the horse industry, as my father was. Their a more young persons involved in this than old. Perhaps you should take a real look at it sometime?
- Doug Dobmeyer - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:04 pm:
It is astounding the fixation with gambling has gripped so much of our lives. The tenth license is opening 7/17 in Des Plaines. That soleves the problem for Chgo…just go to Des Plaines and bet instead of Indiana.
u
We’re going into extremism with all of this gambling…in the middle of a possible double dip recession. People need to take of basics instead of always seeking more fun. Most of living is less than fun anyway.
Doug Dobmeyer
- BIG R. Ph - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:05 pm:
Don’t be surprised when the current owners of the gambling boats just take over operations of the racinos. See Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Race Track in WV for an example.
- Pkes - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:07 pm:
http://74.6.238.254/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=Illinois+horse+industry+money+generated&fr=yfp-t-701&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Illinois+horse+industry+money+generated&d=4885091716762674&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=31821be,58bf556a&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=l0732budfid44WiuY2mw4Q–
- Skeeter - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:12 pm:
I have to add that I’m really amused by the right wing comments. The same people who are OUTRAGED over “nanny state” legislation are also outraged that people might want to gamble.
Apparently, for the right wing “nanny state” translates to “stuff that we like but that others want to restrict.” It has nothing to do with over-regulation and everything to do with personal preferences.
- Pkes - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:25 pm:
Thanks Skeeter!
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:27 pm:
Skeeter,
I am about as “right wing” as it gets. People should be allowed to gamble as much as they want, any legitimate business should be able to be licensed to allow gambling. Now try to square the circle you have created. You understand little about conservatives, but your comment wants me to group you in with all the left wing nuts.
- Deep South - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:45 pm:
Hey Cincy…..
Skeeter’s totally right. Abortion is another example. “We don’t want government to interfere with anything…except the stuff we don’t like.” It is a very old criticism of the right wing. The “left wing nuts” are just making an observation that squares with reality. Stop trying to run circles around the obvious.
- winco - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:48 pm:
Seems kinda testy around here for a Friday.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 1:55 pm:
Deep South,
Since abortion is legal, women have a right to one, even though it is horrific. Not a single government dollar should be used to fund any abortion.
I don’t want government to do anything but the minimum, to do that efficiently, and what it does needs to be done at the most local level possible. I don’t want government to redistribute property.
You understand conservatives about as well as I understand liberals, I guess.
- James - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 2:04 pm:
The new casinos are the earmarks necessary to get enough votes for slots at the tracks, which are necessary to create purse parity with other states and save the Illinois racing industry. The racing industry would not otherwise die, it would just move to the other states, as it has been doing.
Lou Lang did a good job cobbling this coalition together. Both houses passed this, and I hear no voices other than Dobmeyer and Grey opposing it on moralistic grounds. I hope the Governor doesn’t play around with this–it is a jobs bill in that the racing industry provides many jobs. Also, think of the photo ops for the Governor on the Illinois horse farms!
- Left Out - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 2:31 pm:
Gambling is way down in Illinois from what it was just a few years ago. Most people are deep in debt and short on cash. The fact is that they have little more to gamble with even if they want to.
More casinos will only shift money from one location to another. The slots at the airports will mainly be new money from out of travelers and there will be a bit more not going to Indiana and that is all. The claim of lots of new jobs and lots of new tax revenue for Illinois I forcast to be a false hope.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 2:50 pm:
@Skeeter -
Check the news reports. The convention operators want the casino as far from the convention center as possible.
Convention business is based on the thin notion that people come to conventions to attend the convention, not get away from the family, eat steak dinners, stay in fancy hotels, shop and siteseeing on the company dime.
I know, its crazy, but that’s where they stand.
- mokenavince - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 3:25 pm:
Skeeters right on all counts. It’s Friday let’s
have a cold beer and watch the White Sox.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
- mokenavince - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 3:25 pm:
“It’s Friday let’s have a cold beer and watch the White Sox.”
I’m about 50% with you here.
- Deep South - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 3:51 pm:
So Cincy, it’s not quite beer o’clock, what’s the “conservative” take on gay marriage?
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 3:54 pm:
Go nuts. No tax breaks for married or civil couples.
- Skeeter - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 4:30 pm:
Yellow Dog:
So Las Vegas gets the shows because people like 110? I’ve been to a Las Vegas convention in June (worse, I was a speaker so I had to wear a suit). Las Vegas is brutal in June. Think the location was chosen because people would just stay in the convention center and avoid distractions?
I’ve also planned some events for an organization. The goal is to choose a location where people want to go (driving attendence). Not sure on your source but it does not seem credible.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 4:44 pm:
Skeeter, YDD is correct. I posted that story on the blog days ago.
- Skeeter - Friday, Jun 3, 11 @ 4:47 pm:
Interesting. Then how do they explain LV? Low costs? People say a lot of things, but the question is how they act. I will give it a read though.