* Gov. Pat Quinn has outlined his own gaming plan and said he would veto the current bill, which hasn’t yet been sent to him…
The governor said he would support putting five new casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, a Lake County site to be chosen by the Illinois Gaming Board — not the Park City location passed by the legislature — and a southern Cook County site, also to be chosen by the board.
Proximity to other casinos was a prime consideration, Quinn said.
Quinn’s alternative also would ban contributions to state elected officials by gaming licensees and casino managers, which other states have done, and undo a generous tax break for the highest-grossing casinos that was contained in the legislation that narrowly passed the House and Senate in May.
More…
The governor indicated he’s OK with the five new casinos in Chicago, southern Cook County, Rockford, Danville and Lake County. But Quinn said he would not allow gambling at racetracks, the state fairgrounds, or at Midway or O’Hare International Airports, as the current legislation proposes. […]
He also would require communities in Illinois to opt in to allowing video gambling throughout Illinois. Currently the law allows for communities to have video gambling unless they opt out. He also would require licenses for video gambling to be fully vetted rather than give initial licenses that are allowed to be vetted more thoroughly later.
When he said he would allow a boat in Lake County, Quinn specifically said “not Park City,” the location expressed in the current legislation.
More…
In the meantime, Sen. Terry Link said Monday morning that he plans to file a revised gambling plan today in an effort to satisfy some of the concerns of Gov. Pat Quinn.
The legislation could be heard at a hearing in Chicago as early as Tuesday, Link said.
“I think it will address a lot of his concerns,” Link said.
Discuss.
…Adding… The governor has issued a press release and what he’s calling a “framework“.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Senate President John Cullerton’s spokesperson…
Now that the Governor has articulated his proposed changes, we will fold his recommendations into our ongoing discussion of how we can make the gaming bill better for the state. Additionally, we will be evaluating the Governor’s framework in light of what is passable by both chambers of the General Assembly. We look forward to developing the appropriate compromise with the Governor and members of the House.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Raw audio of the governor’s press conference…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s response…
Quinn told reporters the Chicago mayor’s reaction was “a pleasant one.”
Emanuel followed that up with an optimistic statement to boot, saying he was thankful Quinn at least outlined the requirements for a future proposal.
“We are encouraged that the Governor has come forward with a proposal,” Emanuel said. “We are anxious to work with him and the leadership in the Illinois General Assembly so that we can soon begin creating tens of thousands of jobs for Chicagoans and make the investment in the city’s aging infrastructure that will secure a successful future for Chicago.”
House Speaker Michael Madigan isn’t responding, since Madigan has recused himself from the gaming bill.
* But the initial Downstate react isn’t great…
Observers said the governor’s alternative plan would lose even more votes because the slot machines at the tracks were supposed to generate $25 million for a number of downstate programs, including soil and water conservation districts.
“I think it will cause the loss of more downstate support,” said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington.
*** UPDATE 4 *** With a hat tip to a commenter, here’s Sen. Terry Link’s response…
Link said he will introduce a new casino bill as early as Tuesday that incorporates several of Quinn’s demands—but not all of them. Park City, he said, will remain in the bill as a host town, and so will slots at racetracks, two items Quinn outright rejected.
“At first, the governor said the bill was too top heavy, but he’s come a long way,” Link said.
- Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:03 pm:
Who will be the first to challenge the proposal to ban political contributions to state elected officials by gaming licensees and casino managers, as an un-constitutional infringement of free speech?
- Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:05 pm:
And no “hat tip” either? Why is it alsways the middle child that gets over-looked?
- downstate hack - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:07 pm:
No slots at horse tracks. This is the only positive for jobs, preserving the horse racing industry. As usual Quinn gets it wrong.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:10 pm:
I was never a fan of the gaming bill, but it seems like Quinn’s outline would make it slightly worse. Slots at tracks is a no-brainer. Am I kidding myself that this would morph into full-blown casinos at some point? Who cares whether you can blow the mortgage payment on the ponies or on blackjack, the end result is the same. I hate it when someone splits hairs and says one form of gambling is OK, but another form is awful.
Slots and/or video poker at the airports makes the most economic sense with almost no downside. The average degenerate gambler can’t get past security to gamble, ensuring a healthy stream of revenue from non-residents. That’s the formula if you see gambling as a revenue generator for Illiniois.
Chicago = good. Park City = bad. Why?
How does he think Illinois is going to fund its capital bill without video poker? It makes more sense to auction off the 65,000 video poker machine licenses to existing casinos than to go through this odd opt-in process which will only delay things further.
So on one hand, Quinn wants 65,000 video poker machines in communities who vote for them, but on the other hand he doesn’t want excessive gambling.
Kind of makes me want to bang my head against the wall.
- bigdaddygeo - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:12 pm:
$31 billion capital program and 439,000 jobs is funded - almost 40% - by video gaming. Opt in will kill video gaming. The question is - “How will 40% of the required funding of the capital bill be replaced?”
- Team America - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:15 pm:
Terry Link doesn’t want a Lake County casino, he wants a Lake County casino that he can control, starting with the location. This will be interesting to watch…
- Stones - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:17 pm:
Define “excessive gambling?” Isn’t this closing the barn door after the horses have escaped?
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:20 pm:
Good move. None of the revenues were to go to pensions.
- mokenavince - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:22 pm:
First he says he will and then he won’t, he’s undecided now so what is he gon’a do. Just watch the bouncing ball. It sounds like 5 Casino’s are O.K..
Of course until the poker machine lobbyist get their lickin’s in. Who knows what lurks in the mind of Pat Quinn,stay tuned.
- OneMan - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:25 pm:
Well it is nice he finally put something out there.
Thoughts…
If the slots are in the ’secure’ area at the airports, I don’t see what the big issue is. They do it in other places and it isn’t the end of the world and it wouldn’t be like people could make a trip just to gamble.
Don’t think my local state senator would be a big fan of the proposal to limit the contributions. If you are going to do that why not take it to all licensed employees as well. That would make sense.
Slots at tracks, rural Illinois did not vote for Pat Quinn so Pat Quinn can ignore rural Illinois, all the soy boy rhetoric aside, he is an urban governor as much as he tries to create the illusion otherwise.
“Proximity to other casinos was a prime consideration, Quinn said.”
Not to get a Tea Party on you, but why not let the market decide where the casinos should go to some extent. If a entity wants to bid a fortune for a license and put it next door to an existing casino, why stop them?
Also is the ‘not Park City’ consistent with letting the board decide where it should go?
At least he is in the conversation now. Veto session should be fun.
- Plutocrat03 - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:27 pm:
Didn’t they just announce the gambling revenue in Illinois was down 4.5%.
New gambling venues will cannibalize revenues from existing locations.
To paraphrase Blago, “What are they thinking?”
- Niles Township - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:33 pm:
I mostly agree with Quinn’s position here. The gaming bill was way too big. My only sticking point would be I would be OK with slots at the races if it were limited a little more.
- TimB - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:34 pm:
Don’t I remember Quinn telling Danville (or an official there) to “don’t hold your breath” for a casino?? Well, the fine folks of Danville can breathe now.
- Cincinnatus - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
What 47th Ward said… except I prefer head shaking to head banging…
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:39 pm:
Once again the horse racing industry gets hosed. Quinn is so out of touch it is a shame. The state will lose another industry.
- fed up - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:41 pm:
Slots and video poker at the airports makes alot of sense no idea why Pat Quinn is against it. The good news here is Just like he said he would veto a tax increase over 4% or that he supports the death penalty we all know by now that what Quinn says has no bearing on what he does.
- chad - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:52 pm:
Interesting that the Gov. was hinting earlier he would oppose a south suburban casino, yet he now includes it on his approved list. Perhaps he concluded that we might as well keep the gamers from heading to NW Indiana.
- wordslinger - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 12:59 pm:
All that wait for this?
What’s wrong with Danville? You pick five winners, but they’re left out? Why, if some private entity wanted to invest?
Why not the airports? That’s literally out-of-town money.
What’s the over/under on when the first legal video poker machine will pay off? Three years? Meanwhile, what’s the annual take to organized crime on the thousands of illegal machines throughout the state?
The only thing I know for certain: the tracks are out. Maybe they’ll have to start offering an attractive product and actually promoting their product, rather than bellying up to the state trough again.
- BW - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 1:02 pm:
Let me get this straight. Quinn wants no slot machine gambling at a horse track where people go to gamble on horses? I wonder if he shakes a magic 8 ball before he makes such policy decisions?
- Ahoy - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 1:04 pm:
“We’re talking about casinos at racetracks,” Quinn said. “Don’t kid yourself.”
Because we don’t want to allow gambling at a gambling establishment. Adding more gambling establishments is ok though.
If Quinn talks in a forest and no one is around to hear him, does he still not make any sense?
- Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 1:06 pm:
UPDATE X 4
LINKED-IN
{In the meantime, Sen. Terry Link said Monday morning that he plans to file a revised gambling plan today in an effort to satisfy some of the concerns of Gov. Pat Quinn.
The legislation could be heard at a hearing in Chicago as early as Tuesday, Link said.}
http://dailyherald.com/article/20111017/news/710179908/
- Realist - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 1:15 pm:
Again, Quinn gets it all backwards. We don’t need more casinos (maybe a Chicago casino) where smoking will be banned, they will only take gamblers from the other casinos already in Illinois. Even a Chicago casino won’t be able to attract Indiana gamblers over if there is no smoking. Slots at the airports was the best part of this bill, free money from non-residents waiting for a connecting flight. Good thing he nixed the slots at the horsetracks, we certainly don’t want any gambling there?
- k3_Spfld_Chi - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 1:19 pm:
Duchossois is already on the phone to end this. Duchossois can get more votes on a bill than Quinn can these days.
- Been There - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 1:20 pm:
I think Quinn is pulling a classic divide and conquer scheme. Pull out the tracks, have Chicago & the other locations lobbying hard for a new bill, fighting the tracks that are trying to kill it. End of the day: No casino bill. But he can look at Rahm and say I tried.
And video poker languishes as long as the Gaming Board does their slow walk on centralized computer.
- Wait a sec - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 2:30 pm:
How do slots at the airport benefit taxpayers? do not the airlines get such airport revenue to offset the operating costs that they fully pay for?
- Ace Matson - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 2:33 pm:
If Illinois casinos are permitted to kill our horse-racing industry in Illinois, we will regret it forever.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 2:35 pm:
===do not the airlines get such airport revenue to offset the operating costs that they fully pay for===
Do you think Starbucks is paying the airlines for the right to sell overpriced coffee in the terminals?
- walkinfool - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 2:44 pm:
Quinn has it pretty much backwards. Tracks and airports are by far the easiest and best places for more gambling. One casino in Chicago, and maybe one or two on the borders with neighboring states would be as far as we should go.
@Been There: I doubt Quinn would come up with such a complicated scheme, though there is a specific slap at Link in here.
- Ghost - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 3:06 pm:
I agree with the Gov that we should not be giving race track owners the gift of slots for their unproftable business venture. They can bid on casion licenses like everyone else.
I disagree about not putting gaming stations into the airport. if we want to pick up new money, adn not just feed off of our wn citizens, one of the best ways is to allows travelers passing through to gamble a ittle on their layovers. This allows us to reach a far ranging group of people and out of State money. It would be crazy not to have spots at airports if we want to raise revenue!
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 3:48 pm:
“I wonder if [Quinn] shakes a magic 8 ball before he makes such policy decisions?”
Nah– that would be too much like gambling, which is morally wrong.
- Quinn T. Sential - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 4:23 pm:
More LINKED-IN
{Link said he will introduce a new casino bill as early as Tuesday that incorporates several of Quinn’s demands—but not all of them. Park City, he said, will remain in the bill as a host town, and so will slots at racetracks, two items Quinn outright rejected.”}
http://www.wbez.org/story/lawmakers-already-horse-trading-new-casino-bill-93206
- wishbone - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 4:26 pm:
One of the few things PQ has done that I agree with.
- Coach - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 8:06 pm:
I really believe Gov. Quinn just doesn’t like to see people in Illinois to have a job because if this bill doesn’t pass with slots at the tracks the hore racing industry in Illinois will lose most of its 40,000 jobs. Plus Quinn evidently doesn’t people in Illinois to obtain any of the new jobs that would come with the bill No way this bill will pass his way!
- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 8:19 pm:
===I really believe Gov. Quinn just doesn’t like to see people in Illinois to have a job===
Take a breath, man.
- Coach - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 9:03 pm:
I would love to see the owners of Arlington Park, Hawthorne, Maywood, Balmoral, and Fairmount race tracks come out together in a news conference tomorrow and inform the public that as of Jan. 1, 2012 they will be closing their doors indefinitely! Then I wonder what Gov. Quinn’s response would be to the loss of 40,000 jobs to people of Illinois!
- pj - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 9:27 pm:
Quinn wanted video poker machines at every restaurant in the state lets not forget….This state is a complete mess
- Anonymous - Monday, Oct 17, 11 @ 10:27 pm:
Just get a casino up north so I can stop leaving my money in Wisconsin. I don’t care if it’s Park City, just stay far north of Chicago…which should also draw in Wisconsin money to Illinois - now that’s a definite plus!
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