Least surprising news of the day
Friday, May 30, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Meh…
A bid to expand gambling in Illinois appears dead for the spring’s legislative session after the south suburban lawmaker pushing the measure announced Friday he won’t call the bill for a vote.
“The time was not right to build the support needed for the bill to pass the Illinois House and Senate and be signed into law by the governor,” Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, said in a written statement. “I am disappointed we could not move this issue forward this spring, but I am determined to prepare a bill for consideration in the fall veto session.” […]
He mentioned local squabbles, fear of competition by existing casino owners and the lack of participation in the debate by Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has insisted on tackling pension reform ahead of gambling expansion.
Rita said again Friday that support from Quinn and Emanuel is key to passing a casino bill. The same goes for the horse racing industry and communities that would host a new casino, he said — around Chicago and Downstate.
Gaming expansion requires everybody to be pulling in the same direction at once. That didn’t happen this year, so it died. Same as it ever was.
- Norseman - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 11:31 am:
I bet another effort will be made next year.
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
- Langhorne - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 11:34 am:
We have 16,380 new video machines out there, and undoubtedly more to come. When i saw video gaming on the square in waverly, it suggested saturation to me. Sorry for the tracks, tho.
- Anon - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 11:39 am:
Goodbye Fairmont.
Goodbye Hawthorne.
Arlington Park may survive, if Mr. D lives to 105.
- Roamin' Numeral - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 11:43 am:
==Goodbye Fairmont.
Goodbye Hawthorne.
Arlington Park may survive, if Mr. D lives to 105.==
Balmoral and Maywood are in tough shape as well.
- Nucky Thompson - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 11:59 am:
Langhorne your numbers are out dated. There’s 17,575 VGT’s at 4,329 locations.
- BIG R. Ph. - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
Gee what a surprise! The casinos win again.
- A guy... - Friday, May 30, 14 @ 2:47 pm:
Diminishing point of return was reached a long time ago on Gambling here. The easy fix once more turns into the wrong fix. The fast money over smart money strategy is definitely going to take a lot of the track industry down. Then casinos will follow in many places. Video poker is a big savior in nearly 4500 locations and growing daily…yeah, that’s the ticket. Warped policy from warped people.