* Subscribers were told about the new graduated sports betting tax this morning. React from East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III…
The Governor and the legislature are currently considering including a graduated sports gaming tax in the budget that will, if passed, devastate East St. Louis. We will be forced to forfeit essentially all services to our citizens and its passage might cause the largest employer, the Casino Queen, to leave the City of Champions. Balancing the budget on the back of my Town and the inclusion of the graduated sports gaming tax will devastate one of the oldest, hardest working cities in the state of Illinois.
DraftKings partners with the Casino Queen.
- Metroeasterner - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 7:33 pm:
Casino Queen is not going anywhere.
- @misterjayem - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 7:45 pm:
Well, they’ll always have the Wilco sign.
– MrJM
- Art Deco - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 7:52 pm:
Give me a break.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 7:53 pm:
The wealthy money hoarders do not want to give up a single penny. They would be devastated. They work very hard to separate people from their money; they should not have to give any back.
- H-W - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 8:02 pm:
If the fate of a town hinges on whether or not we tax gambling profits, that town has more serious issues than the gambling tax. In this case, East St. Louis has been relegated to a status on par with Native reservations in America (e.g., The Rosebud Sioux Reservation). Historic and institutionalized racism explain both.
Illinois does have a moral obligation to lift East St. Louis up. But betting on gambling to solve its problems is a flawed proposition.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 8:46 pm:
=graduated sports gaming tax=
The Mayors not wrong - gamblers look for the best possible payouts - they will bet elsewhere due to tax. back in the day when horse racing was viable - for big races like the derby you could bet the Illinois pool or the Kentcucky one- I always looked for best odds and bet accordingly.
- low level - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 9:06 pm:
Most of these wagers are made online on apps. Very little overhead. They should be paying 50% tax but 35% as the Gov proposed is fair.
Its either this or cut essential programs. Raise the tax.
- Liberal Muse - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 9:28 pm:
In the case of ESL, there is a Missouri casino only two miles away. I understand the Mayor’s point. Further, the Casino Queen is one of VERY FEW businesses employing, and giving good jobs to, people in ESL. HW hit the nail on the head in saying that we need to find alternative ways to lift up ESL. But right now, they have very little other industry. Which is very dissimilar to the casinos in other parts of the state.
- Rabid - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 9:53 pm:
Ain’t no sport betting in St. Louis. Ain’t going nowhere
- One hand //ing - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 10:21 pm:
=== In the case of ESL, there is a Missouri casino only two miles away.===
Dark Ages Missouri doesn’t have sports betting though. A lot of people in St. Louis come to the East Side to place their bets.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 10:30 pm:
===If the fate of a town hinges on whether or not we tax gambling profits, that town has more serious issues than the gambling tax.===
That is the history of East St. Louis since founding. Link below is a 20 year old St. Louis PBS documentary that discloses City’s budget was dependent upon licensing fees from saloons in the 1920s. Also discusses charges of voter fraud - African Americans voted in the AM in East St. Louis, before noon in Springfield, and before closing in Chicago. Some things never change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JdEec2ZEfA
- Parlay vous - Friday, May 24, 24 @ 10:31 pm:
Liberak Muse, we’re talkingn about online sports gambling. That’s not legal in Missouri. Cross the river and the Draft Kings ap won’t accept a bet. The Illinois market companies have been raking in the cash.
- Echo chamber - Saturday, May 25, 24 @ 11:44 am:
Curious if folks with all these opinions have ever been to East St Louis? The casino is basically the only employer. Whether they leave or not, the Mayor is rightfully concerned about his city’s very fragile economy. It’s easy to say “they won’t leave. Get over it “. When you live in a city with a broad tax base or more robust economy. Even if they don’t leave, but pull back on investment and focus on other markets, it could very well directly impact basic services East St Louis provides. All I am saying, is maybe give the guy a break that he is just terrified what impact this huge change to the tax structure can have on his towns only employer.