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Emanuel: No video poker for Chicago

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Illinois

* In case you weren’t totally clear about where he stood, Mayor Rahm Emanuel turned thumbs way down on video poker last week…

Emanuel said video poker “is not right for the city,” and cited protecting kids by not having gambling on potentially most blocks in the city.

“I am absolutely, 100 percent against it in every part of the fiber in my body,” Emanuel said. “And it will not happen on my watch.”

And I’m absolutely, 100 percent sure his stance has absolutely, 100 percent nothing to do with possible competition to his beloved Chicago-owned casino.

Absolutely, 100 percent sure.

* Meanwhile the Gaming Board has started the process of revoking a video poker machine supplier’s license because he was splitting winnings with a central Illinois American Legion Post. Chairman Aaron Jaffe was his usual drama queen self…

Jaffe said the state’s video poker business long has been “in the clutches of organized crime,” and said local law enforcement has “turned a blind eye to this crime for decades.”

“The proponents of the Video Gaming Act argued that strong regulation was going to make sure all the bad apples were gone,” Jaffe said. “That clearly, clearly is not the case.” […]

Gaming Board attorney Emily Mattison said she was unaware of any criminal charges against Sprague but said he refused to answer questions or cooperate with the board’s investigation, which alone is grounds to revoke a license.

Is it me, or does it look like Chairman Jaffe would rather the state keep the status quo ante and allow mobsters to infiltrate the industry rather than just do his freaking job?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 11:31 am

Comments

It’s not just you, Rich.

Comment by phocion Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 11:43 am
The Outfit used to run the numbers game. Now the state does with the lottery.

Are there bad apples still in the lottery? Because right now, The Outfit is still profiting handsomely from video poker.

Is Emanuel going to clean out all the machines paying off illegally in the city?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 11:57 am
Jaffe is Chairman of the “ANTI GAMING BOARD”. His nomination is lingering in the Senate, they should hold the hearing and vote him down. It is a one day story and then over.

Comment by PQ's Primary Opponent Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 12:04 pm
Seems to me Mr Chairman this shows
A. The process works, you found a problem and revoking a license
B. This is exactly why the state needs to license and manage this.

Then again he hates gaming it would like making me the regulator of light beer

Comment by Oneman Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 12:09 pm
Loyal Tyler Sprague III? Any relation to Bob Sprague?

As for Rahm, well, it’s just like the speed cameras… he’s all about the children. LOL

Comment by Freeman Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 12:32 pm
I don’t understand Jaffe’s position. He’s in charge of the regulation and he says the regulators aren’t up to the job?
Shouldn’t he be off retired somewhere collecting a couple government pensions by now?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 12:37 pm
that or he’s completly out of touch with reality. Maybe he’s just really ignorant?

Comment by Ahoy Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 1:13 pm
Agree. It’s perfectly understandable that laying the infrastructure to implement the video gaming law takes time, but COME ON! I can’t imagine any other industry, regulatory body, or agency having the time allowance to implement a LAW that Jaffe has been afforded. And, then you have to listen to Jaffe pontificate about the merits of his charge. Who gets to publicly (in the face of the legislature, no less) bemoan their job in such a manner? Twilight zone material, here.

Comment by unspun Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 1:22 pm
Jaffe is way overdue for being “turned out to pasture”. I’ve seen and heard much less whining from 3rd graders complaining about homework. He is a total waste of space on the gaming board.

Comment by Old geezer and caregiver Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 1:46 pm
Agree with all the commenters. Two years to get video poker up and running. Montana did it in three months. Jaffe should go.

Comment by downstate hack Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 1:52 pm
Jaffe is clearly foot-dragging, but he also clearly has the support of his boss, Quinn.

There are still a lot of cards in the hole. What does it take to get the gaming board to move? How do the proposed new casinos and the tracks figure in? When does everyone start flipping their cards up?

Meanwhile, the continued winners are The Outfit with their illegal machines and existing casinos. I always find it informative to know who profits from any particular situation.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 2:03 pm
Rahm is right, but it’s a perfect fit for Mokena.

Comment by mokenavince Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 2:16 pm
The funny thing is that video poker in the city would generate more interest and more revenue for a Chicago casino.

Comment by Not for Nuttin' Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 2:23 pm
I’m very interested in finding out more about this American Legion Post in bed with organized crime. Somehow that sounds counterintuitive.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 2:24 pm
Jaffe is fronting for his buddies the Pritzkers who own the Elgin riverboat. They don’t want increased competition from any source be it video poker or an expansion of gaming. It may be the law buy Jaffe has done everything in his power to slow walk the roll out of video gaming. Every day that goes by the existing riverboats win because of less competition.

Comment by Been There Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 2:25 pm
@Been There….if Jaffe was protecting his “buddies the Pritzkers” he would never have led the charge to put the 10th license in Des Plaines.

Comment by downhereforyears Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 3:06 pm
Then remind Rahm when and if revenues start streaming in from video poker that he doesn’t get a share.

Comment by Irish Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 3:08 pm
I dont understand this at all is that much better to have criminals control video gambling? We trust adults to make a lot more important decsions but some how they can be trusted to gamble?

Comment by RMWStanford Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 4:08 pm
We trust adults to sit in judgment of each other under the constitution, but not to have a beer and play some low stakes video poker legally. But it’s about the kids. Mr. Mayor doesn’t want the children to be exposed to legal video poker. Illegal poker machines are ok apparently, but dang it if they ever walk by a bar with a machine hooked up legally.

Comment by Not for Nuttin' Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 4:20 pm
===@Been There….if Jaffe was protecting his “buddies the Pritzkers” he would never have led the charge to put the 10th license in Des Plaines.===
I should have been a little clearer, the Pritzker’s are Jaffe’s second BFF. Bluhm is the bestest BFF. So the Pritzkers had to suck it up on that one. And since the Pritzkers and Bluhm have overlapping agreements in other areas they probably have other side agreements to help make them whole.

Comment by Been There Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 4:25 pm
Clearly, if people were able to legally play video poker in local taverns, they would have to leave their home computer where they are purchasing their Illinois lottery tickets online. That would spell certain disaster.

Comment by transplant Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 5:16 pm
Aren’t there any poker machine makers willing to kick in big bucks to the Emanuel campaign fund?

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 6:21 pm
The operator who may lose their license was already approved by the IGB. I think that was his point in the first place. The people no one wants in video gambling have been able to get past all the checks and balances. No one should be fooling themselves by thinking the Outfit was just going to walk away from all the money they’ve been making for years. Repackage the issue as a jobs program, wrap yourself up in the American flag and there you go!

Comment by Duh? Monday, Apr 23, 12 @ 8:17 pm
I’m absolutely, 100 percent sure …. that it is for the kids. I would have to believe the mayor is telling the truth. I am sure that it isn’t for the gentleman from Skokie

Comment by Das Man Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 8:07 am
If we had more Illinois state officials with the courage of Chairman Jaffe, we wouldn’t be in the budget shape we are in.

Comment by Living in Real Illinois Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 11:24 pm
–If we had more Illinois state officials with the courage of Chairman Jaffe, we wouldn’t be in the budget shape we are in.–

You’re going to have to work a little harder to make that very, very strange connection.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 25, 12 @ 11:43 pm