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Smart money or another over-loaded Christmas tree?

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Illinois

* I’m not totally sure what the “smart money” is saying right now, but here’s the Tribune’s take…

The smart money says that if Illinois lawmakers are going to legalize sports betting this spring, it’s going to be part of a larger gambling expansion deal that also includes new casino licenses and expanded betting options at horse tracks.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not want to squander the opportunity to bring in new state revenue through legalized sports betting, made possible by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year, by tying the issue to the parochial gambling debates that have failed to produce an agreement for the better part of a decade. The governor is counting on more than $200 million in sports betting revenue in his spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1.

But with their scheduled May 31 adjournment approaching, lawmakers are faced with the reality that winning broad support for a sports betting bill likely will require resolving issues they’ve been kicking around since then-Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013 vetoed the last gambling expansion bill passed by the General Assembly. Because Pritzker has placed such a high priority on sports betting, all sides see it as leverage to achieve their long-sought goals.

* The speculation kicked into high gear yesterday when Mayor Emanuel’s people weighed in. Here’s the take from Tony Arnold at WBEZ…

At a House committee hearing Thursday, a lobbyist for the mayor’s office testified that the city would support Pritzker’s call for legalized sports gambling as part of a bill that would allow for a Chicago-run casino.

“The city of Chicago supports sports wagering and the legalization of it within a comprehensive amendment that provides for a publicly-owned Chicago casino license,” said Derek Blaida, a lobbyist for the city of Chicago.

The city’s request is in line with a controversial speech Emanuel gave in December about solving the city’s underfunded pension crisis. He urged state lawmakers to approve a Chicago casino to help prop up City Hall’s massively underfunded retirement systems. Per state law, any revenue from a Chicago casino is supposed to go toward the police and fire pensions. […]

Pritzker warned against this exact approach less than three months ago in his budget address to lawmakers. Saying previous attempts to expand gambling in Illinois failed because they would “get bogged down in regional disputes and a Christmas tree approach,” Pritzker called sports betting “different” since it was only recently legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court.

It’s unclear if tying a Chicago casino to Pritzker’s legalized sports gambling push has the blessing of Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, who takes office May 20. A spokeswoman did not immediately respond to WBEZ’s request for comment. Lightfoot voiced support for a city-run casino during the campaign.

To put this in context, the House and Senate have nine scheduled session days between now and the day Lightfoot is sworn into office at noon on May 20th. And one of those days is a Friday without an official deadline, which are often canceled. There are, on the other hand, 12 session days scheduled starting on May 20th.

In other words, Rahm’s ability to influence the process is waning fast. This deal likely won’t be cut until he’s out of office.

I reached out to Lightfoot’s transition team this morning and haven’t yet heard back.

* But Chicago isn’t the only city pushing for a casino. Rockford and Danville, along with towns in the counties of Lake, Williamson and south suburban Cook all want licenses.

And then there’s the horse racing industry, which wants a slice of the gaming pie…

“Racing will only succeed in those areas where income through gaming coincides with commissions on horse racing,” said Mike Campbell, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which represents the labor side of horse racing.

Such revenues could come from a measure proposed in last year’s gambling bill that would have allowed video gambling and table games at racetracks, turning them into racinos. […]

Tony Petrillo, president of Arlington Park, said he’d like to see lawmakers focus on passing sports betting legislation first, because trying to incorporate too many interests in a comprehensive gambling bill might leave racetracks with the same outcome as last year – nothing.

“While [sports betting] is not the answer to our overall problems, we feel it can reach and expand our customer base until those big gaming issues are worked out,” Petrillo said.

Clear as mud.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:07 am

Comments

Chicago should have a casino. However, it should not be city owned or regulated. A Chicago casino should be treated like every other state licensed casino. A Chicago owned casino would be ripe for corruption.

Comment by Yup Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:14 am
I don’t care if race tracks go away entirely. My sister worked as a nurse at North West Community Hospital and she visits to help these people. She says conditions are worse than this article. It’s like they keep a bunch of indentured servants there. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-08-03-0308030316-story.html

Comment by Bye Arlington Racetrack Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:23 am
–* I’m not totally sure what the “smart money” is saying right now,…–

The smart money says that some writers can’t resist hackneyed phrases, even if they have no basis for them, such as actual sources.

I noticed a couple of days ago that the Maywood Park grandstand is finally being torn down.

The smart money says there won’t be any harness racing or slots there anytime soon.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:27 am
Too many hands out and too little time. Will end up with a compromised sports book with not nearly as icy money as hoped, if that

Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:28 am
Seems like a city owned casino should be tied to the city allowing video poker in the city.

Comment by OneMan Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:43 am
If gambling expansion, new casino licenses and sports betting are going to be considered as a part of the way to generate new revenue I say it should seriously be considered.

I say this with a caveat - the few remaining horse racing facilities in this state ( especially my local favorite - Fairmount Park ) must be respected and treated fairly in the process.

Comment by illini Friday, May 3, 19 @ 11:46 am
This looks like another overloaded Christmas tree gambling bill going nowhere. For those of us who actually oppose gambling as an answer to the states fiscal problems, this outcome sounds okay. But if the state needs the revenue, they should pass a sports betting bill without provisions for casinos or racing.

Comment by Enviro Friday, May 3, 19 @ 12:03 pm
We still need more analysis on a casino in Chicago. We have only been looking at this since 1992 (when I had to do look at the Circus Circus project under Edgar). Seriously, its the same talking points 27 years later.

Comment by Levivotedfor Judy Friday, May 3, 19 @ 12:22 pm
You don’t need a casino in Chicago you already have gaming unregulated sweepstakes machines and the State of Illinois receives no time income.

Comment by Isla Friday, May 3, 19 @ 2:54 pm
What’s up with the Illinois Gaming Board announcement of special meeting about new Administrator next week on Monday May 6th?

Comment by Huhes Friday, May 3, 19 @ 3:51 pm
I am surprised every time this comes up again. Are there really that many gamblers around and in the environs to support all these proposed ventures? I get that conventioneers and other visitors to Chicago might gravitate to a city casino as part of the entertainment options but man, I just don’t know if encouraging a proliferation of gambling is a great idea.

Comment by Responsa Friday, May 3, 19 @ 3:51 pm
A progressive tax on the largest video gaming operations would be a smart move, but “smart money” is saying the two largest terminal operators will be forcing all of their employees to attend a company-organized protest opposing any tax increases at the Capitol building next Wednesday morning.

Comment by Marko the Destroyer Friday, May 3, 19 @ 4:06 pm