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Pritzker kills state sale to undercut Heidner’s racino deal

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Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has put the brakes on a proposed racetrack and casino, telling Tinley Park officials he won’t sell them the state-owned land where the gambling emporium was supposed to be built.

The Pritzker administration’s Tuesday letter to the southwest suburb comes days after a Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that the major video gambling operator pushing the so-called racino has long-standing business ties to a banking family whose financial involvement with mob figures helped sink a Rosemont casino nearly 20 years ago.

Gold Rush Gaming owner Rick Heidner has partnered in numerous real estate deals with Rocco Suspenzi, chairman of the board at Parkway Bank and Trust. Together, they have borrowed millions from the bank in deals for convenience stores and gas stations in several states. […]

On Friday, Heidner’s name surfaced in a federal search warrant executed at Democratic state Sen. Martin Sandoval’s Capitol office last month. Information related to Heidner and Gold Rush was on FBI agents’ lengthy list.

The administration’s letter is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 1:19 pm

Comments

poof.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 1:45 pm
Now look into the video gaming licenses

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 2:11 pm
So is it fair to say that if Pritzker is ever named in an FBI investigation that he will step down immediately?

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 2:16 pm
Good news for the towns trying to land the long-sought South Suburban casino. The gaming bill seemed to create a quicker path for the Tinley racino. Now it will be delayed and maybe killed all together by Heidner’s difficulties.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 2:32 pm
I understand not selling for this, but the State needs to let Tinley get on with the redevelopment of that property soon. It is a huge hole in the middle of an otherwise solid commercial corridor at 80 and Harlem, and has been for the seven years since the State closed it.

Comment by Stormfield Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 3:42 pm
https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/news/2019/5/13/18621841/pritzker-no-concerns-about-fed-probe-of-property-tax-appeal

Comment by Doj Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 3:59 pm
Man, this is a blow for Tinley Park.

Comment by :( Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 4:50 pm
===Man, this is a blow for Tinley Park.===
Lot more needier towns than Tinley. But definitely bad for horse racing.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Oct 15, 19 @ 5:32 pm