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Lightfoot unveils RFP for Chicago casino

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It took three decades for city leaders to elbow state lawmakers into authorizing a Chicago casino.

It’s been almost two years since Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office finally hit the jackpot in Springfield.

And it could be another four years before the long-sought big city gambling mecca finally opens — but state regulators better not let the process drag on longer than that, an “impatient” Lightfoot warned this week.

As the first-term mayor prepared to formally invite casino developers to the table on Thursday to submit proposals to build and run Chicago’s first legal gambling house, Lightfoot threw down an early gauntlet to the Illinois Gaming Board, which has the final say on who gets the coveted casino license. […]

“Once we present a proposal to them, we’ve got to move forward expeditiously. And again, I don’t want to prejudge it, but I’m looking at the time, like the time it takes for the Gaming Board to do its work — it’s got to speed up.”

Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?

…Adding… Looks like the Gaming Board may have prevented a real problem in Rockford…

Plans for a temporary casino in Rockford hit a roadblock.

The Illinois Gaming Board has denied Giovanni’s request for a casino suppliers license. The decision came after the restaurant requested to withdraw its application at the last minute. […]

The gaming board’s administrator explained why the application was turned down “based on conduct and associations that would jeopardize the integrity of gaming and discredit or attempt to discredit the state and Illinois gaming.”

The mayor’s new RFP is here.

* Tribune…

If all goes well, the new casino would open in 2025, though there would be slot machines at Chicago airports and likely a temporary casino somewhere in the city much earlier, as the mayor counts on gambling revenue to help close huge police and fire pension shortfalls.

Before then, Lightfoot promised in-depth engagement with “community stakeholders” around the site of a project that will transform whatever neighborhood it occupies.

That process won’t resemble the protracted, litigious fight among Protect Our Parks, Jackson Park residents and the Obama Foundation that has delayed the start of construction on the Obama Presidential Center, Lightfoot said before the casino request for proposal release.

I dunno. Everybody sues about everything in Chicago. We’ll see.

By the way, those airport slots, if she does it right, could generate $37 million a year in revenues.

* CDC Gaming Reports…

Chicago isn’t limiting operators to a location within the city’s jurisdiction, saying wants the developer to create an entertainment destination that will “enhance the urban fabric” of its surrounding neighborhood.

“I’m not going to put my finger on the location scale, everyone that is a serious bidder knows this inside and out,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a virtual media briefing Tuesday.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 9:53 am

Comments

“it’s got to speed up”

Having worked for a state agency for decades, I can assure Mayor Lightfoot they can always find a lower gear.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 10:07 am
====Chicago isn’t limiting operators to a location within the city’s jurisdiction,=====
I assume they are referring to not having to put it in a city owned or run building, ie McCormick Place or Navy Pier. Otherwise the premise of putting outside the city of Chicago would be ludicrous.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 10:12 am
==“I’m not going to put my finger on the location scale, everyone that is a serious bidder knows this inside and out,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a virtual media briefing Tuesday.==

What?

New Lori meet Old Lori.

2020:

“Lightfoot has previously floated five possible locations — a parcel near the Harborside golf course at 111th Street and the Bishop Ford Freeway; the former Michael Reese Hospital site at 31st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue; a site near Guaranteed Rate Field at Pershing Road and State Street; the former U.S. Steel parcel, known as South Works, between 79th and 91st streets along South Lake Shore Drive; and the lone West Side site, at Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lori-lightfoot-chicago-casino-requests-20200827-kgsdmsdz7jbptkgcrhrs4xfej4-story.html

Comment by Shield Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 10:34 am
I’m skeptical on where airport slot machine revenue would actually go. O’Hare is slated for a massive bond offering for its expansion at a time when gate revenue is significantly lower. I imagine the airport authority will fight for as much of potential slot machine revenue as possible which then remains with the authority instead of helping the city budget. Given the State Board governs these machines I imagine some would go to Springfield as well.

Comment by 1st Ward Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 10:37 am
The Sun-Times article reminded me that I worked on the Circus-Circus proposal for a casino in Chicago which just made me realize, that it really was 30 years ago. I was young and vibrant then. Now, not so much. Time to get this done. I just hope the city looks at this as a tourism/hospitality sector revenue generator and not a community revitalization opportunity.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 11:00 am
I am not sure that the 500 slots shared between Midway & O’hare does the City’s budget any good.. I believe that any revenue generated at an airport stays within the airport budget and can not be moved to the City’s general revenue fund.. None of the concessions at both airports goes into the City budget, it is all for operations at the airport..

Comment by NotRich Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 11:11 am
I do like slots at the airport for ticketed passengers because it limits access to gambling and targets visitors.

It can be a risky proposition to place a casino in an economically distressed neighborhood. It will likely limit the ability and desire of out of town visitors to visit the casino. It will increase the ability for neighborhood residents to visit the casino.

There needs to be proper breaks on gambling so people don’t lose everything they own. We need to remember gambling revenues are not free, there are costs to society like embezzlement, bankruptcy, and just “spending the milk money.”

Comment by City Guy Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 11:40 am
==== I believe that any revenue generated at an airport stays within the airport budget ====
While I think you are correct don’t forget that there are a lot of city employees at the airports and the money can be used to pay their pension costs. And the city will probably “move” a bunch of employees up there and can use the funds to cover them. Especially the police.

Comment by Been There Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 11:41 am
It is mind boggling that neither the city or state seem to have any urgency here. Guessin’ they think the don’t need the $$$ or make Chicago a competitive convention destination or ….this is being handled about as well as the dope roll out.

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 1:15 pm
Slots should have been at O’Hare decades ago. Captive audience, capture revenue from folks on a layover who were never going to give the city a dime. Allow international visitors access, even more revenue… was and is a no brainer.

Don’t really care where the revenue goes - just as long as it stays in Illinois.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 1:17 pm
Riverboats, video gambling, and the lottery did not save the economy of Illinois. A casino in Chicago will not bring economic equity to the citizens of Chicago. The city has become an unsafe place to go and a casino will not change this.

Comment by Enviro Thursday, Apr 22, 21 @ 5:31 pm