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Chicago Racinos Deal Go Down the Wire

Posted on May 24th, 2011

Even as newly-elected Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushes for a city-owned casino to help solve the city”s massive budget deficit, another part of the state’s gaming industry is looking at casinos as the savior of their threatened sector. Illinois has five horse race tracks which have been suffering from dwindling revenues due to competition from surrounding states like Indiana and Iowa. Unlike Illinois, these states already allow online racing at their racetracks which produces huge revenues. These revenues allow the neighboring states to offer up to 300 percent higher purses to horse owners than Illinois does.

For years now, Illinois race track operators have been seeking legislation to allow on-site gaming to turn the tracks into what they call “racinos”. Due to conflicts among politicians, their efforts have not produced any results. Leaders of the state’s horse racing industry labored hard up the last minute earlier this year to work out the last gambling expansion bill, which was not even subjected to a vote during the previous General Assembly session. Now, however, the attempt to allow slot machines at Fairmount Park and the other Illinois race tracks appears to have a good chance of succeeding.

A gambling expansion bill sponsored by Gaming Committee Chairman Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) is under consideration in the current session. The bill’s sponsor has said that an amendment will be added to the bill to allow for on-track gaming, two new riverboat casinos and Mayor Emanuel’s request for a casino in downtown Chicago. The bill is expected to be officially presented to the House Executive Committee on Wednesday. Lanny Brooks, Executive Director of the Illinois Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association, has been lobbying the legislature in Springfield representing horse owners and is very optimistic about the bill’s passage. “I feel better than I ever did before”, Brooks said. Nevertheless, backers of the bill are expecting discussions up to the last minute when the current session adjourns on May 31.

Brooks credits his optimism to the newly-elected mayor. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has strongly backed the expansion of gambling and categorically stated that he wants an in-city casino for Chicago. Chicago, in spite of its size, population and role as a center of industry does not have a casino. The closest one is located in Hammond, Indiana. “He talked to leaders and talked to the governor and told them we need a casino in downtown Chicago. That has really got the ball rolling”, Brooks points out.
Conflicts between former mayor Richard Daley and the state’s governors have always gotten in the way of expanding the gambling laws. This time, however, Mayor Emanuel appears to have secured the support of newly-elected Governor Pat Quinn. Emanuel has stressed the employment benefits a casino would bring to Chicago, and the funds it could generate for educational programs – both priority projects of the governor.

In the past, Governor Quinn has opposed the expansion of gambling for the sake of gambling. He said that he “does not want to see Illinois become the Las Vegas of the Midwest.” However, the positive impact on the state’s employment figures plus added funds for education have given him a reason to support the idea of a casino in Chicago as well as expanded gambling. Annie Thompson, spokesperson for the governor said, “But as far as bringing a new casino into Chicago, bringing jobs to Illinois and investing in education are his top two priorities. And if there was a proposal on the table to help us generate revenue that accomplishes those two goals, it was certainly something he would be open to.” Confirming this before reporters, Quinn said that he would favor a casino in Chicago provided that schools benefit. Asked about the other aspects of expanded gambling, Quinn hinged his support on where the revenue from more casinos and slots at horse racing tracks goes. The governor said he doesn’t favor “just having the doors wide-open, and anything goes.” He is keeping his options open and, Thompson says, “reviewing potential legislation.”

Be that as it may, this is the closest proponents of expanded gambling and a city-owned casino in Chicago have gotten towards achieving their objectives. The end of the month will tell whether or not they have done so.