Illinois committee approves gaming expansion

An expanded gaming bill has passed by a vote of 10-4 in the Illinois Senate Executive Committee that would approve slot machines at racetracks, five new casinos and slot machines at Chicago airports. Gov. Pat Quinn recently vetoed a bill that would have allowed expanded gaming, saying it was excessive and did not have ethical standards.

 

While the bill would allow slots at racetracks, it would not allow the machines at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Instead, the bill stipulates that the fairgrounds would receive $5 million annually from the expanded gaming revenue.

 

The bill also provides for electronic gaming on the internet. The five casinos would be built in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Lake County and somewhere in the south Chicago suburbs.