Illinois purses to increase

Lucrative Illinois riverboat casinos would have to share their profits with the horse racing industry under legislation lawmakers approved Thursday. According to a report in the May 5 Chicago Tribune, four of the state's nine riverboats--those that make more than $200 million a year--would have to share 3 percent of their profits with the horse racing industry, which would generate about $36 million a year.

"This will help an industry with 35,000 employees and hurt no one," said Rep. Robert Molaro, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the bill.

Of the $36 million, 60 percent would go to boost purses and 40 percent to improving tracks and marketing live racing. Horse racing wagering has dropped $350 million, or 42 percent, since 1992, advocates say.

Rep. Michael Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), who supported the plan, said there are 43 horse farms and 13 breeders in his home of McHenry County.

One negative part of the plan is that it would expire in two years. The Senate put in the "sunset" provision to make the bill more appealing to the powerful riverboat casino industry. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said the governor supports the bill as a means to help a struggling enterprise by shifting dollars between businesses in an industry, rather than using tax dollars.

Molaro said he hopes the General Assembly will search for answers to a comprehensive plan for gambling's future.

A 1999 law allowed riverboats to stay docked with gamblers aboard and has brought another $4.1 billion in revenues to that industry.

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