Slots Bill in Illinois

A bill has been introduced into the Illinois House of Representatives that would expand gambling in the state with the addition of four new casinos and slot machines at the state’s five racetracks. And, according to published reports, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he will take a neutral position while the bill is in the legislature.

House Bill 0480 was introduced Thursday by Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie and calls for new casinos to be located near O’Hare Airport, in Waukegan, in Chicago’s south suburbs and one in Chicago, either on land or on Lake Michigan.

The bill also calls for adding slot machines or video poker machines to the state’s racetracks. Also among the provisions of the bill would be the elimination of recapture, provisions to re-establish a bonus program similar to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Million-Dollar Bonus and resumption of harness racing at Fairmount Park in southern Illinois near St. Louis.

“I think the climate here is right to get something done,” said Ed Teefy, president of the Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association. “I think Lou Lang understands horseracing. I don’t think horseracing is going to drive this legislation, but I know Representative Lang is in tune with the fact that horse racing significantly contributes to the Illinois agricultural economy. There are provisions in Lang’s bill that definitely help the Illinois breeding program. I’d like to see some tweaking, and I’m confident that we’ll have that opportunity.”

A similar bill is expected to be introduced in the Illinois Senate in the coming weeks.

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