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Chicago Casino in the Cards

CHICAGO, Illinois – As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times: "Will a land-based casino in Chicago become a reality? "After 15 years of fighting passionately for this, I truly believe our time has come," says Jerry Roper on the eve of the 100th birthday of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, insisting that a land-based casino is finally within the city's grasp. And in the view of this ebullient, 63-year-old firebrand, who has devoted those 15 years to boosting this town's economy, everybody's going to win: an estimated $400 million to $600 million in annual net revenues (after all casino expenses) split one-third for Chicago's needy city treasury and two-thirds for the even more needy state coffers.

"After years of battling the moralists and a reluctant Springfield, gamesters are on the verge of a breakthrough because "all the pieces are fitting together now, and the benefits will have tremendous ripple effects, which are virtually unarguable."

"'The key is our plan's thesis, which is unique in the U.S.,' Roper says. 'Instead of private, for-profit ownership where a casino creates a Vegas-style self-contained complex of gaming, hotel, dining and entertainment, our approach is a casino owned by the city and state, and limited only to gaming.'

"…The first step is drafting and passing a new Illinois law enabling creation of a land-based casino under an economic development principle.

"…Roper believes the benefits of a casino will defuse the minefield of moral opposition to gaming…"

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