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Differing views on Illinois gambling tax hike

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Chicago Tribune: "Many Illinois government leaders believe the time is ripe to exact more revenue from the state's gambling industry, but how--or whether--that will happen depends on competing political and business interests.

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich called for raising an extra $115 million through higher taxes and license fees on the state's nine floating casinos in his proposed budget last week.

"Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) has proposed a massive expansion of gambling at existing casinos, new casinos and horse racetracks, while House Republicans want to add more gambling positions at existing casinos.

"Meanwhile, a law setting minimum annual payments the casinos are required to make to the state is set to expire in June. Last year those payments, which do not include taxes, totaled more than $94 million.

"Lang, a backer of gambling expansion, said this could be 'the year to do something with gaming.'

"…Blagojevich's proposal would boost by 5 percent two of the graduated casino taxing rates. It also would enact a license fee equal to 10 percent of the prior year's adjusted gross receipts for each casino.

"…The plan is opposed by the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, which represents eight of the nine casinos that have pumped more than $650 million into state coffers each of the last three fiscal years.

"…So the association likes the proposal by the House GOP, under Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), that would add gambling positions at existing casinos to generate $450 million annually.

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