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Gambling Expansion Proposed to Help Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "A proponent of a drastic expansion of gambling in Illinois is betting that the state's financial crisis will help his legislation this session.

"State Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, has proposed expanding the number of games and slots allowed in Illinois casinos, adding two casinos in Chicago and its suburbs, adding slot machines to horse racing tracks, and legalizing video gambling machines - all with a goal of increasing the state's take from gambling revenue to address a projected $2 billion shortfall.

"…Lang's proposal would allow casinos to expand the number of gaming positions - the total number of slots, video gambling machines, and seats at game tables - from 1,200 to 2,000 per casino. Lang said the sum of the proposal's additions could generate up to $2.3 billion in fiscal year 2005 and up to $1.7 billion annually after that.

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said Blagojevich would not support legalizing video gambling machines but that he would like to review Lang's proposal before commenting on whether he would support expanding gambling…"

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