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Gaming Board Looks at Hiring Outside Counsel

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Gaming Board's chairman confirmed Tuesday that he may try to hire outside counsel to help evaluate a plan by Mississippi-based Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. to operate a riverboat casino in suburban Rosemont.

Elzie Higginbottom said the outside counsel would furnish the board with a fresh viewpoint from that of its staff, which has been cold to the Isle of Capri plan.

The Gaming Board has been trying to revoke a license held by the stalled and bankrupt Emerald Casino Inc. to operate a riverboat in northwest suburban Rosemont.

To recoup investor money, Emerald agreed to sell the license, and Isle of Capri bid $518 million for it at an auction that ended March 11.

The Gaming Board chose Isle of Capri over Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which bid $520 million to build in Waukegan, and Midwest Gaming and Entertainment LLC, which bid $476 million to build in Des Plaines.

But the board's staff ranked Isle of Capri third among the three casino companies.

Copyright © Las Vegas Sun. Inc. Republished with permission.

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