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Illinois AG Threatens Casino Deal

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Chicago Tribune: "Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan for the first time Thursday publicly linked Rosemont and its mayor, Donald Stephens, to the mob as she threatened to thwart a deal to open a casino in the suburb unless regulators fully explain why they backed the proposal.

"…An attorney for the Illinois Gaming Board alleged two years ago at a hearing on the bankrupt Emerald Casino, which also hoped to open in Rosemont, that organized crime elements close to Stephens had infiltrated that venture.

"…Stephens' spokesman Gary Mack blasted Madigan for launching a false personal attack against the mayor.

"…Madigan made her comments in releasing a nine-page letter she sent to the four members of the board who last week voted to pick Rosemont and Mississippi-based Isle of Capri Casinos as the winner of an auction for the unused casino license still held by Emerald.

"…She gave board members until April 8 to explain their decision-making. If they don't meet that deadline or provide satisfactory answers, Madigan threatened to reopen disciplinary hearings aimed at revoking the Emerald license and throwing Isle of Capri's attempt to buy it into jeopardy. Those hearings also could become a vehicle for Madigan to lay out in detail evidence to back up her allegations against Stephens and Rosemont.

"… Madigan also raised questions about why the board would choose a new Rosemont casino proposal after the suburb had repeatedly challenged the panel's authority both in court and in administrative settings during the years-long battle over Emerald.

"The attorney general highlighted numerous fines leveled against the company [Isle of Capri] in other states where it runs casinos, as well as a $255,000 penalty Goldstein got in Illinois in 1993 when he managed a boat in East Peoria…"

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