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Illinois Casinos Crime Fears Overblown

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Daily South Town: "…When gambling was legalized in Illinois more than a decade ago, detractors warned that riverboat casinos would be vice magnets.

"…The riverboat casinos that came to these three Chicago-area cities represented more than just entertainment for the wealthy and employment for the poor. They became a new source of revenue and a beat for the cops.

"The money casinos pump into a town can trickle down to the police department, as in the case of Elgin, where the Grand Victoria's cash payments helped outfit a stately new police station. And the tourists a casino brings can tie up a community's force, as in the case of Aurora, where two full-time officers are assigned to the Hollywood Casino at all times.

"…Joliet originally anticipated adding as many as 25 police officers to its force to deal with its casinos: Harrah's in the heart of the city's downtown and Empress on the outskirts. Deputy Chief Fred Hayes said the department quickly realized they wouldn't need the extra bodies.

"…In Aurora, the two officers assigned to the casino most commonly deal with problems they face in taverns, like fake IDs.

"…Hollywood Casino pays the salaries of the two police officers stationed there, [Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli] said, but the casino's internal security takes care of a lot of problems that could escalate into something more serious.

"…Each year, Ferrelli said, one parent or guardian leaves a child alone in a car while they go inside the Hollywood Casino to gamble.

"'That's probably the most serious thing we have,' he said…"

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