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Illinois Gambling Bill Gives University Windfall

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times: "A $1.8 billion gambling bill that would give Chicago a casino and Senate President Emil Jones' favored university a potential windfall narrowly cleared a Senate panel Wednesday.

"Described as a work in progress, the sprawling Senate Democratic gambling plan that passed committee by an 8-5 vote would grant Mayor Daley a city-owned casino, allow three new casinos in the suburbs and Rockford and bring slot machines to racetracks.

"But tucked inside the legislation is language that would amount to a windfall for Chicago State University, which counts Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) as an honorary alumni and has named a building on its campus after him.

"Under a deal Jones cut last year, the university was to have gotten a 2 percent cut of 'adjusted gross receipts' from a proposed Rosemont casino -- a perk once valued at as much as $8 million a year.

"But with that casino languishing, the legislation presented Wednesday would instead divert a possibly more lucrative 2 percent of 'gross gaming receipts' from a south suburban casino authorized in the new gambling proposal.

"…Republicans criticized that component of the bill, but Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) took greater umbrage with the mayor's apparent refusal to soften his stance on city ownership of a downtown casino…"

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