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Owner of Joliet Empress Fights to Keep It Open20 July 2000CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- July 20, 2000 – As reported by the Chicago Sun Times: "…Binion, who spent $609 million to buy the Joliet Empress and its sister casino, the Hammond Empress, plans to `vigorously' fight the gaming board, according to a statement from his company, Horseshoe Gaming Inc. "Illinois regulators approved Horseshoe's purchase of the Joliet casino last Nov. 30, despite a staff report that gave specific reasons why Binion should not be licensed here. When the report became public a few weeks later, gaming board chairman Robert Vickery resigned while the board continued its investigation of Binion himself. "The gaming board then refused to renew the Empress casino's license on June 30, accepting a staff investigative report concluding that Binion was `unsuitable' because of his `background, character and integrity.' "…Either side can appeal the decision in state courts, leading many to believe the battle will last years." |