May 5, 2009 10:34 am US/Central
Madigan Kills Push To Expand Illinois Gambling
Expansion Would Have Brought More Gambling Across Illinois
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Earlier Tuesday, sources told CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery about a new push to expand gambling across the state, but House Speaker Michael Madigan now says it will not be coming to a vote in his chamber.
The deal for gambling expansion would have included a land-based casino for Chicago, and a new casino in Waukegan, sources told Flannery.
The gambling expansion would also have brought slot machines to horse race tracks.
The deal still may pass the state Senate, but Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Tuesday read a statement from the House Speaker saying he was killing the bill in the House.
"I learned from the process of killing the Blagojevich gambling proposals that gambling is not a wholesome activity," Madigan said in the statement, "and we're not going to deal with that this year."
Currently, there are 10 casino licenses in Illinois. One of them has been the subject of contention and controversy in recent years, after
Emerald Casino won the license to build a facility in Rosemont, then lost it in a protracted court battle when the Illinois Gaming Board discovered that its developers were tied to organized crime.
Des Plaines later won the bid for the 10th casino license, over Rosemont and Waukegan.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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