Representatives of the Illinois tourism industry testified in favor of the launch of a casino in Chicago at a Monday hearing. According to them, it would generate much-needed revenue for the state, after the Illinois Supreme Court decided on Friday that a law, which aimed at implementing certain changes to the state pension system, did not comply with the Constitution.
The Friday ruling means that Illinois cannot make use of $1 billion that would have been saved from pension payments, provided that the law had not been deemed unconstitutional.
Tourism officials pointed out that a new gambling venue in Chicago would not only help legislators close a huge budget gap, but it would also create numerous jobs and draw visitors to the city’s restaurants and hotels.
The newly reelected Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, is among the keen supporters of the opening of a new casino in his city. According to him, casinos would provide funds for paying off the city’s and the state’s pension debt.
Gov. Bruce Rauner, who himself proposed a pension-cutting plan that would have contributed about $2.2 billion to the state’s coffers, commented that he might consider the idea of a new casino in Chicago, if Mayor Emanuel provides him with enough votes in favor of his Springfield agenda.
During the Monday hearing, legislators heard not only tourism officials, but also opponents of the potential expansion of the state gambling industry. The latter claimed that locals, but not tourists, would spend more money at casinos.
Jeannie Evans, one of the opponents of the idea, said she was disappointed with the way the state plans to fill the budget deficit, as that would mean money to be taken from Illinois residents. Others raised concerns that the market has already become saturated and a decrease in revenue at most casinos in the state has been posted. Furthermore, opponents also warned that new gambling venues might result in more people showing symptoms of gambling addiction.
To be more precise, there are at present two proposals involving potential gambling expansion – the launch of one new casino in Chicago or of four more casinos across the state.
As mentioned above, Mayor Emanuel supports the idea of a new gambling venue, which is to be owned and operated by his city. Certain lawmakers, however, called for state-owned facilities at the Monday hearing.
In fact, the question about who should be the owner of the new casino or casinos was widely discussed yesterday. Legislators also debated over the taxes that are to be imposed on the new venues in case they open doors.
