Illinois Gambling Bill Falls in Senate
A bill to expand casino gambling in Illinois was defeated this week by the narrowest of margins. After passing the House, the bill was prevented from advancing to favorable Governor Pat Quinn by a tie vote.
The 28-28 vote failed to meet the 30 votes necessary to pass the bill. Opponents said they feared passing the bill would make Illinois the most gambling dependent of all states, but proponents had countered that would at least give them something on which to depend.
The alternative, which may cause lawmakers to revisit the casino issue, is Quinn's fifty-percent state income tax increase. Revenue must be found to cover what Quinn says is a budget deficit over $11 billion.
Terry Link, the Senate sponsor of the bill, said it projected to bring the state as much as a billion dollars annually.
The state legislature was apparently put off further gambling expansion after approving a $29 billion public works bill last week, which will be funded by legal video gaming terminals throughout the state.
The defeated bill would have also allowed slot machines at race tracks and permitted riverboat casinos to move onland, abandoning the floating requirements.
