Chicago area expected to get new casinos, if approved
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Don't bet on central Illinois' chances of landing one of the new casinos that could be built if the state Senate's gambling-expansion plan eventually becomes law.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"I'm not convinced our chances are very good," said Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, who believes his economically struggling hometown could benefit from a casino.</font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"It would certainly be a challenge for central Illinois," added Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Black said that the more likely contenders would be Rockford, Waukegan and the south suburbs of Chicago, all of which are more densely populated than the Danville area.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said if the House goes along with the gambling-expansion plan - a big if - he thinks the two casinos would be destined for the south side of Chicago and Lake County.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">By a 37-15 vote, the Senate Tuesday passed the gambling legislation, House Bill 2035. It calls for a land-based casino in Chicago and new riverboat casinos in two locations to be chosen by the Illinois Gaming Board, which regulates the state's casino industry.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Money generated by the gambling expansion would pay for a new state construction bond program for roads, bridges, schools and other projects.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The gambling legislation specifies that the Gaming Board should award the two new casino licenses to applicants whose plans "generate the highest amount of revenue to the state" and "provide for the least amount of cannibalization of existing licensees' revenues."</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">That proviso would seem to make a Springfield casino unlikely.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Rep. Raymond Poe, R-Springfield, said no one has talked to him about possibly getting a casino in the capital city. Besides, a Springfield casino would hurt business at the Par-A-Dice, which is just an hour or so away, he said.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">East Peoria City Administrator Tom Brimberry said officials in his Tazewell County community, home of the Par-A-Dice, don't expect that either of the two potential new casinos would be built nearby.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">But they're concerned that three additional casino licenses in Illinois - regardless of location - could dilute the Par-A-Dice's business, Brimberry said. The cities of East Peoria and Peoria share tax revenue that the riverboat casino generates. </font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">At the same time, he added, East Peoria officials support a provision in the legislation that would let existing casinos add positions, meaning extra slots and table games. They also favor state government's efforts to put together a capital plan, Brimberry said, noting that his city long has sought state funding for an initiative to transform a brownfield into a technology business park.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">That "Technology Boulevard" project would receive almost $17.9 million in the capital plan the Senate passed Tuesday, Democratic Sen. David Koehler of Peoria announced Wednesday. Koehler's district goes into East Peoria.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or adriana.colindres@sj-r.com.</font>