Lawmakers pushing to pass a gambling bill, three days before adjournment

Posted on May 28, 2019
State Sen Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), State Rep Bob Rita (D-Blue Island), State Rep Dave Severin (R-Benton) Tuesday in Springfield. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – With three full days before adjournment, negotiators of a gambling bill at the capitol are optimistic something can get done with six new casinos and sports betting by Friday night.

“We’re still working through it,” says State Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island).

“Bottom line is, we have to do this,” says State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). “We are running out of time. For some of us, in locations like Rockford and Danville, we don’t have another year.”

Sports betting, six casinos, mini-casinos at three race tracks? This kind of thing has not been done in Illinois in ten years!

“A lot of things haven’t been done in ten years around here,” says State Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills). “But I think we have a governor who is more positive and aggressive on having things done.”

The casinos would go in Chicago, its north and south suburbs, Rockford, Danville, and near Marion.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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