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Feud over? Rahm seeks ‘common ground’ with Quinn on gambling
After months of political feuding with Gov. Pat Quinn over casino gambling, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday changed his tune, saying he hoped to find “common ground” that would pave the way for a Chicago casino and a bonanza of local revenues.  Illinois Gaming5/21/2012
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Gambling expansion expected to get another look in legislature
(Illinois) -- Two key state lawmakers involved in gambling legislation last week flatly predicted the legislature will vote on an expansion bill before the end of the...
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Quinn dismisses gambling as 'shiny' distraction
(Illinois) -- Rebuffing talk of new legislation that would expand gambling in Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn urged the legislature Monday to pass bills to restructure the...
5/20/2012
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Forum: Gambling expansion needed now
(Illinois) -- We in Illinois are up to our necks in the state’s deepening financial crisis and staggering unemployment rates. But a very real solution exists that...
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Our Opinion: More gambling a bad bet
(Illinois) -- It’s beginning to look like some Illinois lawmakers love gambling so much that they’re willing to roll the dice on the state’s credit...
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Quinn seems to leave opening for gambling growth
(Illinois) -- A tense and often confrontational meeting over gambling expansion last week ended with Gov. Pat Quinn being evasive but not explicitly saying “no...
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Mundelein trustees to continue video gaming moratorium
(Illinois) -- Village trustees re-visited the issue of prohibiting video gaming and by a split decision decided to continue their moratorium until the Illinois Gaming...
5/19/2012
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Gambling expansion expected to get another look in legislature
(Illinois) -- Two key state lawmakers involved in gambling legislation last week flatly predicted the legislature will vote on an expansion bill before the end of the...
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Topinka: Compromise needed to fix state budget
(Illinois) -- Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka is defending supports a proposed cigarette tax increase for Medicaid provided that it is tied to significant...
5/18/2012
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Illinois may still bet on slot machines at horse tracks
(Illinois) -- State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican and the state’s chief fiscal officer, came out today with a statement supporting the slots-at-the-...
5/17/2012
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Illinois Wants Creation of iGaming, Establish as Leader in Online Poker
(Illinois) -- Chicago Democrat, Senate President John Cullerton, is introducing legislation that would create a Division of Internet Gaming within the state lottery.
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Link: Gambling plan should have slots at Arlington Park
(Illinois) -- State Sen. Terry Link said Thursday that he expects any effort to expand gambling in Illinois will include slot machines at Arlington Park.
5/16/2012
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Illinois legislative leaders eye gambling as for budget ills
(Illinois) -- Gambling ventures could help Illinois bring in money to address its budget crisis, according to legislative leaders. Senate President John Cullerton, D-...
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Lawmakers: Gambling expansion will pass this week
(Illinois) -- Gambling proponents say a measure to allow five new casinos, allow more slot machines at existing casinos and put slots at racetracks in Illinois is going...
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Next gambling expansion vote unclear
(Illinois) -- Mayor Scott Eisenhauer was in Springfield again Wednesday, partially to see whether discussions would surface again on a gambling bill that would place a...
5/14/2012
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Beverage association invites communication before gaming machines' arrival
(Illinois) -- As the state moves toward rolling out casino-style gaming machines for bars and other establishments in communities that don’t ban them, an organized...
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Group Wants Gambling Review
(Illinois) -- A state gambling association says over-saturation of casinos in the Chicago area proves pending gambling expansion ideas should be re-worked.
5/13/2012
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Our View: Illinois pensions, casinos and Rockford's new bishop in stew
(Illinois) -- Ever since The Ledger, an online database of Illinois’ financial information, debuted more than a month ago, we’ve been watching the state...
5/12/2012
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Gambling group: Slots at tracks too much competition
(Illinois) -- A state gambling association says over-saturation of casinos in the Chicago area proves pending gambling expansion ideas should be re-worked.
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Homer Glen bans video gambling
(Illinois) -- Trustees voted Tuesday to prohibit video gambling within the village, but they may revisit the issue in the future. Under state law, if the village were to...
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Indian Head Park to roll dice on video gambling
(Illinois) -- Video poker machines have yet to come to Indian Head Park. If they do, the Village Board wants to be prepared. An ordinance discussed at length May 10...
5/11/2012
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Mayor: New Track Slots A Bad Bet
(Illinois) -- Editor, Journal: As mayor of the city of Des Plaines, I am deeply concerned about a troubling proposal from the state’s horseracing industry that...
5/10/2012
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Quinn: Gambling Expansion A "Distraction" From Larger Issues
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn called the latest calls for expanding legalized gambling in Illinois a "distraction" from some of the larger issues facing the...
5/9/2012
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Report: Des Plaines casino still bests competitors
(Illinois) -- Business is still booming for the Rivers Casino in northwest suburban Des Plaines, which opened nine and half months ago to packed crowds eager to see the...
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Rockford Casino Still an Option for Lawmakers
(Illinois) -- Illinois lawmakers are working in Springfield this week and on their agenda a gaming bill that didn't get enough support last year.
5/8/2012
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Quinn says gambling not the focus this spring
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday took aim at the latest effort for a major gambling expansion, saying it's not a priority compared to efforts to reform the...
5/5/2012
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Illinois Casino revenue not booming
(Illinois) -- The Rivers Casino has helped halt a statewide slide in profits since it opened last year in Chicago's suburbs, though gambling revenue to the state is...
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New casino helps halt dip in Illinois gambling profits
(Illinois) -- A report for the state legislature shows a casino opened in Chicago's suburbs last year has helped halt a slide statewide profits. Even still, gambling...
5/4/2012
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10th Illinois casino helps reverse trend
(Illinois) -- The opening last year of a casino in Des Plaines has stopped a downward slide in the adjusted gross receipts of Illinois’ 10 riverboats, a new report...
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Betting slow on short fields for Arlington opening
(Illinois) -- With high hopes and short fields, Arlington Park kicked off its racing season Friday. Thanks to the riverboat casino impact fee money released in August,...
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Rivers Casino boosts state’s casino tax take
(Illinois) -- Despite the relative success of Des Plaines’ Rivers Casino so far this year, the state shouldn’t expect a big bump in casino taxes, a recent...
5/2/2012
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CL leans toward ban on gaming
(Illinois) -- The City Council wants Crystal Lake to join the growing number of communities that have banned video gambling.
5/1/2012
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Des Plaines Reaches Crossroads on Gaming Tax Revenue
(Illinois) -- Sometime in the next eight months, the City of Des Plaines is going to be able to reach into its coffers for the first time to spend gaming tax revenue...
4/30/2012
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Arlington Park’s future still in Gov’s hands
(Illinois) -- The truly amazing part is that the Illinois House and Senate — made up of the people who represent us, the people — actually got together in...
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Will Latest Legislation Give Horse Racing A Leg Up In Industry?
(Michigan) -- A new effort is underway to prop-up Michigan’s horse racing industry. WWJ’s Brian Larsen reports that the recent legislation that cleared a...
4/29/2012
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Gaming gamble: Should Belleville reverse its ban on video poker?
(Illinois) -- Video gambling machines soon may be coming to a bar near you. The state, after three years of hang-ups, plans to roll out a new gaming law later this year...
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Press Is On For Video Gaming, Casino Legislation
(Illinois) -- With the arrival of state legislators in Springfield this week through May, plenty of huge issues are on their tables including the topic that never seems...
4/25/2012
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Quinn: Gambling not a priority right now
(Illinois) -- As Gov. Pat Quinn amps up pressure on lawmakers to address pension and Medicaid reform, another issue is noticeably absent from the Chicago Democrat’...
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Should racetracks be allowed to add slot machines? [SURVEY]
(Illinois) -- A large group of labor, agriculture, business, horse racing, municipal and media reps are backing a plan to allow slot machines at racetracks in Illinois....
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Not all video poker paybacks created equal
(Illinois) -- There’s a quirk in Illinois gaming regulations that makes it impossible for casinos within the state to offer video poker players some of the top-...
4/24/2012
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Illinois lawmakers back on track to expand gambling across the state
(Illinois) -- The debate over a Chicago casino and adding more gambling across the state could be starting up again. Some state lawmakers and the governor say a gambling...
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Poll: Most Illinoisans Support Gambling Expansion
(Illinois) -- More than 60 percent of Illinois residents support a gaming solution that includes more casinos and the addition of slot machines at racetracks as a...
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Elgin council to consider first riverboat grant recipients
(Illinois) -- The Elgin City Council is expected to approve funding to local nonprofits in its first year distributing riverboat funds as grants rather than service...
4/23/2012
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Report: Gaming expansion would bring Illinois millions of dollars, thousands of jobs
(Illinois) -- A new report cites that slots at horse tracks and other gaming expansion would bring millions in new revenue a year in revenue and thousands of new jobs.
4/19/2012
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Casino Queen sued by employee over work comp claim
(Illinois) -- A Madison County woman claims she was fired from an East St. Louis casino after she tried to claim workers' compensation benefits.
4/18/2012
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Gambling Expansion Bill Likely To Resurface In Springfield This May
(Illinois) -- More than 20,000 jobs and close to $200 million in additional annual revenue is what Illinois stands to gain if proposals to expand the state’s...
4/17/2012
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Another Push for More Casinos in Illinois
(Illinois) -- A group pushing for more casinos in Illinois has lined up a former state representative to carry its flag. Bill Black of Danville is now chairman of the...
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Battle over video gambling takes new twist
(Illinois) -- After a two-year lull, the effort to lift Chicago’s ban on video gambling resumes in earnest today — with an intriguing twist that raises the...
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Illinois group pushes for expanded gambling legislation
(Illinois) -- An advocacy group pushing for the passage of an Illinois gambling bill today released a study that estimates the pending legislation could generate nearly...
4/16/2012
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Group releases study to back slots at tracks
(Illinois) -- A group of Illinois organizations that includes Arlington Park is expected to release an economic impact study today in hopes of reviving a gambling...
4/15/2012
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Study cites tax, job impact of new Ill. casinos
(Illinois) -- Five new casinos in Illinois and slot machines at the racetracks would yield nearly $200 million a year for state government and create more than 20,000...
4/14/2012
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Casino talks expected to resume as legislators return
(Illinois) -- Legislators return to Springfield next week, and gambling expansion is again expected to be a topic of discussion. Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said Rep. Lou...
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Letter: Appalled by Des Plaines' Rivers casino tactics
(Illinois) -- Absolutely despicable! The fact that the new Rivers casino in Des Plaines was caught promoting its vice to struggling gambling addicts is outrageous.
4/10/2012
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Des Plaines casino continues to outpace others in March
(Illinois) -- Rivers Casino in Des Plaines is still holding its top spot, raking in $34.8 million in March, according to data compiled by the Illinois Gaming Board.
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Joliet casinos continue revenue slide
(Illinois) -- The drop in Joliet casino taxes in the first three months of the year has already surpassed what the city forecast at the start of 2012.
4/9/2012
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Horse-racing industry subsidy up for debate
(Illinois) -- Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino and Gaming Association, said his group is open to the idea of having some revenue from new casinos go...
4/8/2012
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Gambling options up in air in Legislature
(Illinois) -- Those involved in negotiations over gambling laws in Illinois believe some sort of expansion will again be debated this in the General Assembly this spring.
4/6/2012
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Gambling options remain up in air in legislature
(Illinois) -- Those involved in negotiations over gambling laws in Illinois believe some sort of expansion will again be debated this in the General Assembly this spring.
4/5/2012
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Rahm, Quinn Continue Chicago Casino Talks
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel faced off on their differences and shared goals during a sold-out forum Wednesday at the Field Museum.
4/3/2012
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Chuck Sweeny: Senate's Cullerton says workable casino deal in works
(Illinois) -- Whenever Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, stops in for a visit, he calls things as he sees them, in everyday English without political...
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Our View: Horse racing deal key to Rockford casino’s future
(Illinois) -- It’s been more than 10 months since the Illinois General Assembly approved legislation to add five casinos, including Chicago and Rockford, to the...
4/2/2012
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Chuck Sweeny: Senate's Cullerton says workable casino deal in works
(Illinois) -- Whenever Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, stops in for a visit, he calls things as he sees them, in everyday English without political...
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Rockford Casino Still a Factor in Illinois Gaming Bill
(Illinois) -- Many Illinois state legislators are hoping it will take a while in Wisconsin so Rockford can beat Beloit to the punch on a Casino.
3/31/2012
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Fairmount: Purse account escapes the red, thanks to casino cash
(Illinois) -- The release last August of more than $140 million in casino impact fees to the Illinois racing industry might have meant more to downstate Fairmount Park...
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Gaming board examining local gambling laws
(Illinois) -- Illinois gaming officials are trying to determine if potentially large parts of the state might be off-limits to legalized gambling on video poker machines...
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Video gambling could be ready by fall
(Illinois) -- The wait for video gambling in Illinois could be over in a matter of months, but some state officials are tamping down expectations of a big payday for the...
3/30/2012
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Aldermen to discuss casino revenue policy with residents
(Illinois) -- Des Plaines aldermen will begin taking input from residents about implementing a policy on how to spend casino dollars after a meeting on the issue spawned...
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Gaming board examining local gambling laws
(Illinois) -- Illinois gaming officials are trying to determine if potentially large parts of the state might be off-limits to legalized gambling on video poker machines...
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Illinois Expansion Back on Radar?
(Illinois) -- Gaming expansion in Illinois may soon get another push. State Sen. Terrry Link and Rep. Lou Lang are planning to sponsor new legislation after the General...
3/28/2012
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Gambling plan to be revived after Easter
(Illinois) -- Illinois lawmakers have not forgotten about adding casinos. State Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) says he and State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) will sponsor new...
3/27/2012
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Des Plaines panel to discuss spending gambling revenues
(Illinois) -- Des Plaines 3rd Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz says the city needs to develop guidelines for spending gambling tax revenues from the Rivers Casino, which could...
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OP/ED: Another reason to kill video gambling
(Illinois) -- In 2009, Illinois legislators blinded by imaginary dollar signs voted to legalize video gambling — a proven way for governments to separate poor and...
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Policy would restrict spending of Des Plaines casino revenue
(Illinois) -- A Des Plaines official will push a policy this week outlining how the city should spend its share of casino revenue — on infrastructure, paying down...
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Schaumburg bans video gambling machines
(Illinois) -- To prevent 115 Schaumburg businesses from becoming automatically eligible for video gambling machines later this year, village trustees Tuesday exercised...
3/26/2012
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Crunch Time For Regulator Over Illinois Video Gambling [sub req'd]
(Illinois) -- Illinois’ long-awaited rollout of video gaming machines in bars across the state may be poised for yet more delays amid a slow-moving review...
3/23/2012
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Rivers Casino Fined For Sending Materials To Gambling Addicts
(Illinois) -- A dozen gambling addicts were sent promotional materials and even cash advances from the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, and now the casino has been fined.
3/21/2012
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Lotteries Look To Illinois Internet Launch [sub req'd]
(Illinois) -- Sunday’s upcoming launch of Internet lottery sales in Illinois will offer a template for others to follow as state lotteries grapple with a new...
3/20/2012
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Local gaming improvements bring Las Vegas, Atlantic City to Illinois
(Illinois) -- It wasn't long ago that if you wanted to experience the thrill of casino gaming, you had to hop a flight to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Those days are...
3/18/2012
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35th Senate District hopefuls differ on casino for Rockford
(Illinois) -- After nearly 20 years of representing the 34th District in the Illinois Senate, Dave Syverson is running in the 35th District against the itting senator,...
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Villa Park woman fights illegal gambling
(Illinois) -- As many suburbanites wade through their NCAA basketball bracket paperwork to see if anybody in their office pool has Norfolk State or Lehigh making the...
3/17/2012
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Gambler losses steady as state casino revenues drop
(Illinois) -- While casinos across the state find themselves battling dwindling revenue and attendance, the amount the average gambler drops during a visit to suburban...
3/10/2012
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Kenneth Griffin opposes Chicago casino
(Illinois) -- Chicago billionaire Kenneth Griffin said he was opposed to the Windy City allowing a casino to operate downtown. "There is no great city in America...
3/5/2012
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Anti-Gambling Group Speaks in Rockford
(Illinois) -- Not everyone is happy about bringing more gambling to the Stateline. The anti-gambling group 'Stop Predatory Gambling' spoke at the Stockholm Inn...
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Dan Lewandowski says casino decision needed now
(Illinois) -- State Senate candidate Dan Lewandowski said state legislators need to act now and grant Rockford with a casino permit.
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Talks Continue To Bring More Casinos To State
(Illinois) -- Gaming expansion in Illinois---always a possibility and a continuous subject of discussion among lawmakers in Springfield---remains firmly entrenched in...
2/29/2012
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84th House candidates split on gambling expansion
(Illinois) -- In the Democratic primary for the 84th State House seat, one candidate is more open than the others to considering gambling expansion as a boost to the...
2/28/2012
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Gambling divides Nybo, Dillard in state Senate race
(Illinois) -- The two DuPage County Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for the 24th District state Senate seat have differing views when it comes to...
2/27/2012
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Chicago's ban on video poker games costs state, city
(Illinois) -- If Chicago's ban on video poker remains in place, Illinois would lose $63 million to $118 million per year in potential revenue, state forecasts show.
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Video poker by September no sure bet
(Illinois) -- The first video poker machines in Illinois to legally pay winners could be plugged in as soon as September, but only if gaming officials overcome steep...
2/24/2012
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Could gambling plan get boost because of budget woes?
(Illinois) -- Supporters of expanding gambling in Illinois say the added revenue from more casinos could take some of the sting out of the painful budget cuts being...
2/20/2012
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Fears about Online Gambling
(Illinois) -- Forget having to leave your house to try and hit it big. Both Iowa and Illinois are looking into legalizing online gambling. That easy access to hitting...
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Gambling Expansion: Good For Las Vegas and La Villita.
(Illinois) -- Your Ward Room Blogger was at Hawthorne Race Course when suddenly there was a loud commotion in Spanish. A group of men in cowboy hats and cowboy boots...
2/19/2012
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CASINOS: Expansion not in public interest
(Illinois) -- The effect of the new Rivers Casino, in Des Plaines, Ill., has become exhibit No. 1 against any expansion of gaming in Illinois or Indiana.
2/15/2012
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Storm clouds gathering for Joliet’s two casinos
(Illinois) -- The latest casino revenue figures from the Illinois Gaming Board have some ammo for those who question how much money expanded gambling will actually mean...
2/10/2012
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Dan Moran: Casino talk a full boat
(Illinois) -- Cleaning out the old notebook following another week of casino speculation in the Park City/Waukegan metropolitan area: At Monday’s special Waukegan...
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Half of Illinois voters back more casinos, Tribune/WGN-TV poll finds
(Illinois) -- As political power brokers work behind closed doors to strike an ever-elusive gambling deal, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll found half of Illinois voters say...
2/9/2012
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Half of Illinois voters back more casinos, Tribune/WGN-TV poll finds
(Illinois) -- As political power brokers work behind closed doors to strike an ever-elusive gambling deal, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll found half of Illinois voters say...
2/8/2012
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Revenue plummets at casinos
(Illinois) -- Joliet’s casino numbers were so bad in January that budget makers there are taking a harder look at the gambling revenues they expect in 2012. If the...
2/2/2012
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EDITORIAL: Illinois’ dependence on gambling deepens
(Illinois) -- Gambling opponents in Illinois have lots of traditional reasons why expanding the sale of lottery tickets to the Internet is a bad idea. We appreciate the...
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Lawmaker: Online gambling could break gaming bill logjam
(Illinois) -- The House Democrats’ point person on gambling legislation said Wednesday that online gambling could be an element of legislation aimed at...
2/1/2012
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Pankau, Ramey split over gambling
(Illinois) -- In the already heated battle for DuPage County’s 23rd District, Republican state senate candidates Sen. Carole Pankau and Rep. Randy Ramey split...
1/30/2012
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Analysis: Entertainment venue for Grand Victoria not a sure bet
(Illinois) -- The Grand Victoria Casino will be commissioning a feasibility study about adding an entertainment venue to its downtown offerings, potentially on land that...
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Illinois expected to be first state to implement online gambling
(Illinois) -- Illinois is expected to be the first state to implement online gambling, although it will be limited to the sale of lottery tickets, but the District of...
1/27/2012
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Elgin not ready yet to cash in its gambling chips
(Illinois) -- It hasn’t even been a year since the Rivers Casino had its grand opening. If you remember, Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan cut the ribbon last July by...
1/25/2012
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Hays: Online gaming could help pass gambling expansion in state
(Illinois) -- A Danville area lawmaker says online gaming could be brought to Illinois as part of negotiations to expand the number of casinos in the state and to help...
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Illinois Tracks May Trade Slots For Subsidies
(Illinois) -- To pass a gambling expansion bill this year, Illinois racetracks may be willing to give up slot machines and settle for subsidies from new casinos.
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Racetrack slots continue to stall new gambling bill
(Illinois) -- Lawmakers, industry groups and Gov. Pat Quinn's office are exploring ways to expand gambling in Illinois without putting slot machines at horse racing...
1/24/2012
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Speaker Not Optimistic About Casino Expansion This Year
(Illinois) -- Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan said Tuesday that he’s not sure casino legislation will be going very far in Springfield this spring.
1/23/2012
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Elgin casino wants to up its game against Rivers
(Illinois) -- Owners of Elgin’s Grand Victoria Casino, which until last year was the hottest casino in Illinois, are teaming up with the city of Elgin to explore...
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Renewed Optimism for Gambling Deal
(Illinois) -- As lawmakers prepare for their spring legislative session, supporters of expanding gambling in Illinois said they were working toward a breakthrough...
1/22/2012
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Racetrack slots continue to stall new gambling bill
(Illinois) -- Lawmakers, industry groups and Gov. Pat Quinn’s office are exploring ways to expand gambling in Illinois without putting slot machines at horseracing...
1/20/2012
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Arlington Park to get cash from casinos instead of slots?
(Illinois) -- Renewed talks over how to expand gambling in Illinois include an option that would keep slot machines out of Arlington Park and instead have new and...
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Park City readies casino impact study
(Illinois) -- Two casino consulting firms that specialize in preparing community financial impact studies are vying to help Park City prepare for potentially hosting a...
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Racetrack slots continue to stall new gambling bill
(Illinois) -- Lawmakers, industry groups and Gov. Pat Quinn’s office are exploring ways to expand gambling in Illinois without putting slot machines at horseracing...
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Teamwork Propels a Plan to Expand Gambling
(Illinois) -- As lawmakers prepare for their spring legislative session, supporters of expanding gambling in Illinois said they were working toward a breakthrough...
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Renewed Optimism for Gambling Deal
(Illinois) -- As lawmakers prepare for their spring legislative session, supporters of expanding gambling in Illinois said they were working toward a breakthrough...
1/19/2012
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Teamwork Propels a Plan to Expand Gambling
(Illinois) -- As lawmakers prepare for their spring legislative session, supporters of expanding gambling in Illinois said they were working toward a breakthrough...
1/16/2012
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Des Plaines mulls hiring 3rd lobbyist
(Illinois) -- Des Plaines may hire a third lobbyist this year to represent its voice against gaming expansion, officials said. The City Council set aside $100,000 for...
1/15/2012
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Letter: Get citizens’ input on casino
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn recently rattled his sword in support of a casino in Chicago and four other sites in Illinois. He also touted the feds giving the OK for...
1/13/2012
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Libertyville officials stunned by resident’s casino proposal
(Illinois) -- Jaws dropped and officials were speechless as Tom Rielly, a local entrepreneur, unexpectedly proposed Libertyville should seek a casino to enhance economic...
1/12/2012
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Libertyville resident pitches vague casino plan
(Illinois) -- A Libertyville resident, who had asked to address the village board regarding economic development, surprised trustees with a suggestion for a casino in...
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Park City mayor: Casino sitdown ‘cleared the air’
(Illinois) -- Park City officials met with Gov. Pat Quinn’s top legal officials Wednesday in Chicago to discuss the city’s plans for potentially hosting one...
1/11/2012
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Libertyville officials stunned by resident’s casino proposal
(Illinois) -- Jaws dropped and officials were speechless as Tom Rielly, a local entrepreneur, unexpectedly proposed Libertyville should seek a casino to enhance economic...
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Rivers Casino helped state casino cash in 2011
(Illinois) -- Rivers Casino in northwest suburban Des Plaines was only open for half of last year, but it was still very profitable. With that money, the state of...
1/7/2012
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Appointments made to Waukekgan casino committee
(Illinois) -- Mayor Robert Sabonjian repeated past claims on Tuesday that his city would be the Lake County community to emerge with a casino if a gaming expansion bill...
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Quinn optimistic about odds for Chicago casino agreement this year
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn says he's optimistic a deal can be reached this year to bring a casino to Chicago, but negotiations are shaping up to be long and...
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Quinn still hopes to pass gambling expansion
(Illinois) -- Plans are in the works for a casino in Beloit, Wis., a stone’s throw from Rockford. Gov. Pat Quinn believes Illinois could have a plan in place for...
1/6/2012
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Beloit's casino proposal raises gaming stakes for Rockford
(Illinois) -- With plans to bring a casino to Rockford and expand gaming in Illinois blocked, at least for the time being, by Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois House, a...
1/4/2012
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Video gambling looks to cash in as state awards contract
(Illinois) -- The long-delayed startup of video gambling in Illinois took a big step forward with the signing of a central communications system contract with New York-...
12/30/2011
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Highs outpaced the lows in 2011 gaming
(Illinois) -- Amid the usual mix of new games and revamped amenities that happen every year, there was one big, overpowering change that dwarfed all else in the Chicago-...
12/29/2011
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Quinn: Gambling expansion talks back in 2012
(Illinois) -- Will the New Year mean gambling expansion in Illinois? Gov. Pat Quinn thinks so. The governor says he sticks by his framework for a scaled-down gambling...
12/27/2011
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Gambling critic slams Illinois Lottery online sales
(Illinois) -- We had the story today that the Illinois Lottery wants to start selling tickets online in the next three or four months.
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Illinois Lottery head sees online tickets as a win
(Illinois) -- Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones said Monday that he hopes the state will begin selling lottery tickets online in the next three to four...
12/25/2011
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Riverboat casino license pending in 2012
(Illinois) -- City officials and residents alike expected a decision in 2011 on a riverboat casino coming to the city. As issues often can be clouded in political...
12/23/2011
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Cardinal Francis George Praises Quinn Over Stance on Gambling Expansion, Death Penalty
(Illinois) -- After publicly criticizing Pat Quinn, Cardinal Francis George praised the Illinois governor for blocking a "huge expansion of gambling that would hurt...
12/22/2011
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Waukegan mayor proposes forming casino panel
(Illinois) -- A proposed City Council committee on gaming could be formed next month to augment the effort to lure a casino license out of the General Assembly in 2012.
12/17/2011
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Year in review: Quest for casino top Rockford story in 2011
(Illinois) -- The city struggled to rein in spending, continued its push for pension reform, fought over wage increases, convinced voters to spend money on roads and set...
12/11/2011
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BLOG: Gov. Quinn Still Feels The Heat Over Casinos
(Illinois) -- He has received a fair amount of political heat for his stance on the casino debate, and it looks like he's going to have to put up with a lot more...
12/9/2011
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Cullerton ribs Quinn about gambling
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn has gotten a good ribbing from Senate President John Cullerton about a stalled plan to expand Illinois gambling. Cullerton was with Quinn...
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Cullerton tweaks Quinn on stalled Chicago casino
(Illinois) -- An event promoting efforts to clean up land in the Lake Calumet region turned into an impromptu lobbying session for a Chicago casino today.
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Senate President Cullerton tweaks Gov. Quinn on Chicago casino
(Illinois) -- The environmental possibilities on Chicago’s Southeast Side are in the eye of the beholder. Where some politicians see eagles, others see casinos....
12/8/2011
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Rivers Casino makes $32M in November, more than previous month
(Illinois) -- The Rivers Casino in Des Plaines grossed more than $32 million last month, which is more than it made in October and September, reports show.
12/6/2011
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Legalized video gambling a step closer for Illinois
(Illinois) -- The odds of legalized video gambling finally coming to the Land of Lincoln just got a little better. Top Illinois gambling regulators confirmed Tuesday...
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Mayor: Lawmakers, Quinn, gaming board want casino in Waukegan
(Illinois) -- The General Assembly might have left Springfield last week without taking a final stab at gaming expansion in 2011, but Mayor Robert Sabonjian told the...
11/30/2011
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Link: Wait until next year on gaming bill
(Illinois) -- A tumultuous year on the Illinois gaming front ended quietly Tuesday when legislators closed an extended fall session without taking projected action on a...
11/29/2011
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Gambling bill put on hold again / Expansion plan not called for vote
(Illinois) -- The city won’t have an early Christmas present in the form of a riverboat casino license. Supporters of a gambling riverboat coming to the city will...
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Tax breaks on the table in Springfield
(Illinois) -- Lawmakers are returning to the Illinois Capitol for a special session more than two weeks after their work was supposed to be done for the year.
11/28/2011
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Shorewood bans video gambling
(Illinois) -- Video gaming has been outlawed within the village. The village board, in a 5-1 vote last week, adopted an ordinance that opts out of the state’s...
11/27/2011
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Letters: State needs slots at tracks
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn would prefer to invest scarce state dollars and resources on Chicago-area casinos rather than preserve and grow the 30,000-plus agribusiness...
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Pulse: Gaming back in Springfield again
(Illinois) -- State legislators head back to Springfield Tuesday, and they probably have gaming on their minds. Gaming expansion has been dying in recent weeks, and that...
11/24/2011
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Quinn’s OK a must for more gaming
(Illinois) -- The last two decades give us a pretty simple Illinois history lesson: Unless all four state legislative leaders and the governor are pulling hard in the...
11/23/2011
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COLUMN: A racetrack deal?
(Illinois) -- Casino capers . . . Hmmmm: Is a Chicago casino this/close to becoming a done deal? Sneed hears Gov. Pat Quinn is eyeing a plan to give racetracks a slice...
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Quinn won't sign gambling bill without more changes
(Illinois) -- Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn said he won't sign any gambling expansion bill that doesn't meet his framework. The gambling expansion bill was narrowly...
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Waukegan hires lobbyist to push casino bid
(Illinois) -- TenPas expressed similar sentiments, saying, “I don’t know what (a casino) would do for Waukegan, I really don’t. But if you put it up...
11/22/2011
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BLOG: Quinn: Gambling Supporters are Peddling Fairy Tales
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn is not ready to bend when it comes to adding slot machines at race tracks, and he says gambling supporters are over-stating their case as to...
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Ill. gov report doubts hefty gambling revenues
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn's office touted a new report Monday that concludes Illinois wouldn't get much extra money through a massive expansion of gambling, a...
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OP/ED: Put video gaming into place before more expansion
(Illinois) -- In the great debate over whether to expand gambling in Illinois, one issue is getting relatively little attention: When is previously approved video gaming...
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Quinn draws line at racetrack slots
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday that sincere negotiations on a gambling package can't happen unless lawmakers stop pushing for slot machines at horse...
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Quinn touting report on gambling expansion
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn says you need “real facts” when you’re talking about gambling. Quinn on Tuesday pumped up a report his office commissioned...
11/21/2011
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Quinn report challenges revenue figure touted by backers of gambling expansion
(Illinois) -- A study commissioned by Gov. Pat Quinn's office found that a major gambling expansion approved by lawmakers would bring in far less than the $1 billion...
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Quinn report says 'racinos' would cut state's gambling income
(Illinois) -- Illinois will maximize its tax revenue from gambling if it pursues a "less is more" approach that focuses on a proposed new Chicago casino,...
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Quinn’s office: Gambling bill not as lucrative as promised
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn’s office said Monday than an initial gambling expansion bill passed by lawmakers would generate about $160 million in new annual...
11/20/2011
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Fat Sam's Wants OTB in Southwest Burbs
(Illinois) -- Where Mustangs were once sold, Southland residents may soon be able to bet on the ponies. Arlington Park intends to file paperwork with the state to run an...
11/19/2011
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Bad odds on gambling bill’s chances
(Illinois) -- Southland civic leaders have been trying to get a casino for the south suburbs for what seems like forever, and it appears they won’t be landing one...
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Chuck Sweeny: There’s hope for Rockford casino, says Madigan
(Illinois) -- Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was in the Forest City to speak at the 10th anniversary celebration Wednesday of the Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic in the...
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Column: Sitting Atop the State’s Gambling Board, a One-Man Hurdle to Expansion
(Illinois) -- Horatio was not at the bridge but at a Starbucks on the Evanston-Skokie border. Our armorless Horatio is Aaron Jaffe, 81, the chairman of the Illinois...
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Column: The man who stands between Chicago pols and their casino dreams
(Illinois) -- With taxpayers busy concentrating on the holidays, it might be the perfect time to think about what's on top of the Chicago political wish list:
11/18/2011
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New gambling plan pushed before last one finished
(Illinois) -- As commander of a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in southern Illinois, Michael Bennett is among those still waiting for the state to implement a video...
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Roll the dice
(Illinois) -- What’s past is present when it comes to expanding gambling in Illinois. For much of the 21 years since legislators first approved casino gaming, new...
11/17/2011
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Strike Two for Gambling Bill
(Illinois) -- The gambling bill has been voted down yet again in the state of Illinois. The vote in the House was 58 to 53, two votes shy of passing and 13 short of a...
11/16/2011
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Latest gambling plan expected to come to a head
(Illinois) -- What’s past is present when it comes to expanding gambling in Illinois. For much of the 21 years since legislators first approved casino gaming, new...
11/15/2011
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BLOG: Plan to redo state gambling board in the works
(Illinois) -- Slot shots ... Pssst! Sneed hears a gaming bloodbath may be afoot to bring a casino to Chicago.
11/14/2011
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Failing gambling proposals: An annual rite of Springfield
(Illinois) -- Just say something if you’ve heard this story before. State lawmakers — faced with budget problems, looking for ways to create some jobs,...
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Mayor doesn’t want slots at race tracks
(Illinois) -- Mayor Marty Moylan said he will continue to fight against any proposed gaming expansion bill that puts slots at the state’s race tracks and doesn...
11/12/2011
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Chuck Sweeny: Legislators didn’t do much; gambling bill is dead
(Illinois) -- As I predicted last Sunday, Illinois legislators attended the second and final week (three days) of their fall veto session last week and didn’t do...
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Our View: Rockford’s odds of getting into the game get slimmer
(Illinois) -- Pardon us as we borrow a quote from Billy Crystal as Miracle Max in the classic 1987 film “The Princess Bride.” “Well, it just so happens...
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Quinn doesn't rub in lawmakers failure on casino bill
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn passed on a chance to rub it in Saturday after legislators failed to adopt a revamped gambling expansion during the fall session.
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Springfield’s gambling stalemate working in favor of Joliet casinos
(Illinois) -- The pool of potential allies in the Joliet push against a south suburban casino is pretty small, acknowledged state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi.
11/11/2011
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Gambling expansion vote on hold as lawmakers adjourn
(Illinois) -- The Illinois Senate didn’t take up its version of a gambling expansion. The House version of the bill to add five new casinos plus slots at race...
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Gambling proponents not tossing in chips on new Southland casino
(Illinois) -- The latest bid to get a casino in the Southland may be down, but it’s not out, at least not in the eyes of local boosters.
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General Assembly takes no action on pensions, gambling
(Illinois) -- Lawmakers left town Thursday without passing legislation designed to cut Illinois’ $85 billion pension debt or expand gambling, and it’s...
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Illinois Gambling Legislation on Hold Again
(Illinois) -- Legislation authorizing slot machines at racetracks has stalled again as the Illinois General Assembly extended its fall session until after Thanksgiving.
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No action for gambling bill
(Illinois) -- Legislators left Springfield on Thursday without taking a vote in either the House or Senate on gambling-expansion bills that include a casino in Danville.
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OP/ED: Foolish casino games
(Illinois) -- Three reasons why the Springfield proponents of much more legalized gambling in Illinois draft huge pieces of legislation, spring them on citizens at the...
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Slimmed-down gambling bill fails in House
(Illinois) -- Gambling legislation designed to pick up new support so it could survive a veto instead suffered a surprising defeat Wednesday in the Illinois House, amid...
11/10/2011
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BLOG: Wait and See on Casino Bill
(Illinois) -- After casino legislation failed Wednesday in the House, gambling supporters said they would bring the bill up for another vote. But on the last scheduled...
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Gambling bill fails in House; Tryon says it's not dead
(Illinois) -- Gambling legislation designed to pick up new support so it could survive a veto failed, 58-53, to clear the Illinois House on Wednesday amid opposition...
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Now or next April for gaming
(Illinois) -- If Illinois lawmakers cannot agree on a new plan to add five casinos or override Gov. Pat Quinn's threatened veto this week, then gaming expansion...
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Only Two Votes Sink Gambling Bill
(Illinois) -- A collective gasp was heard on the floor of the Illinois House as the final tally for a bill that would have paved way for a Chicago casino and expanded...
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Revised Gambling Bill Fails in House
(Illinois) -- The Illinois House on Wednesday gave Gov. Pat Quinn a bit of a victory and shot down a revised bill that would expand gambling in Illinois.
11/9/2011
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A Rare Victory for Quinn as Gambling Bill Fails
(Illinois) -- Gov. Pat Quinn scored a victory Wednesday night during an otherwise difficult fall session by helping to defeat a controversial gambling expansion bill in...
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Casino bill not dead yet
(Illinois) -- The Illinois House Wednesday night failed to pass a revised gambling expansion bill that includes a casino for the city.
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Gaming bill fails in House, but Joliet’s casino income still uncertain
(Illinois) -- The future of the city’s casino business was uncertain Wednesday night despite the failure of legislation to expand gambling in Illinois.
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Gaming bill fails in House, but Joliet’s casino income still uncertain
(Illinois) -- The future of the city’s casino business was uncertain Wednesday night despite the failure of legislation to expand gambling in Illinois. The House...
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Illinois gambling regulator calls new casino plan 'pile of junk'
(Illinois) -- The state's top gambling regulator today said a revised gambling package being considered by lawmakers is "a pile of junk" that does little...
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Illinois House fails to pass new gambling-expansion measure with slots-at-tracks
(Illinois) -- The Illinois House tonight tried and failed to pass another gaming expansion measure that would have allowed slot machines at Fairmount Park at...
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Revamped gambling expansion fails in Illinois House
(Illinois) -- The Illinois House tonight defeated a gambling package that would have allowed Chicago to have casino and horse-racing tracks to have slot machines. The...
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Revised gambling expansion plan fails in House
(Illinois) -- A revamped effort to bring a casino to Chicago fell flat Wednesday amid a furious lobbying effort that pitted Mayor Rahm Emanuel working the phones in...
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Senate committee pushing gambling bill
(Illinois) -- A Senate committee this morning began debating a proposal that would put slots at Arlington Park and a casino in Lake County, setting up the possibility of...
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Sponsor postpones vote on gambling bill
(Illinois) -- Backers of expanded gambling in Illinois took a surprising beating in the Illinois House Wednesday, falling two votes short of passing a revised gaming...
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State Lawmakers Consider Gambling Bill
(Illinois) -- Illinois lawmakers vote Wednesday on a gambling expansion that would bring a casino to Chicago. A revised, scaled-back bill that eliminates shot machines...
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