Ill. Gov. Quinn: Let’s ‘take a look’ at slots at the tracks
Quinn
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn a few minutes ago told reporters in Chicago that he thinks the state should “take a look” at a controversial proposal by the horse racing industry to have slot machines at the tracks as a means of helping pay for a huge new infrastructure program.
“As far as the race tracks go . . . they have a proposal and we ought to take a look at it,” Quinn said in the news conference, which was piped to the Statehouse in Springfield. “I don’t think categorically I’m going to say `no’ to that.”
It may not sound like much of an endorsement, but in the on-going debate over expanded gambling, it’s a major opening of a long-shut door — and another indication of just how nervous Quinn and other leaders are about the failure of the state’s new video poker law to generate the kind of anticipated revenue they had hoped for.
As we reported previously, the state’s new $30 billion infrastructure program relies heavily on funding from the new law allowing thousands of bars and restaurants across the state to have paying video poker machines in their businesses, which the state would then tax. The problem is, many communities have moved to opt out of the law (as provided in the language of the statute), to keep it illegal within their jurisdictions.
The situation has gotten dire enough that a state commission reviewing long-term fiscal issues sought testimony today from the state’s horse racing industry about its continuing request to be allowed to have slot machines at the tracks. Fairmount Park President Brian Zander was there, and told me a few minutes ago that he thought it “went well,” and that the commission members seemed very interested in the proposal.
Anti-gaming activists are fighting the idea, saying it’s yet another expansion of gambling in Illinois. The state’s casino industry is also opposed because of the competition the idea would bring.
The casinos have gotten everything they ask for at the expense of horse racing in Illinois. It’s time–no it’s long overdue–for the Illinois horse racing industry to get it’s share of the goodies. The casinos object to the racetracks getting slot machines because of increased competition. Why don’t they object to more casinos opening in an already overcrowded casino market? Isn’t that increased competition?
yeah, that’s what fools who throw away their money need. More opportunity to throw away more money. Nobody cares about horse racing. It isn’t 1950, any more. Let the dying business die.
Gambling, for the most part, is just a tax on the stupid.
Listen up “b” —what you know about horse racing could probably fit in a thimble with plenty of room left over. Horse racing has been mismanaged by racing officials and robbed by the casinos in recent years, but it still has a loyal fanbase and has actually grown where it has been allowed to compete on a level playing field with casinos. Furthermore, people gamble of their own free will. Nobody is FORCED to gamble!!!
Right on Bob C. Dude, Mr “b” we set an attendance record this year, as in 3 months ago. So kindly stop stating totally inaccurate information as fact. Yes, I am a horseman and I do watch how much the patrons LOVE the game….so, that “nobody cares” is quite incorrect. Come out on an event day and see if you can count all of those nobodies. Just my .02
Slots at tracks won’t help horse racing. They will help racetrack OWNERS. Horse racing is a sport whose historical moment may simply have passed. Let it die already! Government should not be in the business of preying on citizens with a predatory product for profit. Legalizing a harmful activity or substance never removes the harm. Gambling is still as harmful as when the mafia had control.
If anyone thinks horse racing is just trainers, jockeys, and race track owners your wrong with letting this sport die it has a trickle down effect to 40,000-50,000 people in this state along with the breeders in this state
that virtually see there horses go for losses at the state sales. getting this 3% money is step one, step two would be getting slots in the tracks, and step three is cleaning up the sport which is taking place in New York as
they will test next year for EPO in horses. Cleaning up the sport will be a big hurdle but neads to be done. Every complains about making the track
owners more wealthier but thats how sports is look at football and baseball
teams that do it right I don’t hear many complaints about that. This is coming from someone new in the sport and I’M having a great time with it even as the purse account sucks.
b, what does 1950 have to do with it? Horse racing, the SPORT OF KINGS, should be forgotten because we’ve “progressed” beyond enjoying the sport? Are you saying boxing isn’t as popular, so it should die? What about baseball? Seems like that sport had a decent following in the 1950’s, maybe we should close up shop on the Cardinals franchise since they’re clearly obsolete… while we’re at it, let’s get rid of the classic cars people like to collect because nobody’s interested any longer, right? They’re old and outdated. And your parents? Grandparents? If you’re still blessed to have them around, toss them to the curb because they’ve clearly seen their better days.
For anyone who says the race track owners shouldn’t be rich, give me a break. Is your boss rich? Is the Busch family rich? Do you drink their beverages? How about Ted Drewes? I’m sure he’s doing ok, and I bet you enjoy the occasional concrete, right? I mean jeez people, owners buy things like race tracks TO GET RICH. Not to float around on a financially unsound life preserver while governmental sharks wait to feast on their remains once it sinks. I think it’s time to save the thousands and thousands of JOBS that the tracks provide in Illinois, as well as the ENJOYMENT me and thousands of others derive from attending live races. This is a petty argument by anti-gambling activists, and the only true losers if the tracks close up shop will be the thousands in the unemployment line, and people like me who enjoy a Saturday night at the races.