Some in the area are hope gambling expansion in Illinois is still in the cards. Governor Pat Quinn Tuesday rejected a plan that lawmakers passed earlier this year.
The expansion package called for five new casinos and allowing slot machines at horse racing tracks. I would have meant up to several hundred machines at the Quad-City Downs in East Moline. Not seeing any gambling revenue for nearly 20 years from the Downs, city leaders are hoping lawmakers still roll the dice on expansion.
"Can the bill he just vetoed be improved? You betcha," said East Moline Mayor John Thodos. He says he's not surprised by Governor Quinn's veto of expanded gambling but it's still a disappointment.
"Our point of view is we haven't received any revenue since 1993. Because the only way the city got revenue was from an admissions tax, a head tax," said Thodos.
In the package the Quad-City Downs was to be allowed up to 350 slot machines. East Moline would see three percent of that revenue and go back to getting admissions tax if live racing is revived. Thodos says it's hard to tell how much that could mean for the city. "When you talk to the people who want to do it they say it's a significant amount of revenue to the city. When you're starting from zero anything is an improvement."
Supporters estimated the bill could have brought in up to $1 billion a year and 100,000 jobs to the state. Quinn sited a lack of sufficient regulatory oversight when he squashed it. "The bill that was on my desk was woefully deficient when it came to protecting integrity and honesty and the regulation of gambling in our state," said Governor Pat Quinn.
Thodos says he does agree with Quinn on certain elements in the bill, but he would have liked to see an amendatory veto instead. Now he's hoping for an even better hand if legislators make a deal.
"Given my preference I would like parody to what other communities have in terms of revenue collection and sharing in some of the gambling money," added Thodos, "What we in East Moline should be receiving and what we think is fair and equitable. Hopefully what comes out of this is even better than what was proposed in what the governor vetoed."
Sponsors of the bill say they plan to move forward to try to override Quinn's veto. Local representatives Rich Morthland and Pat Verschoore say they'll support an override.
Senator Mike Jacobs originally voted down the bill and says he will again unless changes are made that benefit the community.
