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11-10-10State Journal-Register - November 9, 2010 If a large company talked about leaving Illinois and taking their jobs with them, we would bend over backward to keep them here. That’s what’s at stake with pending legislation to allow slots at racetracks. With all due respect to Anita Bedell in her Friday letter, “Don’t push expansion of gambling now,” she fails to understand how this legislation can help an industry that involves far more than just horsemen. We’re talking about tens of thousands of workers in the agribusiness industry, including trainers, jockeys, drivers, grooms, breeders and thousands of ancillary jobs such as, blacksmiths, veterinarian’s, hay farmers and shipping companies. We should also mention the waiters and bartenders at the tracks themselves, and many other employees who would be affected if the horsemen leave Illinois for other states where slots are allowed at race tracks. We are not asking for a subsidy; we are not asking for the state to bail us out. We are asking to be put on a level playing field with other states, such as Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York that have added gaming to their facilities while increasing jobs for their states. Tony Somone November 8, 2010 (WLS) -- Illinois horse-racing advocates say they need the state to allow slot machines at the racetracks in order for the sport to survive. Illinois horsemen gathered in Cicero Monday to rally for what they call "slots-at-tracks" legislation. They say Illinois horse-racing facilities have lost revenue to in-state casinos and racetracks in neighboring states where slot machines are allowed. They want the Illinois assembly to act. "We have consensus, we have a bill, call the bill and help us pass this if you want to see this industry survive into the future," said Mike Campbell, Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. The association is hopeful a "slots-at-tracks" measure will be brought up in the fall veto session in Springfield. Comments They're spinning out of the turn, heading for home in a race to save a sagging industry. And horse racing officials believe that if they don't get what they want, everyone will lose. (Joseph P. Meier/SouthtownStar) David McCaffrey, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, believes the extra revenue generated by slot machines would allow tracks to increase their purse sizes, which would attract more competitive and big-name horses. The horsemen say neighboring states offer purses of up to $15,000 whereas some purses in Illinois are as low as $1,800. And, the amount of money wagered at Illinois tracks has dropped 42 percent since riverboat gambling debuted in 1990. At Balmoral Park in Crete, slot machines could make a big difference, Balmoral director of special projects Jack Kelly said. "I could see us adding days, or at minimum, you're increasing the amount of races and how much horsemen are running for," Kelly said. And if slot machines don't arrive? "(Balmoral) wouldn't shut down," Kelly said. "It could be cutting down the season to maybe just the summer or spring, whatever works out." About 900 slot machines would be placed at Balmoral under the plan, Kelly said. He doesn't believe that having slots at the track would detract from racing. "We still want to make money with horse racing, to get back to where we were, one of the strongest (horse racing) states in the country," Kelly said. Kelly noted that if the plan becomes law, tracks would have to guarantee minimum numbers of live races. There would have to be at least 2,500 races at Hawthorne and Arlington Park, 700 at Fairmount Park and 3,500 harness races statewide, said Michael Campbell, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemens' Association. Horsemen have lobbied for slot machines before, but this time is different, Hawthorne president and general manager Tim Carey said. "We really do (have support). I think with what the governor ran on - jobs, jobs, jobs - this is a jobs bill. It's revenue for the state. Certainly the racing industry needs this at this time, more than ever. It's common sense legislation," Carey said. "We've got to have this bill. Why wouldn't we want to be competitive with surrounding states?" Tom Grey, a retired minister and current senior advisor to the Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation, does not see slot machines saving horse racing in Illinois. "I'm amazed real estate dealers who aren't selling homes don't ask the state to give them slots," Grey said. "We're talking about an enterprise that's died. Even with off-track betting and simulcast, live racing is just gone. Put slots in, it's going to go further because nobody's going to watch these horses running. 'It kills live racing because it costs $50,000 a year to have a race horse whether you win or lose,' Grey said. 'A slot machine costs $15,000, shows up for work and is there. All you pay for is the electricity.' Grey wouldn't be surprised if the approval of slot machines instead persuaded track owners to quit racing, realizing they can't compete with casinos. If slot machines are not approved, the racing industry "has to retrench," Carey said. "I wouldn't go that far," Carey said, "but we'd be awful close." It's not just racetrack owners who are hurting, said Terry Hunt, an IHHA director. He once owned a breeding farm in Illinois but was forced to close it two years ago. "It's because Illinois owners have to have a legitimate possibility of making their investment back," Hunt said. "If you owned a race horse, you could race here for an $1,800 purse, but if it is the quality horse that can race for $12,000 or $15,000 in Indiana or Pennsylvania, where are you going to go. November 9, 2010 A plan to drastically expand gambling in Illinois could lead to a new casino rising in the south suburbs and three other locations, under a proposal legislators in Springfield plan to pitch this week. State Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said he's proposing a measure this week that would allow four new casinos - one in Chicago, another in an undetermined south suburban location, one in north suburban Park City and a fourth in downstate Danville. Advocates of expanded gambling haven't confirmed where in the south suburbs a casino would be located, but opponents of the plan say Ford Heights is a likely target. The expansion plan also would allow slot machines at six Illinois racetracks and expand the number of gambling terminals allowed at existing casinos. Supporters say the expansion could bring $1 billion in revenue annually to the cash-strapped state. Link would not confirm Ford Heights has been chosen as the south suburban location for a new casino but said the town fits with the criteria of an economically disadvantaged area. Ford Heights' average annual income is $20,000, and more than half of its residents live below the poverty level.-- "What people are missing is that this would create a lot of jobs, a lot of private sector jobs," Link said. "Once we pass the bill, it's up to the private sector to come in and spend their money to build these casinos, racinos and hire and employ people. You'll see a huge economic stimulus bill by the private sector." Neither Ford Heights Mayor Charles Griffin nor Clerk Gloria Bryant returned calls seeking comment. Anita Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems in Springfield, said Ford Heights tops gambling advocates' list for a south suburban casino. "It's clear there is a massive expansion of gaming on the table for the veto session," Bedell said. "There's always a push for gambling when legislators don't want to raise taxes. But the veto session is more dangerous because people who lost the election don't have anything to lose. They'll vote for a all kinds of things if it's tied to a job or other incentives." While details of the gambling plan are in flux, Ed Paesel of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association said several suburban communities, in addition to Ford Heights, would likely jump at the chance to land a new casino. Officials in Country Club Hills, Calumet City and Lynwood in the past have indicated they want a casino, Paesel said. "We've never really gone out as an organization and necessarily advocated for gaming, but we've always said if there is to be increased gaming, for us to support it there has to be a boat for the southern suburbs," Paesel said. The same spirit applies to slots at racetracks, which ostensibly would include slots at Balmoral Park Racetrack in Crete, he said. "It's kind of parallel to our thoughts on the riverboats. If there are to be slots at the racetracks, then the south suburban horse track at Balmoral should be given the same opportunities as any other horse track," Paesel said. While Illinois lawmakers ponder the gambling plan, some Southland communities continue to weigh in on whether to allow video poker machines in bars, private clubs and truck stops. Frankfort was the latest town to axe state-sanctioned video poker machines in local watering holes. The 2009 video poker law was designed to fund about a quarter of a $31 billion, 10-year capital plan. Frankfort on Nov. 1 passed an ordinance banning the machines, joining Orland Park, Country Club Hills and South Holland, to name a few, that already have opted out. According to the Illinois Gaming Board, the agency that oversees the gambling industry in Illinois, 78 communities and four counties, including Cook, have banned video poker, while an additional six communities and two counties are considering a ban. Five communities and three counties, Peoria, Kane and Sangamon, have indicated support for the machines. The gaming board continues to draft regulations to govern the industry and has yet to pick a firm to handle the central communications system needed to link and track video gambling. The board in August awarded the contract to Scientific Games International, but quickly retracted that contract after complaints from vendors. "In evaluating the price portion of the proposals, miscalculations were made, due, in part, to assumptions made by the Gaming Board and by vendors that were not uniform and not clarified," the Gaming Board said in a statement explaining the rebidding process. That communications contract is not expected to be awarded until next year. VIDEO POKER Over the last year and a half, Southland communities have weighed whether to allow state-sanctioned video poker machines in bars, restaurants and clubs to raise money for the state's $31 billion, 10-year capital plan to fix the state's roads and bridges. Here are a list of the communities that have thus far banned the machines: • Cook County (unincorporated areas only) ------------------------------------------------------------------ No Comments | Jump to Comments On Monday, November 8, horsepeople in Illinois gathered for what has been described as a rally for legislation regarding slots at racetracks. "We have consensus, we have a bill, call the bill and help us pass this if you want to see this industry survive into the future," Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Spokesman Mike Campbell was quoted as saying in an article by ABC News. The group has said that the legislation is needed due to increased competition for gambling dollars both in and out of state. State lawmakers could take up gambling expansion again when they return to Springfield. Proponents of expanding Illinois' gambling industry are gearing up for a fight as lawmakers prepare to return to Springfield next week to grapple with the state's historic budget crisis. A group of harness horse drivers held a rally on Monday to support the plan, which legislators could take up when they return for their fall veto session Nov. 16. At issue is a comprehensive plan to expand gambling throughout the state by allowing for new casinos in Chicago, the north and south suburbs, and downstate Danville; allowing riverboat casinos, which are legally-bound to operate on the water, to come ashore; and by increasing the number of slot machines at existing Illinois casinos. That plan could help save Illinois' dwindling horseracing industry, said Tony Somone, who heads the Illinois Harness Horseman's Association. "Your blacksmith, your hay farmer, your veterinarians - we're talking probably 20,000 to 25,000 people who are related to the horse racing industry," Somone said. But as far as gaming expansion is concerned, the devil could be in the politics. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn reportedly favors his plan to raise the state income tax as a means to help close Illinois' budget deficit, which the state comptroller says could reach $15 billion by next year. During the several times gambling expansion has been proposed in the past, state many state Republicans have opposed it, often on moral grounds. And this year, the plan seems to be getting mixed messages from top Democrats, who still control both houses of the General Assembly. A spokesman for Senate President John Cullerton said Monday it's possible that the plan, which has found more support in the State Senate, could be brought up at the upcoming veto session. But there's "not much sentiment for gambling expansion" in the Illinois House, said Steve Brown, a spokesman forHouse Speaker Michael Madigan. Brown said he didn' t yet know what revenue measures will be brought up during the veto session. But backers of gambling expansion say their plan is the best option. "I think that if you were to take a poll, I think that this bill would be a lot more appealing to the voters in the state of Illinois than an income tax [increase]," said state Sen. Terry Link, D-Lake Bluff, who has been a longtime supporter of gambling expansion. |
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