12-16-2008, 06:11 PM
The decision has been put off until...?
Casino bids still up in the air
By Joseph Ryan | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 12/16/2008 3:50 PM
State regulators put off deciding on a suburban site for the state's 10th casino Tuesday, saying they had more to look into before making the much-anticipated selection.
Rosemont, Des Plaines and Waukegan are vying to land the state's last available casino license and they have bid hundreds of millions of dollars to land the opportunity to set up hundreds of slot machines and other games of chance.
Regulators were expected to make a decision at their Tuesday meeting in Chicago, but at the last minute they backed off. Regulators have been expected to make a selection by the end of the year as lawmakers grapple with a budget deficit exceeding $2 billion.
"There is still some due diligence they need to complete," said spokesman Gene O'Shea, who said he couldn't provide any further details or explanation.
The move comes as good-government groups and anti-gambling organizations have called on casino regulators to hold off picking a site given the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on sweeping corruption charges.
The governor appoints the board, which is supposed to be independent, and he has been accused of exerting undue influence over regulators in the past.
Rosemont, which lost the license after years of legal fighting following allegations of mob ties, put up the most for the casino, $435 million. Waukegan has bid $225 million and Des Plaines has offered $100 million upfront.
Suburban mayors in Aurora and Elgin who rely on tax money from existing casinos have urged regulators to pick Waukegan, which would compete less with the Hollywood or Grand Victoria casinos. Companies bidding on the Rosemont and Des Plaines sites argue they will attract gamblers from Chicago who now go to Indiana casinos.
Casino bids still up in the air
By Joseph Ryan | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 12/16/2008 3:50 PM
State regulators put off deciding on a suburban site for the state's 10th casino Tuesday, saying they had more to look into before making the much-anticipated selection.
Rosemont, Des Plaines and Waukegan are vying to land the state's last available casino license and they have bid hundreds of millions of dollars to land the opportunity to set up hundreds of slot machines and other games of chance.
Regulators were expected to make a decision at their Tuesday meeting in Chicago, but at the last minute they backed off. Regulators have been expected to make a selection by the end of the year as lawmakers grapple with a budget deficit exceeding $2 billion.
"There is still some due diligence they need to complete," said spokesman Gene O'Shea, who said he couldn't provide any further details or explanation.
The move comes as good-government groups and anti-gambling organizations have called on casino regulators to hold off picking a site given the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on sweeping corruption charges.
The governor appoints the board, which is supposed to be independent, and he has been accused of exerting undue influence over regulators in the past.
Rosemont, which lost the license after years of legal fighting following allegations of mob ties, put up the most for the casino, $435 million. Waukegan has bid $225 million and Des Plaines has offered $100 million upfront.
Suburban mayors in Aurora and Elgin who rely on tax money from existing casinos have urged regulators to pick Waukegan, which would compete less with the Hollywood or Grand Victoria casinos. Companies bidding on the Rosemont and Des Plaines sites argue they will attract gamblers from Chicago who now go to Indiana casinos.