11-13-2008, 07:56 AM
So tomorrow we'll know if we are one of three?
State gaming board to pick three casino finalists
November 13, 2008
BY NATHANIEL ZIMMER Staff Writer
The seven bidders for the state's 10th casino license are on tenterhooks as they wait for the Illinois Gaming Board to winnow the field of contenders to three when it meets Friday.
Who makes the cut is of particular interest in the south suburbs, with bidders aiming to bring gambling to Calumet City, Harvey, Country Club Hills and Stickney. The other three potential sites are in Rosemont, Des Plaines and Waukegan.
But it appears some Southland residents, particularly those in less wealthy communities, could benefit to a degree almost no matter who gets the nod in the end. Most of the proposals include plans to distribute gaming revenues to numerous municipalities or organizations.
Trilliant Gaming's Rosemont project would divvy up money among 71 Cook County communities, including a number of the poorest south suburbs, according to a village spokesman.
Under Hawthorne Gaming's plan, Stickney would distribute 85 percent of its gambling revenue among three hospitals - Holy Cross and and South Shore in Chicago and South Shore in Berwyn - and communities such as Chicago Heights, Ford Heights, Dolton and Alsip, according to Hawthorne's Tim Carey.
Similarly, Country Club Hills would direct as much as 90 percent of its share to dozens of south suburbs and some school districts, according to Mayor Dwight Welch.
Harvey, where SouthSide Casino wants to locate, would give money to a charitable foundation that would funnel the dollars to groups working in four different areas: after-school and summer programs, handgun violence, battered women and children and assistance for transportation costs to education and job training. The precise amount or percentage of receipts couldn't be determined Wednesday.
Calumet City, which is working with Calumet Gaming, would share the wealth with 28 south suburbs, including South Holland, Steger, Midlothian, Markham and Blue Island. The 15 poorest would get a double share, which could amount to as much as $400,000 a year - though only if the casino is as profitable as expected. Six school districts serving the city would get a total of some $2 million.
Far north suburban Waukegan would share money only with school districts there. Calls to Des Plaines were not returned Wednesday, but the last time a casino was proposed for the city, it pledged to share money with the 10 poorest towns in Cook County, among which were a number of south suburbs.
Bidders and municipal officials said that although they were optimistic about their chances of winning, gaming regulators had offered few clues as to what would happen Friday.
"The process is being done in a very professional way," said David Hanlon, of SouthSide, noting that the proposals are being analyzed by investment bankers at Credit Suisse. "Our interaction ... has been pretty much mechanical in terms of providing everything they need."
The last attempt to hand out the 10th license came to naught amid legal battles and accusations of mob ties in Rosemont, the initial winner. Memories of that long-running drama remain vivid for many.
Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde said he believes his city deserves a casino. But he isn't going to get his hopes up.
"I learned from the last time," he said. "We got the shaft."
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State gaming board to pick three casino finalists
November 13, 2008
BY NATHANIEL ZIMMER Staff Writer
The seven bidders for the state's 10th casino license are on tenterhooks as they wait for the Illinois Gaming Board to winnow the field of contenders to three when it meets Friday.
Who makes the cut is of particular interest in the south suburbs, with bidders aiming to bring gambling to Calumet City, Harvey, Country Club Hills and Stickney. The other three potential sites are in Rosemont, Des Plaines and Waukegan.
But it appears some Southland residents, particularly those in less wealthy communities, could benefit to a degree almost no matter who gets the nod in the end. Most of the proposals include plans to distribute gaming revenues to numerous municipalities or organizations.
Trilliant Gaming's Rosemont project would divvy up money among 71 Cook County communities, including a number of the poorest south suburbs, according to a village spokesman.
Under Hawthorne Gaming's plan, Stickney would distribute 85 percent of its gambling revenue among three hospitals - Holy Cross and and South Shore in Chicago and South Shore in Berwyn - and communities such as Chicago Heights, Ford Heights, Dolton and Alsip, according to Hawthorne's Tim Carey.
Similarly, Country Club Hills would direct as much as 90 percent of its share to dozens of south suburbs and some school districts, according to Mayor Dwight Welch.
Harvey, where SouthSide Casino wants to locate, would give money to a charitable foundation that would funnel the dollars to groups working in four different areas: after-school and summer programs, handgun violence, battered women and children and assistance for transportation costs to education and job training. The precise amount or percentage of receipts couldn't be determined Wednesday.
Calumet City, which is working with Calumet Gaming, would share the wealth with 28 south suburbs, including South Holland, Steger, Midlothian, Markham and Blue Island. The 15 poorest would get a double share, which could amount to as much as $400,000 a year - though only if the casino is as profitable as expected. Six school districts serving the city would get a total of some $2 million.
Far north suburban Waukegan would share money only with school districts there. Calls to Des Plaines were not returned Wednesday, but the last time a casino was proposed for the city, it pledged to share money with the 10 poorest towns in Cook County, among which were a number of south suburbs.
Bidders and municipal officials said that although they were optimistic about their chances of winning, gaming regulators had offered few clues as to what would happen Friday.
"The process is being done in a very professional way," said David Hanlon, of SouthSide, noting that the proposals are being analyzed by investment bankers at Credit Suisse. "Our interaction ... has been pretty much mechanical in terms of providing everything they need."
The last attempt to hand out the 10th license came to naught amid legal battles and accusations of mob ties in Rosemont, the initial winner. Memories of that long-running drama remain vivid for many.
Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde said he believes his city deserves a casino. But he isn't going to get his hopes up.
"I learned from the last time," he said. "We got the shaft."
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