SOUTH SUBURBAN MAYORS WANT TO SLOW DOWN GAMBLING EXPANSION IN THE REGION

South Suburban mayors want to slow down plans on approving both a casino and a racino in the region.
South Suburban mayors want to slow down plans on approving both a casino and a racino in the region.

South Suburban Mayors Want To Slow Down Gambling Expansion In The Region

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The State of Illinois recently passed a new law that allows for a major gambling expansion across the state including a new casino in Chicago, a casino in the South Suburbs, and the addition of racinos, a combined race track and casino, across the state.

The Southland Regional Mayoral Black Caucus recently came together and signed a resolution that asked that immediate action on the approval of a proposed racino be put on hold until a feasibility study can take place to determine whether or not the region could support more than one gambling destination.

The recently passed Gambling Expansion legislation stated that a south suburban casino could be located in Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton or Worth Townships and a racino could also be located in any one of those same six townships or Orland Township.

“Signing on for a racino should be delayed until a fully comprehensive feasibility study has been completed to determine if it is viable to have a racino near a casino. My view is that it just will not work,’ said Sheila Chalmers-Currin, mayor of the Village of Matteson.

Having a south suburban racino and casino operating near each other would put them in competition with each other and many are worried that there are not enough gambling dollars to go around.

“They’re putting a racino up against the casino and there is no way the two can exist. It’s not just me, but several of the South Suburban mayors want to put a hold on the plans for a combination harness racing track and casino,” said Chalmers-Currin.

Chalmers-Currin said that she has a great vision for what the south suburban casino could be if they were able to incorporate dining, entertainment, and a hotel to make it a travel destination in the Southland Region.

Both Chalmers-Currin and President of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, Tyron Ward, said the inclusion of a racino in the south suburbs in addition to a casino went somewhat under the radar as the legislation was being pushed through.

“All the focus was on a casino and the racino sort of went under the radar for the most part until the actual bill came out and we saw that it was rendered to a specific location. Once that came out and they actually named a location, it created a little issue and we are asking that particular piece be reconsidered during the Governor’s veto session,” said Ward.

In asking for a comprehensive feasibility study before approving plans for both a casino and racino in the south suburbs, Chalmers-Currin and Ward are hoping to guarantee that the best interests of south suburban residents are put first.

If precaution isn’t taken in executing the plans for housing both a casino and racino in the region, Ward said that “in the end, the only real winner would be the casino.”

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