Push for Slots at Race Tracks on at the Capitol

By Ashley Badgley, Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Could slots at the tracks help fill the state's budget gap?

Some lawmakers think placing slot machines at the state's five horse-racing tracks is a gamble worth taking, especially with the state facing a $12.2 billion budget deficit.

Legislation calling for an expansion of gaming rears its head practically every legislative session. But race-track owners, riverboat casino owners and anti-gambling advocates usually topple any type of expansion with their perpetual disagreement over how the revenues would be split.

However, state Rep. Will Burns, D-Chicago, said the estimated $177.5 million expected from the slot machines is an offer the state can't turn down during these tight fiscal times.

“We use gaming to fund a whole bunch of things in this state,” Burns said. “We use the lottery proceeds to fund education, we have scratch-off tickets for multiple sclerosis, for veterans' benefits, to cure breast cancer. As a state, we don’t see so much of a problem with gaming as a ways to address some of our problems.”

The state opened the door to gambling expansion last year by legalizing video gaming machines at taverns, truck stops and fraternal/veterans clubs throughout the state. However, communities can override state law by voting against the video poker machines — and many have done so.

State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, supports Burn’s plan since slot machines at the tracks is a “natural” complement because of the empty time between races.

“There’s a half-hour between races,” Sacia said. “Slots are a natural addition to race tracks. It is absolutely gaming at a gaming facility.”

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said he believes slot machines could benefit the state, but cautioned they are only a partial answer to to the state's fiscal woes.

“We do have a race track in the Quad Cities,” Jacobs said. “I would like to see them have slots… I am not opposed to gaming, but it’s not a very good way to run a government.”

Anti-gambling advocates say the societal problems wrought by gambling is not worth the risk. Gamblers usually come out on the short end of the stick, said Anita Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems.

“This is a losing proposition,” Bedell said. “The only ones that are going to make out on this are going to be wealthy track owners. It’s going to transform five racetracks into land-based casinos.”

Nine riverboat casinos currently operate in Illinois, but they've seen a dip in business, partly due to the recession and the state's indoor smoking ban.

The Illinois Gaming Board's February 2010 report shows adjusted gross receipts from the riverboats for the month totaling $114.2 million – down 7.38 percent from the February 2009 total of $123.3 million. Admissions for February 2010 stood at 1.16 billion, down from 1.19 billion — or 2.79 percent — from a year ago.

Riverboat revenues for the state and host communities share the downward trend. The state garnered $16.9 million in riverboat taxes in February 2010, while the local share totaled $6.9 million. Those numbers are down from a year ago, when the state tallied $18.8 million in February 2009 and municipalities totaled $7.4 million.