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Illinois Senate working to improve odds for gambling bill

Posted April 25, 2013 2:27 pm

Associated Press

Supporters of a gambling expansion proposal are making changes to the legislation in an attempt to improve its chances with the Illinois Legislature and Gov. Pat Quinn.

Rikeesha Phelon is a spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton. She says Cullerton plans to strip language from the bill that would legalize Internet gaming and let lawmakers consider it as a separate measure.

Quinn has vetoed previous gambling bills. The Chicago Democrat said recently that Internet gambling hadn’t had a proper review and he was “not excited about it at all.”

Legislators who supported previous gambling bills also had concerns.

Senators also are expected to consider proposals from the Illinois Gaming Board regarding oversight of a Chicago casino.

The bill would add five casinos and slot machines at Chicago’s two international airports.

In this April 21, 2005 file photo, Aaron Jaffe, chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, speaks during a meeting of the board in Chicago. Supporters of gambling expansion are refining legislation to improve its chances, but Jaffe says he still has major concerns. Jaffe says heÂ’s open to working with lawmakers to craft better language. Associated Press

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