Casino hopefuls, prepare to air your laundry

For those thinking that a casino ownership might be a good investment, be prepared: The Illinois Gaming Board doesn't know the meaning of the word "privacy," a review of the application form for the 10th casino license reveals.

Those deemed to be "key persons" in a new casino venture must submit a boatload of information, including:

•Personal tax returns for at least three years

•Exhaustive financial information, including liabilities and assets, up to and including any expensive jewelry or artwork

•A photo

•A list of previous spouses and their current addresses

•A list of siblings and their spouses

•A history of criminal convictions in the family

•A list of cars owned by themselves, their spouses and their children.

Politicians, beware as well. Question No. 23 of the casino application asks companies to disclose any public officials that have a financial interest, no matter how remote, in their company or any of their key persons, and Question No. 24 asks for information on what steps the company took to ascertain that information.

The Illinois Gaming Board released the application Friday and will call for interested casino companies to complete and submit them by the end of September or early October.

From there, three finalists will be picked and then winnowed to one winner.