Significant gambling expansion clears Senate

SPRINGFIELD -- The Senate is approving significant gambling expansion in Illinois.

Waukegan Democratic Sen. Terry Link's legislation would add casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Park City in Lake County and Danville in eastern Illinois.

The vote was 30-28. A similar measure failed last week.

Link says the state's take from the additional casinos could eventually top $1 billion a year. Existing casinos could add up to 800 gambling slots.

The vote came after the Democratic-controlled chamber approved a huge income and sales tax increases to close an $11.6 billion budget deficit.

Opponents say the legislation makes Illinois the largest gambling-dependent state in the nation. It now moves to the House.