Don't restrict state gambling regulators

Beware the last days of a legislative session in Illinois. Surprises always seem to be in store as legislators push through laws without enough thought and certainly without public comment.

Such was the case last week in the Illinois Senate. State Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat, was able to push through, on a vote of 42-11, a package of changes to the law rushed through last year allowing video gambling machines in bars, clubs and truck stops.

Thankfully, someone else was paying attention. That would be Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe.

Jaffe told the Daily Herald on Thursday he was upset with the bill because he didn't think it was innocuous at all - despite how it was presented by Link and those pushing the bill.

The measure would restrict the power of regulators to keep those linked to the illegal video gambling market out of the legal Illinois market. Under the proposal, only those actually convicted of illegal gambling could be refused a license.

"We want to go beyond what they have indicated in the legislation," Jaffe said. "If we follow their rule it would make our job much easier, but quite truthfully I don't think we want to make our job easier. Our job is to keep bad elements out of gambling."

Often, those charged in gambling raids are not convicted or they plead guilty to lesser crimes that wouldn't show up as a gambling violation. Jaffe said they want wider latitude than what Link's bill would allow.

For his part, Link believes a conviction should be required to deny a license.

"Just because they raid some place and the guy was innocent, he shouldn't be considered guilty for something of that nature," Link said. "You still have your day in court. We don't have Stalin running the place."

We, however, agree with Jaffe. And we are appalled that Link would push through such a bill without proper hearings. As gambling increases in the state of Illinois, we believe that it should be regulated as closely as possible. If that means that regulators look harder at places that have had raids but no convictions, then so be it.

Let's try to be sure that the mob isn't making money off legal state gambling.

Thankfully, with Jaffe expressing his concerns, the bill has stalled in the House. Jaffe told the Chicago Tribune that he was never consulted about the language in the bill, which was provided by lobbyists for the Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association.

It's appalling the gaming board wasn't consulted before the Senate vote. Is it any wonder so many towns are opting out of the opportunity to allow video gambling?

It's bone-headed moves like these that make local officials and residents very leery of allowing any more gambling within their communities and very leery of state lawmakers as they continue to tout gambling as the way to shore up state revenue deficits.