Opinion

Urge governor to veto gambling bill

Posted June 11, 2010 11:00 pm

The Illinois House passed and sent to the governor HB 4927 - a very bad bill. It would make it impossible for the State Gaming Board to regulate who operates some 45,000 Video Poker Machines to be allowed in neighborhoods throughout the state. Promoters of Video Poker Machines promised the machines would be carefully regulated to keep the mob out. HB 4927 makes that impossible. It restricts the ability of the Illinois Gaming Board to deny licenses to felons and others affiliated with organized crime.

HB 4927 would give amnesty to operators who have illegally operated video poker machines in bars for years, probably shielded by the mob.

Aaron Jaffe, chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, says this bill is a disaster. HB 4927 would require a felony conviction of gambling charges before the Gaming Board could deny a license to operate video gambling machines in Illinois.

Very few of those running illegal video poker are ever convicted. This bill makes it possible for those who have run illegal video poker to get licenses to run legal video poker. It will circumvent the rule the Gaming Board adopted in January to require applicants for licenses to attest under oath that they never operated video poker illegally.

HB 4927 would allow video gambling at truck stops 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call Governor Pat Quinn (800) 642-3112. His veto is the only way to stop this bad bill.

Beth Paschall

Palos Heights

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