Arlington Heights' reaction mixed on gambling vote

Though Arlington Heights did not receive the Home Rule authority it sought from the gambling bill passed Wednesday by the Illinois Senate, neither side expects it to create animosity between the village and Arlington Park.

Village and racetrack officials agreed the legislation, which allows slots and video poker at Arlington Park as part of a statewide expansion of gambling, would boost its competitiveness with venues in neighboring states as it tries to stay afloat in lean economic times.

“Though it's not the bill we would have preferred, it's all about the viability of the track,” Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder said.

The legislation must now go before both the state House and Gov. Pat Quinn, who Mulder said has been particularly noncommittal on the issue.

Village leaders say the bill could also aid their efforts to find a buyer for the vacant Sheraton Hotel next to Arlington Park. With the track closed, such hopes would be sunk, she said.

Arlington Heights Village Trustee Joe Farwell said there's no ill will toward the track for the senate's failure to provide the village with Home Rule authority over the issue. Nor is there any expectation that Arlington Park would do anything to threaten its good relationship with the village.

“I'm concerned by the silencing of opinion of 57,000 residents of Arlington Heights,” Farwell said. “But as a trustee of Arlington Heights, I'm very concerned about the viability of the Euclid Road corridor.”

Arlington Park spokesman Thom Serafin said the bill provides a lifeline for the track.

“What's good for the village is good for us,” Serafin said. “All this does is give us an opportunity to compete on a level playing field.”

Though similar legislation has reached this point five times before and then stopped, Mulder said the need throughout the state for economic growth makes her more hopeful of a different outcome this time.