Gambling plan could change to ease pain on Elgin, Des Plaines casinos

SPRINGFIELD — The Democrat in charge of trying to usher a huge expansion of gambling through the Illinois House said Tuesday that he wants to change the legislation in an effort to spare current casinos some pain.

Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie said he wants to “acknowledge” that adding five new casinos in Illinois, along with allowing slots at racetracks such as Arlington Park, could take gamblers and revenue from casinos in Elgin and Aurora, as well as the under-construction facility in Des Plaines.

Critics of gambling expansion have argued that Illinois' economy can't support many more gambling options because revenue at existing casinos already has dropped more than 20 percent since the Illinois indoor smoking ban was implemented.

Lang won't yet say, though, what kind of changes he wants to make to the legislation because negotiations continue. He only said he understands there will “be some pain” for current casinos and that changes might help.

The Senate already approved the gambling expansion plan. If Lang changes it, the Senate would have to approve it again if the House does in the coming days.