Arlington Park makes case for slots on website

Arlington Park gave the Arlington Heights area a $78 million economic boost, according to a website created to bolster the argument for slot machines and other electronic gambling at Illinois racetracks.

The website, arlingtonfuture.com was created to enhance an essay written at the request of the Daily Herald, said Thom Serafin, spokesman for the track.

A proposal to allow electronic gambling at race tracks has been introduced in the Illinois Legislature, and the Arlington Heights Village Board has given informal support.

Here are some excerpts from the track’s assertions on their website:

Ÿ Workers employed at the track and its restaurants earned $22 million; purses and fees totaled $21 million; vendors received $32 million; and capital improvements totaled $3 million. In addition, the track paid nearly $300,000 for water service, police and fire inspection services and elevator inspections.

Ÿ Palatine Township Elementary District 15 is the biggest recipient of the track’s property taxes at $801,000. Altogether the track paid $2.4 million in property taxes in 2010: District 214 got $429,000; the village of Arlington Heights got $262,000; the Salt Creek Park District got $250,000 and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library got $123,000. Four other taxing bodies are listed.

Ÿ The physical design of the space for slot machines at Arlington Park will be determined by the legislation, the Illinois Gaming Board and Arlington Heights.

“What’s clear is that any electronic gaming operation at Arlington Park, whether it’s housed within the Grandstand, connected to the Grandstand, or separated from the Grandstand, will be designed to complement the existing beauty and architectural appeal of the Grandstand and surrounding grounds,” the report said.

Ÿ Arlington Park anticipates spending at least $75 million to build the electronic gambling operation, and it could cost twice that, based on what has been spent at other Churchill Downs racecourses.

Ÿ The electronic slots are expected to be open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. 364 days a year. No state with electronic gambling restricts it to just the hours when there is horse racing.

Ÿ Almost $32 million in taxes would be generated by 1,200 machines, and more than $5 million of that would go to the village of Arlington Heights.

Ÿ The operation would produce 900 to 1,400 new permanent jobs plus construction-related jobs as well as protect the 4,000 jobs currently at the track.

Ÿ An electronic gaming operation with 1,200 machines is not likely to attract more than 1,500 patrons. On Mother’s Day, Arlington Park attracted some 27,000 visitors.

Ÿ A poll of 400 Arlington Heights voters shows 73 percent could support the proposal to add slot machines.

Ÿ Slot machines at Arlington Park would increase the racing purses by at least $10 million annually.

A long question-and answer page titled “Detailed Examination” covered the following:

Ÿ The state law as proposed would only allow slot machines if the track continues to have racing.

Ÿ High licensing fees and mandatory investment requirements contributed to the bankruptcies of two Indiana tracks that have slots.

Ÿ Delaware Park paid average daily purses of $58,642 in 1994 and $300,000 in 2002 after getting slots. When nearby states added slot machines that leveled off to $256,098 in 2008.

ŸIn Pennsylvania purses nearly tripled from $62 million in 2006 to almost $177 million in 2008.

Ÿ The essay runs lists of horsemen who have gone to other states where tracks have slots and farms that have closed or ceased breeding operations.

Ÿ Seven of the top 10 states or provinces in terms of average number of horses per thoroughbred race have slot machines at racetracks. Only one state in the bottom 10 allows slot machines at racetracks.

Ÿ Consumer spending at racetrack casinos rose in 2009 to $6.40 billion, a 5 percent increase over 2008 figures. However, during this period Indiana’s racetrack casinos had their first full year, and the Pennsylvania market continued to grow, according to the American Gaming Association. The commercial casino industry as a whole declined during this time.