Expansion unfair to existing casinos

In light of the passage of the massive gaming expansion bill, we must take a hard look at what exactly is best for both the Northwest suburbs and the entire state of Illinois.

The debate for a Chicago casino surely has its merits, as does increasing the number of positions at our existing casinos. The increased positions would make the Illinois casinos more competitive with casinos in Indiana where they are allowed up to 2,500 gaming positions.

A downtown Chicago casino aside, however, doubling the number of casinos in Illinois will only kill jobs in current casino communities and future ones like Des Plaines. The bill will exacerbate an already saturated Illinois gaming market. Further, allowing slot machines at racetracks would more than double the number of slots in Illinois — a state where there simply aren’t enough gamblers to support so many gambling facilities.

Why would we flood the gambling market just as the Des Plaines Rivers casino is about to open, especially by placing a “racino” just seven miles from Des Plaines at Maywood Park and another only 13 miles away at Arlington Park?

Making Illinois the Las Vegas of the Midwest would kick the gambling industry while it is already down. Studies have shown that the new casino licenses and slots at tracks would decrease revenues a minimum of another 20 percent — for a total of a 50 percent decrease since 2007. Casino staffing will be reduced by an additional 700 to 800 people — on top of 1,450 fewer employees in the last three years, a 17.7 percent decrease.

It would be irresponsible of the governor to sign the most massive expansion of gambling in Illinois history, especially one that would set the new Des Plaines casino up to fail.

Scott Seifert

Board president

Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce