Quinn should support slots at racetracks

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn would prefer to invest scarce state dollars and resources on Chicago-area casinos rather than preserve and grow the 30,000-plus agribusiness jobs found in almost every county of Illinois. That’s the thinking behind the governor’s latest campaign to rework a gaming bill that the Illinois General Assembly approved last spring. Quinn favors new casinos in Chicago and selected venues but is adamantly opposed to allowing slot machines at the state’s five existing racetracks, which would have the greatest impact on the state’s overall jobs economy.

Allowing slot machines at racetracks, which currently exist in 15 other states, would bring sorely needed revenue to our state, level the playing field with other horse racing states and ensure the retention of more than 30,000 jobs and the creation of more than 5,000. As in other states, the slot machines would provide extra revenue to allow tracks to offer larger purses and lure better horses, resulting in more bettors that would revive the ailing industry — at no cost to the state. That’s in stark contrast to the state promising $100 million in incentives to Motorola over the next 10 years in exchange for that company staying in Illinois, and the $3.2 million the state gave to Chicago-based Groupon. Quinn says he is open to working out similar deals with Sears and the CME group to entice them into staying.

The governor certainly got what he paid for when he recently commissioned an “independent” study on the impact of new gaming legislation: a flawed and biased report that relies on skewed logic and fuzzy math. Quinn still has an opportunity to do something positive for Illinois’ economy by allowing slots at racetracks. Saying no is a gamble Illinois can’t afford to take.

Dave McCaffrey

President

Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association