Gaming regulator doesn’t agree with expansion plan
The Illinois Gaming Board’s chairman says changes made to a proposed gambling expansion bill are merely cosmetic.
Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe tells the Chicago Sun-Times the revamped bill doesn’t address his concerns fully. Jaffe and lawmakers argued during a hearing last month over the plan to add five new Illinois casinos. Since then, the Senate has OK’d the bill.
Jaffe’s concerns included oversight of a Chicago casino and set aside revenues for particular groups, including economically depressed communities.
Lawmakers responded by writing explicitly that regulatory oversight of the Chicago casino falls to the state board. However, the casino’s day-to-day operations, including contracts, will be managed by a separate Chicago board.
Jaffe says it’s not enough.
Bill sponsor Democratic Sen. Terry Link says they’ve addressed Jaffe’s concerns.