Gambling supporters say expansion debate not over

SPRINGFIELD - State Sen. Terry Link's plan to raise state revenue with three new land-based Illinois casinos may fall victim to the first rule of gambling: the house always wins.

The Waukegan Democrat released a proposal Thursday calling for 2,000 gaming positions at new casinos in Rockford, north suburban Park City and 4,000 positions at a Chicago casino. Link said Illinois could eventually take in up to $500 million a year in new revenue from the new casinos.

But powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, reiterated Thursday that his chamber won't take up gambling expansion this legislative session, which is scheduled to end May 31.

"Speaker Madigan hadn't seen this bill before he made his statement. I think he'll be very interested in the concept, it's a different type of concept than we've looked at before and I think he'll be intrigued by it," Link said.

A spokesman for the speaker said Thursday Madigan has not changed his position.

Allowing the new casinos to be built entirely on land, instead of on a riverboat like existing casinos, is a long overdue change, Link said, adding that recent casino projects have all but done away with the riverboat concept.

Senate President John J. Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said in a statement he "fully supports" Link's plan. Link told the Daily Herald he's confident the full Senate will approve the new casinos.

"I think you'll see bipartisan support in the committee and in the Senate," Link said, pointing to the need for additional revenue to fill the state's record budget deficit. "Twelve billion dollars in the hole makes it a little bit different."

But even if Link's plan passes the Senate, it would still have to win an unlikely approval from Madigan's House before landing on Gov. Pat Quinn's desk.

Quinn said shortly after taking office that he didn't think Illinois could "gamble its way to prosperity." But earlier this week, the governor seemed open to the possibility of more casinos. "I certainly respect both chambers and I'll see what happens," Quinn said.

Link claims the governor has definitely changed his tune on gambling expansion.

"If there's a bill on his desk, he'll sign it," Link said. "We've met with him, and he's made that statement numerous amounts of times. He's inclined to sign it."

A Quinn spokeswoman said the governor's office does not comment on legislation that has not made it to his desk yet.