Casino warrant checks net hundreds
More than 300 Illinois casino patrons were arrested in 2007 as a result of criminal warrant checks and four additional people were arrested for being unregistered sex offenders, state officials revealed Tuesday.
The Daily Herald revealed earlier this month that in addition to running the names of patrons age 30 and under through a database to ensure self-excluded problem gamblers weren't getting in casinos, Illinois State Police are also checking IDs against criminal databases for warrants and unregistered sex offenders.
Patrons age 30 and under are being targeted because that age group has long been asked for ID to prove they're old enough to get into the casinos. But in 2006, in a deal between casinos and the Illinois Gaming Board, both parties agreed to also run those IDs through a database of problem gamblers who have asked to be kept off boats.
Currently, the gaming board is considering extending the self-exclusion check to patrons of all ages.
More Coverage Stories Police admit ID checks in casinos turn up more than problem gamblers [01/03/08]
Gaming board Chairman Aaron Jaffe was unaware the additional criminal checks were being done and announced surprise and opposition to them when informed of them earlier this month by the Daily Herald.
Tuesday, Jaffe said the full board is discussing the issue and intends to make a policy announcement on criminal checks within 30 days.
Michael Fries, the board's chief legal counsel, said there were 318 warrant arrests at casinos in 2007 and four arrests of sex offenders who had not registered with police as state law requires.
Also Tuesday, Jaffe announced the board is extending the deadline, which was Monday, for proposals from investment bankers on handling the rebidding of the state's 10th casino license, which was previously revoked from Emerald Casino.
The board received just two proposals from Jefferies Co. Inc. and Capital Innovations Inc.
"We published (a request for bids) over the holidays and we feel that we may have cut off people who want to come in and bid," said Jaffe.
The new deadline is March 3.