Discussions on expanding gambling in Illinois resume today (Wednesday, August 22nd) when State Representative Bob Rita brings together two House committees for legislative hearings.
Rita has been the House Democrats point person on gaming issues since 2003. He has proposed several bills on gaming expansion, including a large amendment to Senate Bill 7 that combined new casinos, race track slot machines and other concepts at the end of the spring legislative session. But the bill failed to muster enough support before the spring legislative session ended on May 31st.
Part of Representative Rita’s plan would include new casinos in Danville, Rockford, Waukegan and Chicago’s south suburbs.
One of the committees Rita will lead is on Gaming while the other is on Sales and Other Taxes. He says the hearings will focus on gaming expansion issues such as internet gaming, fantasy sports and sports betting. Rita says he hopes to build a consensus proposal that could be considered in Springfield after the November election. The committees are meeting at the Bilandic Building in Chicago today and on Wednesday, October 3rd at the Capitol in Springfield.
Rita says there are tremendous opportunities to create revenue, jobs and economic growth in Illinois by expanding gaming. But he added, ‘’The gaming landscape has changed significantly since I took on this issue five years ago, and I want to use these hearings to understand how those changes present new opportunities for us to put together the right package together as we look to meet budget needs and provide a spark for our economy.’’
