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CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois state legislators passed a historic gambling expansion bill on Tuesday that would bring a casino to the city of Chicago.
The Illinois Senate passed the bill by a 30-27 vote on Tuesday afternoon. The state's House of Representatives passed the bill on Monday. The bill now goes to Governor Pat Quinn.
The bill will also allow four additional casinos in Illinois, as well as slot machines for racetracks and at Chicago's two airports.
Supporters of the legislation have said the bill will generate up to $1 billion in annual gambling revenues for the state. Cash-strapped Illinois faces big fiscal problems, including using revenue from its new fiscal year to pay $8 billion in overdue bills incurred in the current fiscal year.
Chicago alone is projecting a budget deficit of $700 million in its 2012 budget, according to city officials.
The legislation must be signed by Quinn, a Democrat, who has said he is open to a Chicago casino, but has expressed concerns about the scope of the gambling expansion in the bill.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel welcomed the vote, saying a city casino will create up to 10,000 jobs "and help energize our city's economy."
Wider availability of gambling will likely erode business at the nine existing casinos run by units of Penn National Gaming Inc, Harrah's Entertainment and others in the state, where a tenth casino is expected to open soon.
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, said he was "very disappointed" with the vote.
Casinos in northwest Indiana, which include an Ameristar Casinos Inc facility, could also see a drop in business if Chicago residents choose to stay in the city to gamble.
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发表于 2011-6-1 04:46 PM
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