The Village of Johnsburg (McHenry County) overwhelmingly voted to support the Illinois capital program by approving video gambling within the Village. As the single largest funding source of the Illinois capital bill, the new state-managed video gaming system will help support the $31 billion investment program and the 439,000 jobs it will create.

 

Johnsburg is has joined a growing list of communities and counties across the state that have recently taken action to support the capital bill and all its funding sources.

Chicago Tribune

July 15, 2010

Letter to the Editor; Jeffrey Krozel

 

If Chicago doesn't opt-in to the state-managed video gambling system, the capital program will need to be cut by more than $2 billion.

Chicago Tribune

July 13, 2010

By Kathy Bergen, Tribune Reporter

 

While Illinois continues its biggest borrowing spree in recent years, it is paying a steep premium for loans because of its failure to significantly address its financial crisis, observers say.

In peddling another $900 million in Build America capital projects bonds on Wednesday, Illinois could face interest costs of about $9 million a year more than if the state were in better financial shape. The extra costs would total about $225 million over the life of the bonds.

Crain's Chicago Business

June 28, 2010

By Paul Merrion

 

It looks like a safe bet that video gambling in Illinois won't come close to producing the nearly $300 million in new revenue expected in the coming fiscal year, putting a big crimp in the state's five-year, $31-billion plan to create about a half-million jobs building highways, schools and other long-term infrastructure projects.

While the number of communities opting out of last year's law allowing video poker machines in Illinois has slowed to a trickle, logistical problems and continuing controversies over licensing and other legal issues are likely to keep the new machines from operating anywhere in the state until fiscal 2011 is almost over.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010

CONTACT: BRAD HAHN
630-606-1394

 

Leaders call on Ald. Schulter to make good on promise

CHICAGO—Residents representing a broad coalition of business, labor, community and neighborhood organizations gathered at City Hall Wednesday to urge the Committee on License and Consumer Protection to support new jobs and community investment by lifting the city’s ban on the new, state-managed video gaming system that is critical for funding the Illinois capital bill.

 

Peoria Journal Star

June 10, 2010

By Gary Childs

 

PEORIA - Video gaming's on in unincorporated Peoria County.

Rather than ban it, the Peoria County Board voted 12-4 on Thursday to regulate the activity that could raise $405,000 in revenue.

"If we vote to ban the sin, all the social ills would still exist," board member Allen Mayer said before the vote was taken. "(Video gamblers) would just jump over to these other municipalities.
"I support imposing a sin tax rather than banning it."

Daily Herald

May 31, 2010

Letter to the Editor, Walter Stowe,

Former Associate Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago FBI Field Office and Regulatory and Law Enforcement Consultant for BWI

 

I read with interest the May 17 article highlighting challenges facing Illinois as it implements a new, state-regulated and managed video gaming system necessary to fund state capital projects.

The article speculates on the potential difficulty of keeping organized crime from participating in the video gaming industry. After more than 25 years in law enforcement, I appreciate the concerns expressed. However, the issues raised actually support the need to transition to a state-regulated system from the unregulated world of illegal video gaming that exists today.

Peoria Journal Star

May 27, 2010

Editorial

 

This afternoon, members of a Peoria County Board committee will take the first step in deciding whether to ban video gambling machines in bars in unincorporated parts of the county. Such a move would have little benefit.

The $31 billion, multi-year capital construction plan passed by the Legislature last spring to build roads, bridges, schools, etc., is partially funded by the legalization of wagering on the machines, with the state taking a cut of the earnings in taxes. The devices have been used in taverns, restaurants, veterans organizations and social clubs around Illinois, but officially had been restricted to a "for amusement only" basis. Surprise, surprise, lots of joints flouted the law and paid out winnings under the table, secure in the knowledge that law enforcement had neither the manpower nor inclination to launch a crackdown.

Peoria Journal Star

May 27, 2010

By John Sharp

 

Finance committee recommends County Board vote on regulation in unincorporated Peoria County.

 

PEORIA - Video gaming in taverns and other facilities in unincorporated Peoria County should be regulated and slightly more than $100,000 should go to enforce it, a Peoria County committee ruled Thursday.

By a 4-3 vote, the county's finance committee recommended the full County Board vote June 10 to support the regulation of video gaming within the county and to appropriate 25 percent of an estimated $405,000 in new video gaming revenues to the State's Attorney's Office.