Chicago Debates Overturning Ban on Video Gambling
A Chicago radio talk show host has introduced a “citizen’s ordinance” that would attempt to lift the Chicago ban on video gambling. The ordinance is assisted by Chicago’s mayor’s former campaign manager. On January 13, 2010, while scores of cities and counties across Illinois were “opting out” of video gambling, McGill introduced an ordinance that would do the opposite in Chicago, where video gambling is currently illegal. McGill said he exercised the right any private citizen has to introduce legislation to the City Council to help some of his friends who own bars and are struggling to keep them open. Many businesses are looking to slots and video gambling as a way to bring in added funds. It’s similar to the industry’s “racino” creation, which is a race track that opted to bring in slots. They used the added revenue from slots to maintain business.
“I’ve got one friend who’s back behind the bar because he was forced to let his bartenders go. Bar owners — especially in the African-American community — are laying people off,” McGill said. The Chicago Sun-Times reported last month that Daley’s former campaign manager Greg Goldner was spearheading his own campaign to convince the City Council to lift the Chicago ban, paving the way for as many as 15,715 video gambling machines across the city. After reading the story, McGill said he called Goldner to get “logistical assistance” on how to proceed. “Whenever you’re trying to create a movement, you get people with common interests together and pool your resources,” McGill said.
“We didn’t want to just fight against an opt-out ordinance. We wanted to fight for a funding source for the capital bill. We considered all of our options and, when Matt presented himself to us, we decided it was a good option to have a citizen introduction of the opt-in ordinance.” The Goldner-led company known as Back to Work Illinois also armed McGill with political arguments to counter those who claim the African-American community would be hurt the most by, what some have called the “crack cocaine” of gambling. Ordinances introduced by private citizens rarely get hearings, let alone pass the City Council. “At the appropriate time, I’m sure there’ll be a vote in the City Council. But right now, it’s very remote.. It will be quite a while before the Gaming Commission [even] establishes rules,” License Committee Chairman Eugene Schulter said.
Tags: ban, Chicago, debate, video gambling
