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Midwest Gaming and Entertainment LLC is hoping to develop a new casino in Des Plaines. They are awaiting a decision by the Illinois Gaming Board though. The board is meeting in downtown Chicago to approve or disapprove the new casino in Des Plaines, Illinois. If the board members agree that the casino is “suitable” for the area, it will open the door for Midwest Gaming and Entertainment LLC to start procuring financing for the venture. Once that happens, construction can begin as early as next month. The initial plan is to construct three or four buildings.

On the gaming board’s agenda is deciding on the suitability issue and consideration of Midwest’s plan for financing the development that includes a 140,000-square foot casino, two parking garages and two high-rise hotels. Midwest plans to build Illinois’ 10th licensed riverboat casino on a 20-acre parcel north of Devon Avenue and west of River Road. The site is located across from Rosemont. It’s been an entire year since the gaming board has begun investigating the issue. Of primary focus is the Des Plaines’ area “suitability” issue. Included in the investigation however was also an extensive background checks of all its key employees and investors. If all goes well, as expected, the board will vote in favor of the move and Midwest will be deemed suitable to operate setting the stage for the company to move forward on securing financing in preparation for construction. Up to 11 buildings on the property will be demolished to make way for the immense operation. The opening of the casino would likely happen in the next 18 months.

Once the casino in Des Plaines opens, it will open the door to the state and city reaping huge financial benefits from the move. After Des Plaines pays out millions of dollars in financial obligation it had committed to secure the casino, it will be left with an estimated $9 to $10 million per year in new revenue. That’s a huge number for casino operators and a huge amount of revenue for the state. After the recession, the state is excited about bringing in more revenue and needs the money to balance the budget and overcome its huge deficit.

Des Plaines 3rd Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz urged the city council Monday night to strongly oppose video gambling machines in town because they would hurt the city’s planned casino. The new video poker legislation, approved by the Illinois House and Senate but not yet signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn, could put more than 45,000 such devices in establishments across the state. This legislation would allow any type of establishment with a liquor license to allow video gambling.  Once legislation passes, municipalities would still have the right to ban them, however. “‘We need to be on the forefront of opposing gaming expansion,” Bogusz said.

The problem with the expansion is that it would cut into slots revenue for casinos in the state. There is a lot of revenue to be had in states, but there is a limited amount of revenue. Everyone wants a piece of the gambling pie these days and as many states move towards regulation and legalization of the hobby, the rules are still sketchy. It’s the first time that gambling will be used to fund state budgets and overcome the states’ deficits. No one knows how exactly it will flesh out or how everyone will be made happy by bringing gambling into the states. It is the first time each state is tampering with new gaming laws and legislators are debating how the laws should read. The only real law so far is the UIGEA. That is a law that targeted financial institutions. It focused on hampering banks from handling transactions to deposit or withdraw money if they were related to gambling online. The biggest problem states had was that due to the lack of ways for people to gamble, sent them to offshore gambling operators. Though the state legislators initially thought that the UIGEA, or Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, of 2006 would thwart gambling, all it did was send gamblers out of the country…along with millions of dollars.

Now, states learned their lessons and want to bring in gambling. The problem lies in how to regulate the hobby for the purpose of maximizing revenue. That is what legislators are tasked with doing now as 2010 begins. They want to create a law that unlike the UIGEA, efficiently regulates gambling and opens the door for states to reap the rewards.

The slot machine industry is celebrating some good news coming from two of the most unlikely places, Ohio and Illinois. Governors in the two states approved legislation that will add an estimated 40,000 to 75,000 new slot machines in the combined markets and this may trigger expansions in other states as well. “Annually there are approx. 25,000 slots replaced each year which means an increase in slot machine production. In Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn approved a public works plan that will allow bars and taverns throughout the state to add video poker and video blackjack machines. Each location would be allowed three types of machines and analysts believe anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 games could be added by next year. That means huge dollars for the states in gambling tax revenues. It’s a good time due to the recession. States are acting like kids in candy stores with gambling. They have had to struggle for revenues for so long due to the recession that slots are bringing an added hope to the markets.

In Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland signed an agreement allowing the state’s seven racetracks to each add up to 2,500 video lottery terminals for a total of 17,500 machines. Analysts suspect the games could be in place by next summer. This is a win for slot makers who will see a direct effect in their bottom line. “I would say it was a pleasant surprise because we did not fully anticipate the way this came down,” said Chuck Brooke, senior vice president of government affairs for International Game Technology. What is unsure is how other states will respond.  Will they be encouraging, or will them try to thwart the efforts? Will they think that the slots will threaten their own gambling efforts creating too much competition?

Kent thought Kentucky, which did not approve a push for racetrack slot machines earlier this year, could revisit the issue in the fall Kentucky tracks will have to compete with Indiana and Ohio tracks, which will have slot machines. Meanwhile, analysts thought casino operators in neighboring states would be forced to update their slot machine floors to deal with the expansion.  Overall it is good news for legislators who are looking positively for the increase in revenue.

Recently Aurora authorities evacuated the Aurora Casino after a suspicious package was reported by an employee. The surrounding building had to be evacuated as well including all areas within a specific radius. Aurora police said they and city firefighters were called to the casino about 11:50 a.m. Saturday. The casino and surrounding buildings were evacuated and vacant for about an hour.

The whole thing happened because a casino employee found a device attached to his car.  When casino security was notified they immediately called in the bomb squad which determined that the device was not a threat after all.  This is bad news for proponents of gambling. One of the biggest argument against bringing gambling into the state is the reality of an increase in crime, corruption and addiction. Opponents believe that along with gambling, comes crime. They cite the fact that money laundering and theft are both realities of gambling. They believe that if legislators are lax and start legalizing gambling more and more within states, that will call for an added police force to monitor the situation. In the case above, the bomb squad had to be called in, and that costs tax payers money. Overall opponents to gambling and casinos cite the cost as being too large to stomach by an already financially strained state. they also believe that with legalization, more and more situations like the above are going to happen. Is the state ready to handle the added cost? Most states are not ready due to the recession of the past year. Most have struggled to manage throughout the recession and are now just gaining a footing in the difficult economy.

The rise in crime may give legislators more weight when it comes to fighting legalization of gambling an dcasinos. The issue is still divided with neither side coming out considerably stronger than the other. Votes are mostly down the middle in terms of deciding to bring gambling to an area. It’s a difficult time for legislators, but overall they will most likely try to use gambling as a means of bringing in money. Without it, they are at a loss for finding other ways of generating funds.

Gambling on horse races over the Internet could become legal in Illinois. The Illinois Racing Board is scheduled to weigh giving three companies state licenses to handle online bets in a Chicago meeting this week.  If those companies are approved, gamblers could use the approved Web sites to wager on horses without having to leave home. The three companies have the necessary infrastructure to begin immediately, all they await is approval of the board. The infrastructure is in place because the sites are already in use, but are unregulated and currently illegal.

Since the recession, racetracks have had a difficult time dealing with their hefty budgets and little revenue. The lack of jobs caused people to stop spending and race tracks were their last priority. It made most race tracks have to make serious changes in their budgets. Most had to at least lay-off workers temporarily to make ends meet. Others had to close altogether. The biggest goal of every race track is to find ways to bring in added revenue. Most are looking to bring in slots. Slots have over the course of the last decade saved more than a few businesses from going under. There is a reason why slots have lasted since their invention back in the 1800s. The games are highly popular and are a sure-fire way to bring in more customers. That’s why pubs, casinos, bars and other popular areas are looking to bring them in. That is also why race tracks are hoping to capitalize on their popularity.

Illinois, like most other states, is having a difficult time managing. The deficit is huge due to the last recessionary year and has little options to bring in added dollars. Many programs are set to be cut incuding education and road development. Without some type of support, the state won’t be able to meet  the budget. That is why the racing board is pushing hard to bring in alternative ways of cash generation. The novel idea of allowing people to gamble on races from their homes is a lucrative possibility. If it does go through, the gambling will help to save the state with hefty tax-revenue dollars.

A budget deficit in Illinois will likely lead to the passage of the state’s Video Gaming Act, one analyst said recently.  The act would allow video gambling machines to be installed at locations throughout the state. Brian McGill of Janney Capital Markets said in a client note that the Video Gaming Act, which was approved by Governor Pat Quinn last year, would bring in about $300 million in revenue for the state.  That could be a boon for gambling machine suppliers like Bally Technologies Inc., International Game Technology and WMS Industries Inc. during the second half of 2011, McGill said. However, since the governorship is up for grabs in November, there are worries that with divided parties, the state’s Video Gaming Act would be repealed.  There are serious challenges to Quinn. He took power after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s was ousted over corruption charges that included allegations that he tried to sell the Senate seat held by President Barack Obama.

If a Republican wins, McGill said it’s possible that there would be an attempt to repeal the gambling act. Any such move would still need the backing of the legislature. Quinn held a tiny lead Wednesday over Comptroller Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary. The margin of less than 1 percent was enough for Quinn to claim victory, but Hynes insisted the fight was not over.  On the Republican side, as of this article, the race between Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard is too close to call.

Overall video gaming is looked at as a positive move for the state because it would bring in the much needed tax revenue. Illinois, like most other states post-recession, is struggling with huge deficits in funding. So far, the only viable option without funding is to cut valuable programs in schools, public works and development. In particular, legislators are fighting for education funding to be found so it doesn’t limit student’s growth. Despite the Republican opposition to gaming, they still may rescind their decision and opt to bring video slots into the state but regulate them heavily. In today’s economy it is difficult to totally say no to the millions of gambling dollars available with video gaming and gambling overall.

“These machines are designed to be addictive,” said Illinois’ Kane County Board Member Drew Frasz. He also believes that the state is looking to increase revenues, without worrying about the social ills that could come with expanded gambling. This is an argument that many states are embroiled in. Some believe that gambling would bring crime, addiction and money laundering to the state. They believe that it is too high a price to pay for having gambling. On the other hand, there are legislators who believe that the huge potential tax dollars that could come from gambling are a necessity in today’s post-recessionary market. They believe that without gambling, there are few options on how to handle the deficit. 

Illinois is in the midst of the same argument. Lawmakers in the state of Illinois thought that they were doing a good thing when they allowed video gambling machines at bars. In the end, legislators may have been the only ones who thought that the expanded gambling was a good idea. Kane County voted on video gambling machines and the vote was 12-11 against them. It made Kane County another jurisdiction that is asking for gambling to be kept out of the area. 

Most states are in the process of expanding their video gambling activities. They see the amount of money possibly coming in and want to keep it in their jurisdictions. It’s difficult to say no to the millions of dollars gambling bring in—especially with the recession as disastrous as it was. It left states and local governments at a loss when it comes to overcoming huge deficits and expenses. The problem is that smaller jurisdictions, like counties, still have the power to vote on whether or not they want to allow gambling in. A surprising number are opting to keep the games out. States are pushing for gambling and most likely it will only be a matter time before gambling is brought in. Despite opposition, people want to be able to gamble. And states are not going to want to continue closing that door, sending people to neighboring states to gamble. They are going to want to keep the millions of potential dollars in their state.

Illinois is another state in the midst of debating the issue of video gambling. The state’s Kane County board members are undecided on the issue, but want a new vote to be taken. The board believes that their stance on the issue may hurt them when they try to request funds from the state. Bill Hyatt, board member in Kane County, said, “It puts our legislators at a disadvantage as they advocate for us. We are going to pound our fist on the table and say we want more money coming back to the country. Well—we just passed a vote that said we are not going to participate in funding for the capital bill we pushed for.”

Kane County is just one of the areas that the state has banned video gambling machines in. The county officials are now noting they may have possibly made a mistake. The county, like all other counties in the US, are in desperate need of money as they recover from the recent recession. Though experts are saying the recession is officially over, they also acknowledge that true changes may not be seen until mid-2010. The unemployment rate is still high, the job rate is still low, housing values are still down and the market overall is still struggling to regain its footing in the world.

Kane County is just like the other counties that see gambling as a sure-fire way to bring money to their jurisdictions. The problem is that it opted out in earlier months and then suddenly, after more studies, changed their minds. The question is whether or not the state will recant their decision and take Kane Counties plight into account. Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz said, “It is kind of like when a child does not like the dinner that their parents made, so they tell their parents they are not hungry. Then, ten minutes later that same child wants dessert. Well the parent is going to say ‘No.’” The state most likely will say “no” to the new request for bringing video gambling machines to the county. Board member Bill Hyatt added, “We believe that video gambling could be a positive addition to our budget, but we have to wait and see if the state will agree.”

Legislators from all over the US are working to bring gambling revenue into their monthly budgets. It’s no secret that since the recession, states are suffering. Deficits are huge and expenses are being cut left and right to make ends meed. Without some added source of revenue, many states are in fear of having to make such drastic cut backs, that education, public works, building and road maintenance are all in peril.

In an effort to bring added revenue to states, many are looking to gambilng. Illinois was recently caught up in the debate over legalizing and regulating gambling because it approved video gambling machines in bars. This was thought to be a great idea– not only did it offer the government added revenue due to taxes on gambling games, but it also created another way for bars to bring in more money. Many are also suffering as a result of the recent 2008-2009 recession and have yet to bring in the same number of patrons they did prior to the economic downturn. 

Unfortunately, despite Illinois’ approval of gambling, Kane County voice their opinion by banning video gambling machines last week. The vote was very close, 12 to 11, but it was enough to keep machines out of the county. Kane County Board Member Drew Frasz said, “These machines are designed to be addictive.” He also accused the state of looking for the financial advantage of legalizing video gambling, but without any concern for the “social troubles that could come with expanded gambling.”  He believes that there is a steep price to pay for the millions gambling is projected to bring in. Not only are opponents bracing for a bigger cost regarding addictions, but they are also concerned with the rise in crime and corruption in their jurisdictions.

Although many town and counties are banning video gambling machines, many states are pushing to expand casino gambling. The reality is that if Illinois does not bring legal gambling to the state, gamblers will go to other states and take their money with them. Legislators are looking to keep money in the state as best they can.

So far state governments have given counties a grace period in which they can ban the video machines. That grace period, however, is almost up and when the final rulings are released, it may be impossible to ban the machines. 

Kane County is the latest Illinois jurisdiction to weigh in on the question of video gambling. The pastime is seeing a lot of controversy lately as counties and states work their way through the legal aspect of gaming. Gambling is a number one priority in the world today. It means millions of dollars to the jurisdiction that is debating and can provide a lot of budget funding for legislators. With millions of dollars at stake, it is no wonder that many counties and states are fighting vehemently over the question of whether or not to allow it and how it should be managed. 

Kane County is another jurisdiction to voice its concerns over the issue. Board members are looking into the future of video gambling within the area. The board wants another vote on the issue once they are able to sit down with state lawmakers and discuss the problems. Kane County is one of many areas in Illinois that has banned the video gambling machines. Upon further investigation, however, the Board now believes their stance on the issue may hurt them when they try to obtain funds from the state.

“It puts our legislators at a disadvantage as they advocate for us,” said board member Bill Hyatt, “We’re going to pound our fist on the table and say we want more money coming back to the county. Well, we just passed a vote that said we’re not going to participate in funding for the capital bill we pushed for.” Now that Kane County has seen the power of gambling and seen the error of their moves, other jurisdictions may soon follow suit. State lawmakers are passing on the video gambling laws to help counties and town make it through the difficult post-recessionary times. Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz said, “It is kind of like when a child does not like the dinner that their parents made, so they tell their parents they are not hungry. Then, ten minutes later that same child wants dessert. Well the parent is going to say ‘No.’”  His point was that Illinois lawmakers will be watching closely the jurisdictions that denied their help for increasing revenue. When those areas come back looking for funding, lawmakers most likely will deny them.