By JIM TALAMONTI
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — Legislation to advance casinos at horse-racing facilities once again failed to reach the finish line this year in Illinois.
Senate Bill 1473 provided for construction of a new harness track and casino in Macon County and the expansion of gambling opportunities for Fairmount Park in Collinsville.
Nicole Bateman, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County, told the Illinois Senate Executive Committee last week that private investment in the racino would add $27 million in revenue to state and local economies.
“This is a chance to create a tourism destination for Illinois while reviving the equestrian industry that we have nearly lost,” Bateman said.
A number of small businesses in the Decatur area filed witness slips in opposition to the legislation. The Senate Executive Committee passed SB 1473 unanimously, but the measure was not called for a vote on the Senate floor before the legislative session ended last weekend.
State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, sponsored SB 1473. Joyce said Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky are thriving with racino businesses.
“Illinois is the only one that’s going in the wrong direction. We’re trying to right a wrong. We’re trying to advance the ball for an industry that employs thousands,” Joyce said.
The bill would have doubled the number of off-track betting licenses for Fairmount Park from nine to 18.
While SB 1473 stalled like other recent efforts to expand gambling at horse-racing facilities, two previously-approved projects have yet to develop.
Gaming expansion legislation passed in 2019 granted the operators of Hawthorne Race Course options to include slot machines at their current track in Stickney and to develop another racino in Chicago’s south suburbs.
With no progress reported, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, questioned Hawthorne representative Jim Stumpf.
“Not many people are offered a casino license and decline to open it,” Harmon said.
“We have not declined to open it, President Harmon. We have had difficulties in arranging financing. We also intend to continue to pursue the south suburban track and casino. We’re working with potential financiers to fund that development also,” Stumpf said.
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association President Jeff Davis urged lawmakers to approve other projects and support SB 1473.
“The state should not be indefinitely tied to one company for revenue. We have done a study that estimates that the lack of development by Hawthorne has cost the state $100 million in capital funds,” Davis said.
State legislators raised taxes on sports betting at the end of the legislative session, but they failed to advance internet gambling or racino measures.
Joyce promised to continue having discussions.
“The horse racing industry has been on life support for the last several years,” Joyce said. “At some point, we need to do something for this industry.”