A View from the Suburbs

Madeleine Doubek

Is a major gaming deal in the cards for the fall?
by Madeleine Doubek

There is more momentum toward a gambling overhaul than at any time since the passage of the riverboat law.

Are legislative leaders stacking the deck for a gaming deal this fall? Or are they conning casino owners and wannabe owners in order to keep campaign contributions flowing for the high-stakes November 5 election?

These are the questions confronting gaming insiders and opponents as a new gambling study group, dominated by suburban legislators, sets about examining state-sanctioned gambling.

State officeholders hit the jackpot with record contributions from those who own casinos and want to limit competition, and from those who want in on what they see as a multimillion-dollar monopoly for boats already on the water. It would stand to reason legislative leaders might seek to keep that cash coming by leading all parties to believe they are gearing up for a great gambling makeover.

But those who lobby for current casino license holders say the suggestion is off the mark. After years of discussion, industry insiders believe lawmakers are likely to pursue significant gaming changes, including expansion.

Most riverboat casino license holders are "making so much money that they don't need to be threatened to open up their wallets," says one lobbyist for existing casinos. "I'm hearing grumbles they're getting ready to cut a deal."

"I sure don't have any crystal ball view of what way it's going," says Adrienne Levatino, counsel to the Illinois Riverboat Gaming Council that represents current boat operators. "One assumes they'd look at all the issues raised this spring."

Arguably, there is more momentum toward a gambling overhaul than at any time since the state's riverboat casino act was created. While casinos in Aurora, Joliet and Elgin continue to float in cash, others in Rock Island and Galena struggle against competition from less-regulated Iowa boats. And more competition comes from the east. Donald Trump's floating casino and one other opened last month in Gary, Ind., with the benefit of a federal ruling that gambling on Lake Michigan is illegal. Those boats stay docked and gamblers can remain on board for as long as they wish. "That's a pretty significant advantage," notes Levatino.

Other evidence that state officials will push for a serious, wide-open look at gambling? All of the Republicans appointed to the study group created by Senate President James "Pate" Philip and House Speaker Lee Daniels are safely ensconced in their districts. Five of the six are from suburbs close to booming boat operations. And only one of the six GOP members has been an outspoken gambling opponent — Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald of Inverness, who may wield little influence on the 10-member group.

House Democratic appointees include Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie, who has championed gambling rights for Chicago, and Rep. Ralph Capparelli, a close friend of Rosemont Mayor Donald E. Stephens, who is a top GOP contributor on a crusade to secure gambling for his suburban entertainment empire. Stephens has lined up dozens of suburbs to help him push legislators for a casino in return for a cut of local tax revenues. Casino hopefuls in south suburban Calumet City are doing the same.

Republicans like to note none of them supported the creation of floating casinos in 1990, but none is shying away from discussion of more gambling, either.

Gov. Jim Edgar continues to believe riverboat taxes should be hiked. Western Illinois legislators desperately want to end boats' cruising requirements. Philip pushes for video gambling for fraternal organizations and suggests a post-election look at land-based casinos is in order. And Daniels repeatedly blocks gaming opponents' attempts to allow voters statewide a say in the matter and swiftly buries proposals to ban campaign handouts from casino interests. Meanwhile, Arlington International Racecourse owner Richard Duchossois says the racetracks need help competing with the boats.

Sound like a fix could be in the works? "I think we may eventually come down to expanding riverboats," says group member Sen. Doris Karpiel of Carol Stream. "I would be very surprised," says Guy Chipparoni, a consultant to current boat owners, "to see them not come back with a recommendation to expand."

Madeleine Doubek is political editor for the Daily Herald, a suburban metro newspaper. She has covered politics since 1988.