By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – As long as we are talking about sports betting, how about more casinos?
An Illinois House committee Thursday heard testimony for and against. Tom Swoik of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association is concerned about cannibalization. Leaders from Chicago, its north and south suburbs, southern Illinois, Rockford, and Danville all are in favor.
“Gambling does not produce anything or add any value or wealth to the economy,” said a Springfield pastor, Rev. Trajan McGill, “whereas a factory, a restaurant, a farm, a building contractor, or any number of businesses take resources and labor and combine them to construct something new, actually increasing the amount of total wealth in the economy.”
Disagreeing: Vermilion County (Danville) board chairman Larry Baughn, who recounted a recent trip to Indiana and Michigan.
“We ate five meals, we shopped at the local mall, and gambled,” he said. “We went there to gamble, but the shopping happened because we just drove by the mall and saw it. The dozens of malls and restaurants were not there before the casino.” Baughn then invoked the famous movie line “If you build it, they will come.”
Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget relies in part on legalized sports betting. There’s no bill now for any new gambling.
The legislative session ends May 31.
