Two Illinois Senators are calling on the Gaming Board to address diversity in the gambling workforce. (Photo courtesy flickr)

By Claudia Johnson

SPRINGFIELD - A couple of Illinois senators used the occasion of Gaming Board confirmation hearings to rail about what they say is a lack of diversity in the gambling industry’s workforce.

Gaming Board appointee Maribeth Vander Weele tried to defend the board, saying short of taking away the licenses of casinos, there’s no remedy.

State Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville) and State Sen. William Delgado (D-Chicago) made it clear it was unacceptable for the Gaming Board to have rules for the casinos to follow but not have any consequences for not doing so.

Clayborne used an example to emphasize his point saying, “It’s like you have a son and you keep telling him to stop doing it, until there are consequences.”

The appointments did pass the Senate.