IL State Senator Not Happy With Gaming Board’s Slow Pace

During the last year, the implementation of the Illinois gaming bill has faced several obstacles. Consequently, Senator Dave Syverson’s comments to the Illinois Gaming Board this week were critical.

Nine months previously, Hard Rock submitted a game plan.

Rockford representative Syverson has expressed frustration over the delay in approval for the city’s game proposal, which was submitted nine weeks ago. The game, which could be run by Hard Rock International, is expected to receive approval from the IGB by October.

Syverson informed The Center Square that it has been a year since the application was submitted in October. He expressed his frustration with the extended review process, deeming it “ridiculous” for a group to take this amount of time to review a straightforward application.

Syverson is disappointed that the IGB is not putting forth maximum efforts to promote growth during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Syverson believes that the epidemic should actually be a catalyst for accelerating their efforts.

Syverson asked IGB if they could begin their development at their own cost and start the groundwork while the weather is favorable to get a head start. However, the game board firmly stated that no work can be done on the property without risking contract cancellation, which Syverson found to be unreasonable.

IGB & rsquo’s response

Marcus Fruchter, the IGB superintendent, believes that the slow progress is due to the slow approach of lawmakers. He argues that legislators, who have been discussing the game bill for almost ten years, could have addressed the issues sooner.

Fruchter pointed out that legislators had the opportunity to amend the law over the past decade to make the casino software procedure less strict or more ethical in order to speed up the IGB review and approval process. Additionally, since the bill was passed in June of last year, the responsibilities of the IGB have significantly increased.

Roughly a year ago, Governor JB Pritzker gave the green light to new legislation allowing for the creation of six groundbreaking casinos in Illinois. Syverson believes that Rockford, where a casino operator is already in place, should be one of the top contenders for one of the new establishments. The circumstances in Williamson County in the southern part of the state are also comparable.

“Andrdquo,” Syverson suggested, “Both are eagerly awaiting approval. The other applications are more complex. Let’s prioritize the straightforward, clear individuals first. Once we complete those two and get them approved and operational, we can then move on to the other programs.”

The danger of holding off on constructing Hard Rock

Syverson has two main concerns. Firstly, it is evident that the longer the approval process, the more time it will take to generate millions in state profits and establish hundreds of new jobs.

Syverson pointed out that with the closure of casinos and video gaming facilities, there are 250 employees who are currently idle. The staff members working on the program are present and being paid, but there are also many team members with no assigned tasks who could have helped complete the program.

Illinois casinos face the risk of being outpaced by out-of-state casinos in certain regions. For instance, a proposal for a large casino in Beloit, Wisconsin, just a 30-minute drive from Rockford, could draw customers away from Illinois. Syverson worries that Rockford could lose business if it doesn’t act quickly.

“Opening up Beloit could attract visitors who feel comfortable visiting, possibly even retaining them after Rockford opens,” Syverson mentioned. “We could have outperformed them easily, but it seems like the game board is not concerned.”

Fruchter not only criticized politicians but also provided a vague response.

Fruchter explains that the Board does not have a predetermined timeline for its review and analysis process. The IGB refrains from making any predictions or statements about potential future actions, hypothetical operating plans, or specific timelines. The IGB simply acknowledges that it is currently assessing and scrutinizing the submissions from new casino applicants, without providing updates on the progress of individual applications.

We anticipate that the ongoing drama involving Illinois’ casinos will persist for the foreseeable future. Rest assured, we will keep you informed of any new developments as they arise.