South Suburb Lawmakers Implore Gov Pritzker To Help Speed Up Casino Licensing

Five lawmakers from the southern suburbs have written a letter to Governor JB Pritzker requesting his participation in the Illinois Gaming Board’s casino license procedure.

The operation has been moving slowly. In 2019, Pritzker approved the expansion of gambling by supporting six new casino licenses. However, the IGB has yet to issue a second registration.

There has been very little progress made on obtaining a license for the south suburban area. In contrast, projects in Rockford and Williamson County are close to receiving full approval, but the south suburbs are still far from reaching that milestone.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the letter had been authored by the five lawmakers.

Over the last two years, the residents of south suburban Chicago have faced many obstacles. One of the most impactful setbacks has been the local government’s failure to implement legislation designed to boost the local economy, generate employment opportunities, and raise income levels.

We urge the IGB to take action promptly. With each passing day that the casino project in the Southland is stalled, families in our community are missing out on the chance to access improved employment opportunities and increased incomes. In the Southland region, some households earn as little as $27,000 annually.

In 2019, numerous western residential developers applied for approval. The IGB was required to reach a decision within one year, or provide a written explanation for any delays in the process.

The one-year deadline passed in fall 2020, and we are quickly approaching the two-year mark.

In a speech addressing the letter, IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter expressed the following:

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) recognizes the importance of the new casino license for the communities in the southern suburbs. The application process for casinos is difficult but essential.

Fruchter recently stated that the delays are due to COVID-19 and the applicants themselves.

The next meeting of the IGB, which will include game reports as usual, is scheduled for September 9.

There is a backlog of applicants from southern residential areas.

The reason for the delay in processing southern suburban license applications, in contrast to Rockford and Williamson County, is the high volume of applicants.

There are four inquisitive engineers present, with some areas only receiving one bid. This means that the southern residential license will require more time, as each applicant needs to be reviewed by the IGB. Waukegan is a linked entity.

State Representative Anthony DeLuca, a politician who signed the letter, mentioned the possible participation of Pritzker.

I believe that governors, politicians, and legislators should not meddle in the gaming board’s current process, but they should actively monitor it. It is important to communicate our concerns to the Southland community, which does not seem to be happening at the moment.

State Representative Bob Rita also signed the letter. Earlier in the year, Rita had co-sponsored a bill for an online casino in the House, but it did not pass.

The most recent on various casino licenses in Illinois

As mentioned earlier, both Hard Rock Casino Rockford and Walker’s Bluff Casino in Williamson County are close to receiving final approval.

The IGB had previously found each ‘ldquo’ acceptable earlier this year. The ‘rsquo’ is the last step before final approval is granted.

The Hard Rock is in the process of setting up a temporary casino as they work on constructing their permanent facility. Walker’s Bluff, a few months behind in their construction timeline, is also in the development stage.

We have limited information outside of those two areas, but we do know that the city of Chicago is struggling to attract interest for its license.

Most of the major US gaming companies are choosing not to bid on the Chicago casino license due to high tax rates and other unfavorable conditions. Rush Street Gaming may be a strong competitor, but further details are currently unknown.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has extended the bidding deadline from August to October. Despite challenges in attracting gaming operators, Lightfoot has criticized the IGB for their slow process.

Some of these games will require years to be built. Meanwhile, Illinois carries on with its usual activities.