Is gaming expansion losing support? - Capitol Fax.com

* The Tribune?s latest poll has a plurality of Illinoisans opposing the gaming expansion bill that Gov. Quinn recently vetoed?

The survey results show growing opposition to new casinos and video slots at horse racing tracks, contrasting sharply with a similar poll conducted in February. The latest poll findings also appear to show that voters back Gov. Pat Quinn?s decision to veto the legislature?s latest gambling expansion bill in August.

Lawmakers have twice approved measures to allow five new gambling palaces for Chicago, Rockford, Danville, the south suburbs and Park City in Lake County, but Quinn has raised many concerns to block the measures.

The poll found 47 percent oppose the gambling expansion plan, while 43 percent approve of it. Those numbers are turned around from February, when a survey showed 50 percent of voters statewide approved of the gambling expansion plan while 42 percent disapproved.

In the new survey, almost half of Chicago residents, 49 percent, opposed the gambling expansion proposal, while 40 percent supported it.

Respondents were not told what the money from expanded gaming would be used for, but whatever. It is what it is.

* Graphics?

* Meanwhile, as Penn National fights against gaming expansion and slots at tracks to protect its Joliet and St. Louis casinos, the company is making the exact opposite argument in Maryland?

Election Day ? Nov. 6 ? could very well be doomsday for a Maryland horse racing establishment.

That?s how officials of Rosecroft Raceway see it. They predict that if voters approve the referendum on expansion of gaming in the state, it will mean the demise of the 63-year-old raceway.

Karen Bailey, director of public affairs for Penn National Gaming [PNG], owner of Rosecroft, said that they?re being squeezed out of consideration to develop a new casino in Prince George?s County if the measure passes, which will likely force the track to close.

?Rosecroft is not going to have a fair shot,? said Bailey. ?In order for us to stay open, we need to add gaming.?

* And President Preckwinkle wants to tax video poker machines?

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is interested in introducing a special gambling tax on video poker and slot machines, to the tune of $800 per machine, as part of her larger budget proposal this week, the Sun-Times has learned.

In a brief phone call with the Sun-Times, Preckwinkle confirmed that she?s examining a gambling tax, including on the poker machines, but declined to provide specifics beyond that. [?]

Zack Stamp, a lobbyist for the Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association, had no problem commenting on such a proposal.

?I don?t know if they can legally do that,? said Stamp.

?These businesses have made a substantial investment in this equipment with an understanding somewhat of what the tax target is going to be, but if you?re going to come back in and lop something like this on top of them, it?s just another hurdle to get a return on their investment,? said Stamp.

* Lou?

State Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, a champion of gambling expansion, also said he was surprised.

?I find it ironic that the same County Board that prohibited video gaming in unincorporated areas of the county has decided to make some money off of the video gaming devices where they can?t prohibit them,? Lang said. ?I find it unusual and interesting.?

Lang said he was most concerned that an additional $800 charge per machine could eat into additional revenue bars and restaurants would use to improve their businesses and hire more employees.

?This additional tax on games might have a chilling effect on economic growth and jobs within Cook County,? Lang said.

* Related?

* September revenue dips 1 percent at St. Louis area casinos: Casino Queen in East St. Louis saw its revenue fall 5.5 percent last month to $10.3 million compred with September 2011. The Casino Queen?s revenue had risen 8 percent in August 2012 compared to the prior year?s month. Argosy Alton saw its September revenue fall 5.1 percent to $5.6 million compared with the same month last year. Argosy?s revenue had risen 9 percent in August compared with August 2011.

* New video gambling machines start to go live at area businesses

* Video Poker Collection Timeline Unclear: The Illinois Gaming Board says it?s also processing applications from more than 2,200 businesses interested in running video poker machines.

* Geneseo Puts Video Gaming On Ballot; Others Already Rolling Dice

* Some win, some lose, some come for the pizza

Source: http://capitolfax.com/2012/10/15/is-gaming-expansion-losing-support/

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