The bidding for Illinois’ tenth casino license is expected to heat up this week. The Illinois Gaming Board has narrowed the field down to three proposals, and the stakeholders have one last chance to make their case.
All three proposals are for a new casino somewhere in the Chicago region. The potential locations are Waukegan, Rosemont and Des Plaines. Bid teams are expected to make their final presentations to the Gaming Board Tuesday. The board plans to make its decision before the end of the year.One industry that’s keeping a close eye on the proceedings is the state’s racetracks. That’s because they’re supposed to receive a portion of revenue from any new casino. Racetrack owners in Illinois have been vocal for some time about casinos eating up their market share. The state’s legislature recently addressed this issue by approving 90-million dollars in subsidies for the racing industry. That bill is headed to Governor Rod Blagojevich’s desk.