Gambling Industry Contributes Big in Illinois

Gambling Industry Contributes Big in Illinois
Mark Wachtler, Chicago Independent Examiner


Chicago. The Chicago Tribune released excerpts of a study done by the paper detailing the money given to Illinois politicians by the gambling industry yesterday. The report also looked at the correlation between those elected officials who received money and those who didn’t, versus those who voted for the massive expansion of gambling in Illinois and those who didn’t. What they found since the beginning of 2010 wasn’t surprising.

According to the numbers released in yesterday’s Sunday Chicago Tribune, nearly 75 percent of Illinois state legislators who received funding from gambling companies and their lobbyists also voted in favor of the largest gambling expansion in Illinois history. And to add profit to politics, those that voted in favor of the massive gambling bill also received an average of 60 percent more money than those who refused to help the gambling industry expand in Illinois.

The report showed that the gambling industry wasn’t partisan either. They gave to Republicans and Democrats alike. Not surprisingly, party leaders received the most during the past 18 months. Here are the top recipients of gambling contributions over that time period:

Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) - $122,200
Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) - $91,500
House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) - $75,034
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) - $73,953
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) - $54,400.
Other high-ranking government officials who also received gambling money including Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

While critics argue that such contributions should be illegal as in some other states, gambling industry lobbyists argue differently. The Tribune quotes Wade Duty, executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association saying, “Donations come with the expectation of access, but not support. It will likely grant you a greater degree of influence.” Louisiana banned gambling contributions in the mid-1990’s. Six states in all ban such donations.

Other critics of gambling expansion have added their voices also, some from the past. Most upsetting to Chicago residents is the legalization of neighborhood gambling – slot machines inside every store, bar, restaurant and club. It’s called ‘convenience gambling’ and anti-gambling activists cite it as the most destructive form of the addictive pastime.


Slate.com describes it like this, “Experts deplore convenience gambling. It is extremely dangerous to addicts. Every trip to the store becomes a temptation. Video poker, which is fast and requires skill, is known as "video crack" because it is by far the most addictive form of gambling.”

They went on to say, “Most alarmingly, convenience gambling exacts huge social costs in the form of addiction and financial hardship without providing any economic benefit. Unlike casino gambling, convenience gambling does not bring with it hotels, restaurants, tourists, or good jobs.” "There is no pretense that this is about tourism or about a nice night out or this is entertainment. This is hard-core, grab-the-paycheck gambling" said Tom Grey, founder of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion.

GamblingExposed.org also gives us the following statistics regarding neighborhood gambling:

Bankruptcy rates average approximately 18 percent higher in casino communities.
Local businesses, especially restaurants, will show a significant decrease in sales.
Gambling addictions will increase by approximately 10 percent within a 50 mile radius.

Social costs of gambling consume at least $3 for every $1 generated.
While critics and supporters alike argue over the merits of expanded gambling in Chicago and throughout Illinois, the state legislature will continue to wait for Senate President Cullerton to release the gambling expansion legislation. While the bill has already been passed by both houses, Cullerton has refused to release it to Governor Quinn for his signature, or possible veto. While supportive of expanded gambling in Illinois, the Governor has publically denounced the massive level of the expansion. Whether or not the Governor vetoes the legislation remains to be seen.