Counties Rejecting Video Gambling Plan In Illinois

Governor Pat Quinn was looking for a way to pay for new roads and other budget necessities when he went through with a plan for expanded video gambling in Illinois. It turns out, however, that Quinn may have underestimated his opposition to expanded gambling.

DuPage County became the first country to reject the idea of video gambling on Tuesday, and they may be only the first of many that may shoot down the governor's idea. The DuPage County Board voted against allowing the video gambling.

"People are speaking, this is a public process," said Bridget Gainer, Cook County Commissioner, "I don't think people realized what was happening and now that they do, they're ready to move."

The governor, however, does not believe that all counties will rebel against his plan. Quinn is certain that once counties see the economic benefits of the video gambling, that they will be on board. he also knows that it will take some time for these counties to understand the full impact of video gambling on the state budget.

Several people who have not been informed properly of the benefits of gambling expansion have sounded off on the issue. They believe that gambling can only be a source of destruction, even though many states across the US have proven otherwise.

"In my twenty-two years in law enforcement, I've seen how destructive these games can be," said Mayor Tim Baldermann, Mayor of New Lenox, and police chief of Chicago Ridge, "I've had so many calls from women over the years whose husbands have blown their entire paychecks at a video gaming machine."

Other believe just the opposite, and also have sighted Mayor Baldermann's use of words as an example of how many people in Illinois do not know just how far gambling has come in this country.

"Mayor Baldermann talks about these calls and how they are from women, but there is just as many women gamblers these days as there are men," said observer Kathy Baker, "it is an example of just how behind the times many counties in Illinois are living."

August 12, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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