Don't the Chicago suburbs have a new casino yet? We have been hearing about Illinois' small towns and their vying for new revenue for at least a decade now.
The state is attempting to reissue its 10th and final available gambling license by the end of this year, but the country's failing economy and the state's new indoor smoking ban may hinder companies from investing the hundreds of millions needed. The south suburb of Summit has already had to drop its bid.
"The times are too hard," Summit Mayor Joseph Strzelczyk told the Southtown Star. "It's obviously a shattered economy."
According to the Tribune, Calumet City, Country Club Hills, Waukegan, and Des Plaines all have business partners submitting bids for the license by today's deadline. The Illinois Gaming Board will announce a full list of applicants on Wednesday.
The available license was originally scheduled for Rosemont and its partner, Emerald Casino, in 2001, but casino sponsors were accused of having ties to the mob. In 2004, the town partnered with Isle of Capri Casinos and won the license, only to have the state revoke it a year later in order to restart the application process.
