HORSE TRACKS COULD OPEN UP ONLINE BETTING IN ILLINOIS

1 June 2007

Conservative Illinois wants revenues from expanding gambling to balance the books

The conservative state of Illinois wants to expand gambling by licensing bookies, allowing floating casinos to operate ashore and opening 4 new land casinos, according to a report this week in the Springfield Daily Herald newspaper. And at the heart of the proposal is a desire by Democrat state politicians to create additional income streams that could run into billions of dollars.

Governor Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones Jr., both Chicago Democrats, back the casino deal, but the fine print of the current plan is what is raising both eyebrows and opposition at the state Capitol, reports the newspaper.

The way the proposal stands at present, the state would legalise and license bookies to take horse racing bets over the phone or Internet. And horse tracks would be able to create electronic poker networks that could allow people to gamble online from their homes.

In an America where enforcement authorities and politicians alike are trying to shut down online gambling by disrupting payment systems to mainly offshore Internet gambling companies, this apparent carte blanche given to horse racing organisations is surprising. It has also attracted the ire of the World Trade Organisation, causing the U.S. to request that its WTO commitment on services be amended to exclude the pastime.

Without getting into the specifics, Blagojevich this week reiterated his support for gambling expansion if it means it'll finance his multibillion-dollar health care expansion. But in 2002, he was elected on a campaign pledge to oppose gambling expansion.

Blagojevich justified the apparent change of heart by saying: I'm willing to hold my nose if it means health care for every citizen of our state."

Blagojevich's comments came after he met for more than two hours behind closed doors with House Democrats in an effort to resolve budget differences and adjourn before June 1, after which Republicans gain a seat at the bargaining table.

It appears, however, that Blagojevich and lawmakers remain at odds both on what should be in the budget and how to pay for it. Many lawmakers don't share Blagojevich's health care priority, instead saying the money should go toward education spending.

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