The city of Springfield has sent to a letter to members of Illinois’ House of Representatives and bodies, imploring that a casino be built there. The call comes following legislation passed by the State Senate last week, where the state could license up to six new casinos.
Springfield is not mentioned in the Senate proposal. Instead, the cities Rockford and Danville would be granted the right to bid for a casino license, and other casinos could be established in the future in Lake County and specified Chicago suburbs such as Orland Park, Oak Lawn or Chicago Heights.
However, Springfield is adamant that it won’t be kept out of Illinois’ planned gambling expansion, especially the financial benefits that come with it, and have already petitioned legislators in the House of Representatives, the State Senate and the Governor himself, Bruce Rauner, about being included in the plan. The city’s mayor, Jim Langfelder, signed off on a letter asking to be allowed to host a casino with 900 gaming machines or tables. The letter was also signed by eight of the city’s ten council aldermen.
The city pointed out that a casino would be exactly what it needs to get out of the current economic rut it finds itself in, considering that 40% of the buildings in its downtown do not generate property taxes. Around $100 million in yearly tax revenues could be brought in should a new casino be constructed in downtown Springfield, estimated the State Journal-Register which reported on Springfield’s lobbying efforts.
The city is desperate to fill its coffers with much needed funds, and the letter states that the $25 million share that the city would receive from a casino would be used to provide support to local school districts, as well as the he Prairie Capitol Convention Center, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library And Museum and the State Fairgrounds Foundation.
In the the State Journal-Register report, a local lobbyist, Chris Stone was quoted as saying: “It’s something that is a lot easier sell when you’re talking about carve-outs; what should go to gaming funds and what should go to Springfield to help rebuild and revitalize.”
Stone himself is one of several operators hoping to grab a piece of the proverbial pie should their lobbying efforts succeed and Springfield is considered as a candidate. It is hoped that the letter sent by the mayor would allow Springfield to bid for a casino license. Should state legislators grant Springfield a license, the mayor will put the final decision of whether to open a downtown casino to city voters.
