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A race to build a casino in Rockford

SPRINGFIELD – Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said lawmakers have to move quickly before the city’s chances to build a casino are “virtually eliminated” by a northern rival.

Just 15 minutes away in Beloit, Wisconsin, the Ho-Chunk Nation tribe awaits federal approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to build a casino there, the Beloit Daily News has reported.

Some estimates say that project could employ up to 5,000 people and generate more than $5 million in annual revenue for the local government.

If that casino is built before Rockford has a chance to build one, “Illinois residents would bypass our community and our state and take their dollars to Wisconsin,” McNamara said.

But it’s unclear if Illinois lawmakers will pass a “gambling expansion” bill in time for the end of the legislative session on May 31.

No language for such a bill has been filed, but it would likely be similar to ones that were proposed in prior years but failed to pass, which would have created six more state casino licenses. Illinois currently has 10 casinos.

“We have talked and talked and talked about casino expansion, literally since before I could drive,” McNamara told House lawmakers in a hearing on gambling expansion earlier this month. “You hold all the power, we need you to take action.”

McNamara said revenue from a Rockford casino would help alleviate the city’s pension problems, because “in the not-too-distant future, 100 percent of our annual property tax revenue will be going to our state-mandated pension contributions.”

“We cannot afford to be outflanked by our neighbors up north yet again,” he said.

While there’s no timeline for federal approval of the Beloit casino, a February report from Wisconsin’s Division of Gaming estimated the project is “four years from approval.”

Rick Nielsen, a Rockford native and guitarist with rock band Cheap Trick, was in Springfield on Wednesday to push for a casino in his hometown. He and Rockford-area lawmakers held a news conference at the Capitol, and Nielsen also made an appearance on the Senate floor.

“I’ve been there fighting for some sort of casino going on for 15 or 20 years, and I guess my legislative voice is not very strong, but now it is because I’ve got these guys behind me,” Nielsen said, motioning to the lawmakers with him during the news conference.

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PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL, SMALL BUSINESSES.

SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP INTERNET GAMBLING!

Internet Gambling is a major threat to over 8200 local small business throughout Illinois. Please send a message to lawmakers to protect your neighborhood taverns, restaurants, veteran, and fraternal clubs and vote NO on Internet Gambling!

If Internet Gambling is legalized, many current patrons would be lured away from local taverns, restaurants, veteran, and fraternal clubs and instead play their favorite VGT games on their cell phones or computers, just to bolster the profits of online gambling companies. Internet Gambling will mean fewer patrons at local small businesses, and undoubtedly, result in lower revenue from food and beverage sales, in addition to video gaming. Please sign the petition and let your voice be heard!


SIGN THE VOLUNTARY MITIGATION PLEDGE


We are asking ALL ILLINOIS HOSPITALTY BUSINESSES to sign a pledge to be proactive and voluntarily adopt specific mitigation efforts in the event their region has a 3-day average positivity rate that exceeds 6.5 percent. We need to send the message that we are serious about public health and safety.


PLEASE BE PART OF THE SOLUTION and HELP KEEP ALL OUR DOORS OPEN!




The Voluntary Mitigation Pledge


We the undersigned recognize COVID-19 as a serious threat to the health and safety of our communities, customers, and employees. As such, we are committed and hereby pledge to continue enforcing the safety guidelines outlined by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Furthermore, should the 3-day average Covid-19 positivity rate reach 6.5% or higher within our designated Region, we hereby pledge to VOLUNTARILY take the following mitigation efforts within our GAMING AREAS:

    bulletLimit occupancy WITHIN GAMING AREA to ONE (1) PATRON per VGT

    bulletActively encourage compliance with the FACEMASK REQUIREMENT

    bulletDiscontinue FOOD & BEVERAGE service WITHIN GAMING AREA

    bulletActively prevent congregating WITHIN GAMING AREA


These voluntary mitigation efforts will remain in effect until the 3-day average positivity rate drops below 6.5 percent.


Fill out the form below to sign the pledge


Guidelines to Safely Reopen Additional Businesses and Industries as State Advances to Next Phase of Restore Illinois
Guidelines to Safely Reopen Additional Businesses and Industries as State Advances to Next Phase of Restore Illinois