Illinois race tracks lobby to get video gambling as some communities opt out

Illinois race tracks lobby for video gambling

CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn says the Illinois General Assembly should look at the idea of putting video gambling machines at race tracks.

Quinn said Tuesday it’s up to lawmakers to decide if the idea has merit and should move forward.

With 40 communities or counties banning video gambling, the horse racing industry is again lobbying for machines at Illinois racetracks.

Racing officials say giving them video gambling machines could help make up revenue the state won’t get from communities that ban it.

But a state revenue forecasting agency isn’t sounding the alarm. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability says there’s no need to change its revenue forecast for video gambling.

Illinois is counting on money from video gambling to help finance part of a statewide construction program.