Illinois Governor Sending Ambiguous Gambling Messages

The Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn is still sending out confusing messages regarding his stand on gambling. The governor showed his support for gambling causes by encouraging the purchase of scratch off tickets for the Veterans Cash lottery game, however, the next day, he warned that he may veto legislation that would expand gambling activity in the state unless a ‘framework’, created by him, was followed by lawmakers.

Reforms to Illinois’ gambling industry have been in limbo since the summer months as Quinn stands his ground on the issue of slots at race tracks. While the bill makes provision for slot machines, Quinn’s outline doesn’t.

“My interest is not to promote gambling,” said the governor, one day after pitching for the lottery game. “I don’t think you can gamble your way to prosperity. It is an issue. I’m open minded to dealing with it along the framework that I outlined, but my fundamental focus is getting our economy on track.”

Quinn has threatened to veto the original expansion bill put forth by lawmakers, which would make provisions for five new casinos in the state, as well as slot machines at race tracks, airports and state fairgrounds.

“They can send me the bill they passed on May 31,” said Quinn. “I’ll be happy to veto out all the bad things in that bill, and there are many defects in it, and then I will put in the appropriate integrity safeguards and scale back the gambling casinos, and we can go forward.