On Friday, May 27 a bill which will see racetracks in Illinois transform into racinos cleared a House Committee. The bill had been voted down and thought to be dead just

two days earlier.

A report by the Daily Herald explains that the committee passed the piece of legislation by an 8-3 vote. Among other particulars, the bill had been modified to not force racetracks to reach peace agreements with labour unions in order to be eligible for gambling licenses.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who is against expanded gaming even though it would help the state's budget deficit, went on the record as saying that the bill is so big that it would turn the state “the Las Vegas of the Midwest.”

(With files from the Daily Herald)

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