Although most of the recent discussion in the Illinois horse racing industry has been centered around the now-averted Advance Deposit Wagering impasse, a public hearing on Tuesday (Jan. 28) in regard to state gaming expansion drew a large racing crowd.
A report by the Belleville News-Democrat explains that the public forum was attended by State Representative Robert Ritathe, who is sponsoring a gaming expansion bill House and is currently gathering input for his plan via public hearings.
The forum was also attended by Senator James Clayborne, who urged that workers and supporters of the horse racing and casino industries should "come together and come up with some form of compromise" to ensure that both industries can provide jobs and remain profitable.
In addition to introducing new casinos to the state, the gaming expansion legislation would see up to 900 slot-machine terminals installed at each of the state's horse-racing tracks.
(With files from the Belleville News-Democrat)