Arlington Park Still Fighting Slot Machines

With the state of Illinois looking to add slot machines to Arlington Park, residents there have been fighting against it for some time now. However, they are more than aware that if the state chooses to bring in the slot machines anyway, that there is very little they will be able to do about it.

The village says that they have been very supportive of the Arlington Park race course over the years, but they don’t want to see slot machines come in. The village board had passed a non-binding resolution against the slot machines in 1997, but every time the state is short of cash, they look to bring the slot machines in again.

Now with the state looking to possibly add more than just a Chicago casino again, the issue of slot machines at Arlington is back on the table. The state is considering slot machines at all of the racetracks, something that makes legislators unhappy as well.

Many of them are opposed to the gambling expansion and feel that adding slot machines to the racetracks would just be too much. Both within the House and the Senate questioning it, residents are wondering if they have a fighting chance at keeping it out.

Lawmakers had a “closed door” meeting last week regarding slot machines and gambling expansion, and Governor Rod Blagojevich and other leaders came out speaking about slot machines again. Some said that they could get behind the expansion, but knew that it would be tough to get others to follow. Either way, residents know that they don’t have a whole lot to say in the matter, for if the legislature makes up their mind that this is what will be done, they will be getting slot machines.

 

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