Quinn's office: Gambling bill not as lucrative as promised

By Shamus Toomey

Glenn Lewellen covers his face as he leaves the Dirksen Federal Building Monday November 21, 2011. Lewellen is accused of being the inside man for a brutal drug dealer. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

Gov. Pat Quinn’s office said Monday than an initial gambling expansion bill passed by lawmakers would generate about $160 million in new annual gaming revenue – not the extra $1 billion that they say some have claimed.

That bill was never sent to Quinn because he threatened to veto it because it includes slots at race tracks, something he opposes. It does include five new casinos, including the first one in Chicago. Illinois already has 10 casinos.

A summary of a report issued by Quinn, produced by a Louisiana-based consulting company, also says Chicago benefits more from gambling expansion if there isn’t casino-style gambling at race tracks. AP

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