Video gambling has been an issue of intense debate in Illinois. The lawmakers have been considering the possibility of legalizing video gambling in the state. Now, after a state appellate court rejected the law on the grounds that it violated the Constitution, it appears that there will be more vigorous discussion on the touchy issue.
A 1st District appellate court was unanimous in its decision that the move to legalize video gambling in the state and create higher taxes on candy, liquor, and other necessary items of daily use like toothpaste was clearly unconstitutional. The bill, the court claims, can have only one subject matter. The proposed law violated that condition.
Many leading gambling analysts including gaming analyst Steve Schwartz feel that the incident can now make the situation more complicated for video gambling owners and players. The law was brought to the present levels after tough negotiations and cajoling with the lawmakers. Now, to start all over again with new legislators in office can prove to be an uphill battle.
The decision has failed to cut ice with the Governor Pat Quinn. He is already preparing to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. The reason is not far to seek. It is nobody’s secret that the state will be faced with severe budget problems if the law is not put in place. The state expected to rake in millions of dollars in tax revenue from the bill. The decision has clearly rattled a lot of people who are in control of the state economy as they seem to have placed high hopes on the revenue from video gambling to set their house in order.
The next order of business for Governor Quinn is to ask the Supreme Court for a stay on the ruling of the appellate court until the higher court has an opportunity to give a ruling on the issue. The objective here is to buy some precious time as it will take a few more months for the Supreme Court to get around in handling this complicated case.
Video gambling has enough supporters among the decision makers despite the setback and the pending opposition. If the current bill is seen as inappropriate and violating the Constitution, then the legislators hope to come together and decide on a new gambling law soon. This is evident from the statements coming from most of the legislators after the law was thrown out by the state appellate court. They have very clearly reiterated their commitment to ensuring that video gambling expansion takes place in the near future.
In the distant Maryland, lawmakers have already approved five slot cases for the state, two of which are already open and the third expected to break ground this week. They have set their sights on the table games for these casinos. It is evident that once the gambling expansion starts in any state, it is quite difficult to control the momentum. What starts out as a small or medium sized slot casino can turn into a full scale, all-facilities gaming center in next to no time.
In Maryland, the lawmakers look to slow down the expansion process so that the situation does not go out of control and gambling centers are limited to a few locations.