Vital Springfield officials are currently working on plans to bring a game to the state capital. However, the resolution that would have been a significant step in the process was tabled by the Committee of the Whole in Springfield last week.
According to Fox Illinois, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder expressed his desire for some adjustments to be made to the resolution.
This allows us to further refine our vision and goals, especially in the region encompassing the convention center where we can present our case effectively.
Securing a casino license in Illinois is a lengthy process, as anyone familiar with the gaming industry in the state knows. According to Langfelder, finalizing a resolution would just be the initial step in the process.
The 2019 gaming bill permits the construction of six new casinos in different areas of Illinois, excluding Springfield as one of the designated regions.
Nevertheless, the bill was approved in 2019, and no additional licenses have been distributed since then.
As a result, individuals looking forward to a Springfield casino may have to wait for an extended period of time in the most optimistic circumstances.
What makes Springfield like a casino, exactly?
Langfelder believes that a game could potentially lead to substantial growth and economic benefits for Springfield.
Although that is the primary reason, Springfield currently lacks any easily accessible gambling options, leaving it in a gambling no-man’s land.
The Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria is now the nearest casino to Springfield, Illinois. It is only a 70-minute drive away, making it a convenient option for those looking to gamble.
The six new game certificates cover the following regions: Chicago, Waukegan, Danville, Williamson County, Rockford, and the southern suburbs.
Danville, the closest of those areas to Springfield, is nearly a two-hour drive away.
What’s the situation with various brand-new games in Illinois?
There has been little progress on the Illinois casino front nearly two years after the passage of the 2019 gaming bill.
In February, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) deemed the plans for Hard Rock Casino in Rockford to be “preliminarily suitable” for a license.
Hard Rock has not yet obtained a license, even though it is a crucial step in the process.
Currently, the IGB has not yet identified which other applicants meet the initial qualifications. Some have voiced concerns over the IGB’s perceived slow progress since reapplying in October 2019.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is among the critics of the recent Request For Proposals for the city’s casino license. The city is aiming to choose a winning bidder by the end of the year.
Chicago has not yet submitted any application components and is lagging behind other potential regions. Nevertheless, Lightfoot is now urging the IGB to hasten the process.
Langfelder suggests that Springfield’s reluctance to confirm its quality is a result of all these contributing factors.
