Casino Queen Looks Towards Expansion
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — 24th September, 2007
A representative of the Casino Queen has stated that the casino would “absolutely” expand it to include more slot machines and gaming tables if state lawmakers give it that option - Casino Queen has just opened up its new facility in East St. Louis.
But state lawmakers want to make any expansion of gaming far more expensive for the casinos if they allow it at all and the Queen, and Illinois’ eight other casinos probably shouldn’t bet on that just yet.
The Illinois Senate approved a major gambling expansion package last week that would create three new casinos and allow the state’s remaining nine to expand up 6,000 new “gaming positions”; gaming positions refer to more slot machines and seats at gaming tables overall. Illinois’ casinos are currently limited to 1,200 gaming positions each.
The Senate wants to raise money for the state — both with additional gaming taxes, and separate fees to be paid by the casinos for each new gaming position — and use this money to fund a new state infrastructure program. The measure now moves to the House, which could consider it in October.
