The lawmaker seeking approval for expanded gambling in Illinois will conduct several hearings to get public input. The first will take place next Tuesday at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis.
State Rep. Bob Rita took over the expansion plan last spring after Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed past attempts for lacking ethical and legal safeguards. The idea would add five casinos, slot machines at O’Hare and Midway airports, and slots at horse racing tracks.
Rita believes expanded gambling would benefit the state and the communities hosting it.