1, they're going to have a smoking ban,' Yelton said. A looming smoking ban in Illinois casinos could have the same effect, he said. Yelton said Illinois lawmakers drove gamblers to Northwest Indiana casinos by raising wagering taxes four years ago.
'Everything they seem to do has backfired, and it's been to our benefit.' 'One of our advantages to Illinois is they, historically, seem to do everything wrong,' he said. Rod Blagojevich reaches a gambling expansion accord with legislative leaders, Yelton said, past practice suggests the state will botch the deal to the benefit of Indiana's five Lake Michigan casinos. 'I just see no agreement from those people.'Įven if Illinois Gov. 'Although I understand that the same political party has control of the House, the Senate, the governor and the mayor (of Chicago), all four of them disagree about what to do,' Yelton said. BY PATRICK GUINANE, Times of Northwest | Indiana's top gambling regulator isn't betting on a Chicago casino anytime soon.Įrnest Yelton, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, expressed little confidence Wednesday in a speedy resolution to the Springfield gridlock that has stalled efforts to authorize new casinos for Chicago and the suburbs.
