The Illinois Senate is ready to roll the dice on gambling expansion, but Governor Rauner is hedging his bets. One of the pieces of the Senate's "grand bargain" budget plan that passed with only Democrat votes was the plan to add a few more casinos in Illinois, including one that Chicago would control.
Governor Rauner says he could go along with more gaming if it's part of a balanced budget package that includes reforms. Senators remain hung up on other key elements of the grand bargain, namely a tax increase and a property tax freeze.