Gambling | Backers say lifting city ban would save 130,000 jobs

BY FRAN SPIELMAN

More than 130,000 jobs will be lost - and so will the chance to convince downtown hotel guests to stop taking shuttle buses to Indiana casinos - if the City Council fails to lift the Chicago ban on video poker, business and labor groups argued Monday.
 The coalition known as "Back to Work Illinois" has already met privately with Chicago aldermen. Now they're trotting out a former FBI agent-turned-gaming industry consultant to counter the argument that legalizing video gambling will open the door to organized crime.
 To the contrary, Walter Stowe argued that going legit would get rid of unsavory elements now operating tens of thousands of illegal machines - many of them making payouts - without oversight, shared revenue or criminal background checks.
 Under the new law, video gaming terminals would be tied to an Illinois Lottery style central system that would allow the state to monitor every transaction. Potential operators would face criminal background checks.
 "If you start talking about organized crime involvement, it's there now," Stowe said, noting there's a pending federal indictment to that effect.
 "State regulation of video gaming will actually help law enforcement crack down on illegal gambling taking place every day across Illinois."
 Marc Gordon, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, argued that lifting the Chicago ban would be a boom to hotels struggling through the most devasting downturn since the Great Depression.
 "Video gaming conveniently available in hotels, restaurants and bars - particularly in the downtown area - will give Chicago one more reason why conventions should come here, helping us compete with Las Vegas," Gordon said.
 "Having video gaming ... will encourage our visitors to stay in Chicago and spend their money here."
 With hundreds of union members jamming the second floor lobby at City Hall, Monday's news conference and rally was designed to pressure aldermen. It didn't work with the key player.
 Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th), chairman of the City Council's License Committee, said he plans to "move thoughtfully" and deliberately "before any action is taken" to lift the Chicago ban.
 "While I definitely support finding ways to put residents of Chicago back to work, I don't feel that we have enough information yet to make a clear decision," Schulter said in a statement.