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Illinois Senate Approved Gambling Expansion

By WEEK Reporter
December 1, 2010 Updated Dec 1, 2010 at 11:47 PM CDT

Members of the Illinois Senate also approved expanding gambling in the state, in a effort to bring in more money.

Senators voted 31-20 to give Chicago a land-based casino, add four more riverboat casinos, and add some additional gambling at horse- tracks.

The new casinos would go to Chicago's south suburbs, Lake County, Rockford and Danville.

East Peoria's Par-a-dice casino would be allowed to increase the number of gambling positions by two-thirds over the next three years.

Backers of the bill say it would bring in an additional Billion dollars a year to the state.

But, Illinois House members have gone home until after Christmas --leaving only a few days left in session to approve the bill.

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