Horse Racing Industry White Sheet (PDF)
Slots Fact Sheet (PDF)
COFGA Letter to Poe (PDF)
HOW TO SAVE THE CAPITAL BILL (PDF)
Racing Industry Recommendation to Create Stable, Sustainable Revenue Stream; Save Illinois Jobs
SITUATION
Video gaming at approved bars, restaurants and truck stops across the state is supposed to fund approximately 1/3 of the Illinois
Capital Bill, creating thousands of new jobs and energizing the Illinois economy. However, dozens of communities have optedout
of video gaming creating a projected budget shortfall of approximately $100 Million per year.
THE SOLUTION
Video gaming machines at race tracks is a national trend that has thus far been blocked by Illinois casinos, costing Illinois
taxpayers $1,000,000,000 and counting. By complementing race wagering at tracks with video gaming we can save the capital
bill. Illinois race tracks have been centralized and highly regulated gaming destinations for over 100 years.
Experts estimate that over $100,000,000 in stable, sustainable revenue can be generated for state and local taxes annually by
the addition of video gaming at the five Illinois race tracks.
THE NATION´S ‘RACINOS’
With only two exceptions (Illinois and New Jersey), every other state that has both casinos and race tracks derive gaming tax
revenue from the addition of slots at tracks.
| STATE | RACINOS | TAX REVENUE in 2008 | JOBS Created |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | $752 million | 4,948 |
| New York | 8 | $446 million | 3,413 |
| West Virginia | 4 | $430 million | 5,270 |
| Delaware | 3 | $210 million | 2,582 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | $302 million | 1,310 |
| Florida* | 3 | $114 million | 2,201 |
| Iowa | 3 | $108 million | 2,668 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $72 million | 2,268 |
| New Mexico | 5 | $67 million | 1,605 |
| Indiana | 2 | $51 million | 1,412 |
| Maine | 1 | $25 million | 324 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | $13 million | 1,050 |
* additional racinos have come online in 2009, more slated in 2010. Source: American Gaming Association’s 2009 State of the States
ILLINOIS HORSE INDUSTRY
The $2 Billion industry supports 35,000 agribusiness jobs throughout the state. Unlike other major forms of gaming, the strength
of the horse racing industry ripples through the larger Illinois economy—particularly downstate. In 2006 and 2008 the General
Assembly overwhelming passed legislation for racing to receive a 3% impact fee from the casinos. Though the Illinois Supreme
Court twice ruled unanimously, and the US Supreme Court rejected their case, the horse racing industry has still not received any
of this money due to an endless series of lawsuits filed by the casinos.
ESTIMATES FOR ILLINOIS TAX REVENUE
The Colorado-based Innovation Group studied the demographics and economics of the northeast Illinois/northwest Indiana
gaming market to gauge whether the market could grow. They concluded that even with more positions at the Illinois casinos,
slots at tracks would significantly increase gaming traffic on the Illinois side of the Chicago market. (2002, 2007 studies)
A win per unit/machine (WPU) of $450 at Arlington, Hawthorne and Maywood is reasonably obtainable.
September 2009—The East Saint Louis riverboat: a $299 WPU. East Peoria: $235. Metropolis: $237.
A $250 WPU is readily attainable at Maywood Park and Fairmont.
5,800 machines at the state’s racetracks would generate:
an Adjusted Gross Revenue of almost $800 million; gaming tax of $235 million; $23 million in admission taxes
Senate Bill 744 passed last year, authorizing 5,000 machines at the state’s tracks:
an AGR of $620.5 million; gaming tax of almost $175 million; admission tax of $19 million
In 2008, House Bill 4194 was introduced by Representatives Lang and Molaro, authorizing 3,500 machines at the state’s tracks:
an AGR of $560 million; nearly $153 million in gaming tax; $17 million in admission taxes.