Illinois Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) co-sponsored a bill just signed into law by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker that will expand the gaming industry across the state.
“For 15 years, we have been working tirelessly to bring this gaming legislation to fruition and pave the way for a development of a casino in the Rockford area,” Syverson said in the post on his website. “The authorization of casino developments across the state will keep critical entertainment dollars in Illinois, attract visitors and generate millions in new revenue.”
Under Senate Bill 690, Rockford and its surrounding areas – including Chicago – can expand their gaming industries to include casinos, sports betting and video gaming. This change is expected to bring in an immediate $360 million for 2020 and create thousands of jobs in building, expansion and casino positions. The resulting revenue for consecutive years is expected to be nearly $170 million, according to Syverson's website.
In 2018, the state of Illinois lost almost $1.5 billion to neighboring states in gaming money, making this piece of legislation incredibly important to the state's revenue. Syverson said the increase in revenue will be used to rebuild infrastructure, which will result in countless jobs for Rockford and Winnebago County residents.
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