SPRINGFIELD

SPRINGFIELD -- Talks have started again to possibly open a casino in Danville. This idea is part of the senate's grand bargaining deal to help raise more revenue for the state. However not everyone is on board bringing more gambling to the area. 

    While this alone won't solve the budget impasse supporters say it would create hundreds of jobs in vermilion county.

     Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer says it's time something big comes to Vermilion county and by big he says that's not an understatement.  Eisenhauer is pushing lawmakers to opens a casino in the area because of the benefits. 

     "People are looking between somewhere between 6 to 700 construction jobs and anywhere from 750 to 800 permanent jobs once that casino opens," said Eisenhauer.

    It's not just jobs that could come to the area. Eisenhauer says officials have estimated it could bring in $6,000,000 a year in revenue.

    "Which we desperately need considering some of our state revenues have started to decline when you talk about income tax and corporate replacement tax dollars coming to the city."

    However some people are concerned if a casino is built that will open the door for more gambling addiction. 

    "Something that we don't need and it will just cause more problems legislators always look for revenue but they never counted the cost of regulations criminal justice and social problems," said Anita Bedell with the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems. 

    Eisenhauer says he has a plan in place for a portion of the money raised by the casino to be used to help treat gambling addiction. 

    "Right now we don't have a funding mechanism to help them we have set aside a certain percentage of dollars that we would receive in revenue from the casino to help address some of those addiction issues."

 

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