CARBONDALE - According to a new survey by SIU's Paul Simon Institute of Public Policy, 52.7% of Illinoians support opening more casinos in the state, while 43.7% oppose it.
As reported by John Gregory of the Illinois Radio Network, respondents weighed in on five options for new sources of government revenue, including: broadening the sales tax, expanding gambling, or taxing retirement income. Only gambling received a majority of support.
“Sin taxes are always the easy out,” said SIU political scientist John Jackson. “Taxes on gambling, on liquor, and on cigarettes tend to be what state legislatures throughout the country tend to turn to, and they just don’t raise enough revenue. They wind up basically being too narrow.”
The newest gambling proposal would create five new casinos, including a state-owned gaming facility in Chicago. State lawmakers will hold a public hearing on that potential expansion next month.
