The number of casinos across the country is growing, not to mention online gambling, but programs to combat gambling addiction have not kept pace. About 2 million adults meet the criteria for 'pathological gambling,' according to estimates.

Springfield lawmakers are again pushing a number of bills that would expand predatory gambling in the state.  Illinois already has 10 casinos, 6 horse race tracks, video slot machines and Lottery terminals in our local neighborhoods.   A number of political...

House Executive Committee bills - HB 1536 and HB 2311 both expand video gambling by legalizing the machines at Social Clubs. This would allow thousands of additional establishments to have 5 video gambling machines each. One of the arguments gambling interests gave for legalizing video gambling was...

The Veto Session is November 27-29, December 4-6, and possibly January 2-9, 2013.  Governor Patrick Quinn (D-Chicago) told the Associated Press he believes a compromise on gambling is in the offing.  State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie), sponsor of the massive...

Gambling interests and Legislative sponsors have been pressuring the governor to “flip flop” and cut a “backroom deal” on gambling during the upcoming legislative Veto Session. Rep. Lou Lang, House sponsor of the massive gambling expansion bill SB 1849, is...

Various news alerts are reporting that the Governor has vetoed SB 1849, in part because it did not include a ban on campaign contributions from gaming licencees and casino managers.

Governor Patrick Quinn must decide if he will veto the massive gambling bill  SB 1849 today or tomorrow. This bill, sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Lincolnshire) and State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie), would authorize five new casinos in Illinois....

Please take a few minutes today to act on this important issue!   Elected officials in the Village of Antioch are planning to vote on an ordinance to ban video gambling machines within city limits. The proposal goes to the full...

Please take a few minutes today to act on this important issue! Elected officials in the Village of Monee are planning to vote on an ordinance to ban video gambling machines within city limits. The proposal goes to the full...

SB 1849, the massive gambling expansion bill, barely passed the Illinois Senate tonight by a vote of 30-26 with three voting present -- just an hour and half before the official end of the Spring Session. This vote, however, falls short of the 36 votes needed to over-ride a potential (and anticipated) veto by Governor Patrick Quinn.

Please take a moment to pray that our state senators will recognize the dangers of expanding gambling, and reject this proposal. After that please take two more minutes to call your state senator to urge him/her to vote against this monster predatory gambling bill. The Capitol switchboard number is (217) 782-2000.

Gambling revenue promises are rarely met. Gambling interests are pushing for a vote on a massive expansion bill during the final days of the legislative session. SB 1849 legalizes 11 more casinos, including a city-owned casino in Chicago and six...

This afternoon, State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie) called his bill for a massive expansion of gambling in the state of Illinois. Couching this anti-family legislation as "economic development," SB 1849 passed by a vote of 69 to 47 (with two voting present), but falls short of the 71 votes needed to over-ride a potential veto by Governor Patrick Quinn.

With two weeks to go in the Spring Session of the Illinois General Assembly, our state lawmakers need to hear from their constituents. Make no mistake, your state representative and state senator are hearing from dozens of pro-gambling lobbyists, who are putting on a full court press in these final days of the Session. Every lawmaker needs to hear from dozens and dozens of people back home in their districts.

The Illinois General Assembly is nearing the end of the Spring session, and politicians and gambling interests are turning up the heat to pass a massive gambling expansion bill that includes a city-owned casino for Chicago, land-based casinos in Danville,...