Edgar softens position against slots at tracks, then switches back

Saturday, Feb. 8, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

On Friday, he softened his public position on whether to allow slot machines at horse-racing tracks - but later shifted back and called the idea a mistake.

His remarks came one day after the five Chicago-area tracks called on the General Assembly to approve their long-desired goal of slots at the tracks. The track move is designed to help to support racing as riverboat casinos lure away bettors.

Edgar went to great lengths to emphasize he had not previously addressed whether Illinois tracks should be allowed to install slots.

"I don't think I've ever been asked about racetracks before," Edgar said.

When challenged, Edgar insisted reporters had not quizzed him about the issue.

"No. No, you haven't. I know," Edgar said. "You usually talk about riverboats..."

When a reporter cited 1994 as a time he addressed the issue, Edgar confidently replied: "No. No. This has never come up. Trust me. I know racetracks pretty well, and this has never come up."

In December 1994, however, the governor clearly rejected the idea of putting slot machines at racetracks. He even said he would veto any such proposal if lawmakers sent it to him.

"I am not in favor of that," Edgar said then. "I'm not in favor of expanding the forms of gambling, and that would be quite an extension, if we then went to slot machines."

When those remarks from a 1994 Chicago Sun-Times story were pointed out to Edgar's press secretary Mike Lawrence, he checked again.

Lawrence then said the governor did not remember making the comments and elaborated on Edgar's stance.

"He does think it would be a mistake for the Legislature to approve that legislation," Lawrence said. "He does not believe it will be approved."

During the news conference, Edgar maintained the idea is an "academic question" anyway because he does not think lawmakers would pass a proposal that would limit slot machines to tracks only.

He cited legislative efforts to put them at such places as American Legion halls.

"I'm not in favor of opening up slot machines around this state," Edgar said. "And I don't see any way you're going to get a bill through that goes just to racetracks."

Edgar has remained open to adding more riverboat casino licenses to the state's current limit of 10, but he consistently has said he is against a wide-open expansion of various types of gambling, including land-based casinos.