Gaming Board stands by rules allowing riverboat casinos to serve liquor until 4 a.m.

Martha Irvine

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000 | 3:26 a.m.

CHICAGO - Illinois Gaming Board members voted Tuesday to stick with their decision to allow riverboat casino operators to sell alcohol from 9:30 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Their unanimous decision came despite pressure from the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, to have riverboats match the 2 a.m. closing time for bars.

"Part of the concern is that you open up these boats and they become the bars of last resort," said state Sen. Lisa Madigan, a Chicago Democrat and Joint Commission member who believes local officials should have control over the hours riverboats can sell liquor.

But Gaming Board members said the hours they imposed represent a sizable reduction in the 22-hour period that casinos have been able to sell liquor. They also said that the 4 a.m. limit would keep the casinos competitive with riverboats in other states, including Missouri.

"It is progress. It establishes a reasonable set of limitations," board member Sterling "Mac" Ryder said before the board's 4-0 vote. Board member Joseph Lamendella was not at the meeting.

Some who attended were disappointed with the decision.

"Most of the people do not want alcohol sales at 4 a.m. because that's longer than what they have in local communities," said Anita Bedell, executive director of the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol Problems.

But Susan Gouinlock, executive director for Illinois Casino Gaming Association, which represents eight of the nine operating riverboat casinos, said riverboat casino operators go out of their way to keep gamblers from getting drunk.

"The boats are not permitted to let people gamble if they are intoxicated," she said. "So the boats have every incentive - not just, of course, ethical and moral responsibilities to keep people safe - but pecuniary interests in making sure that people can continue gambling."

Madigan said the Joint Commission's 12 members do not have the power to block the Gaming Board's decision. But she said they could decide to introduce legislation that would require certain hours for liquor sales - or give more power to local governments to do so.

In other matters Tuesday, the Gaming Board heard from C. Joseph Sprague, a United Methodist bishop from Chicago who opposes Emerald Casino Inc.'s proposal for a riverboat casino near O'Hare International Airport.

In particular, Sprague criticized Gov. George Ryan for a "lack of integrity on this issue."

"Mr. Ryan promised in my office some two weeks prior to the election that he would support no expansion of riverboat gambling," said Sprague, who praised the Gaming Board members for taking their time in reviewing Emerald's request to move its license for East Dubuque to Rosemont.

Gary Mack, a spokesman for Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens, scoffed at Sprague's comments.

"The good bishop's testimony is irrelevant as it relates to Rosemont getting this license," he said.

Wanda Taylor, a spokesman for the governor, also argued that moving a license would not represent "an expansion of gambling in Illinois."

"As to where the license will be awarded, that decision is up to the Gaming Board and the governor trusts that they will make an informed decision," she said.

Ryder said Sprague would do better to air his concerns before the state Legislature. He did, however, confirm comments made last week that he has reservations about the Emerald proposal and is leaning toward opposing it.