Thursday, April 25, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.
CHICAGO -- Illinois Gaming Board officials have rejected the latest buyout offer for the troubled Emerald casino project and are insisting that any deal preserve the board's option to site a new riverboat somewhere other than Rosemont, village officials said.
Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens told the Chicago Tribune that the board's decision was unlawful and unworkable. He said it would hit a legal roadblock because the village has a contract with the Emerald to land a new casino.
The Gaming Board last year denied Emerald Casino Inc. permission to open a casino in Rosemont and moved to revoke its license, alleging top officers of the company lied to state investigators and sold shares to two people with ties to organized crime.
An administrative hearing is scheduled next month in which Emerald will seek to overturn the action.
As the hearing approaches, Emerald officials have increased efforts to reach a settlement that would allow the sale of the license.
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