Gov. Pat Quinn gave strong indications Monday that he will not sign the casino gambling package on its way to his desk.
"I wouldn't hold your breath on getting that bill signed," Quinn said at an unrelated event in Glenview.
In the final hours of the legislative session, state senators approved a major gambling expansion that would bring a casino to Chicago and slot machines to horse racing tracks. The measure would also add casinos in the south suburbs, Lake County, Rockford and Danville. Existing riverboats would be allowed to add more slot machines and other games.
Quinn would not say Friday whether he would sign, veto or rewrite the bill, but Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, has predicted Quinn will veto the bill and legislators will negotiate with him on a final agreement for action this fall.
Quinn criticized the lack of safeguards in the legislation the Senate approved.
"I've looked at the bill, and it has a lot of loopholes that are not good for the people when it comes to maintaining integrity and ethics in gambling and protecting the people of our state," Quinn said.
The governor previously said he wanted more state oversight of the Chicago casino and a ban on campaign contributions from gambling interests. Sponsoring Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, has already filed a separate bill with those provisions, but it won't likely be considered until the fall.
"I wouldn't hold your breath on getting that bill signed," Quinn said at an unrelated event in Glenview.
In the final hours of the legislative session, state senators approved a major gambling expansion that would bring a casino to Chicago and slot machines to horse racing tracks. The measure would also add casinos in the south suburbs, Lake County, Rockford and Danville. Existing riverboats would be allowed to add more slot machines and other games.
Quinn would not say Friday whether he would sign, veto or rewrite the bill, but Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, has predicted Quinn will veto the bill and legislators will negotiate with him on a final agreement for action this fall.
Quinn criticized the lack of safeguards in the legislation the Senate approved.
"I've looked at the bill, and it has a lot of loopholes that are not good for the people when it comes to maintaining integrity and ethics in gambling and protecting the people of our state," Quinn said.
The governor previously said he wanted more state oversight of the Chicago casino and a ban on campaign contributions from gambling interests. Sponsoring Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, has already filed a separate bill with those provisions, but it won't likely be considered until the fall.