Wishing for a casino: Gamblers 'might as well lose it in Chicago'

After listening to Mayor Daley describe his plan to raid city reserves, the City Council was abuzz with talk about the "next big revenue source" to finance city government.

If there had been a roll call, it would have been close to unanimous: The pot of gold lies in casino gambling.

"All one has to do is drive through those parking lots in Northwest Indiana and see all the Illinois plates,'' said Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th). "If those folks are gonna lose their money, they might as well lose it in Chicago."

"We've got to do something to generate some revenue,'' said Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th).

Jerry Roper, president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said it's time to consider putting a casino on Block 37, which faces foreclosure.

"It's centrally located. It can take advantage of the hotels, the restaurants and the theaters we presently have," he said.

But Mayor Daley, who has been hot and cold on opening a casino in the city, noted Wednesday that there is no Chicago casino proposal before the state Legislature, which would have to OK gambling in the city.

Daley said his support "all depends how it's positioned, and can it be government-owned? . . . And some are against that. They don't want government to own it."