CALUMET CITY | Calumet City officials aren't happy about the news that the Illinois Gaming Board awarded the state's 10th gaming license to Des Plaines.

"The whole thing stinks," Calumet City attorney Burt Odelson said.

The attorney for the developer may be preparing a lawsuit, and Calumet City could still pursue a casino if a new license is created, he said.

"We intend to try to seek expanded gaming, if they'll issue another license or two when the new session of (the) General Assembly opens up in January," Odelson said. "This is far from over."

Calumet City outbid Des Plaines with the initial bids and Calumet City had a generous revenue sharing agreement with other municipalities in comparison, he said.

"On bare bones, three votes, they gave hundreds of millions to a community that is not impoverished, is not struggling, and ignored the South Side," Odelson said.

"We are obviously disappointed we didn't make the final three especially since we seemed to meet the criteria so well," Calumet City Communications Director Eric Schneider said.

However, the mayor and city administration have attracted millions in new economic development and hundreds of jobs in recent years and will continue to do so, he said.

The city is still interested in pursuing a casino if legislators decide to create another license, Schneider said.

Calumet City's median income is lower than Des Plaines and its plan would have helped other communities with even lower median incomes with revenue sharing and jobs, Schneider said.

"Our plan included helping some of the poorest communities not only in the area, but in the country," he said. "Ford Heights has a median income level of (about) $17,000. A project like that would have helped."

On Monday, the Illinois Gaming Board voted 3-1 at a meeting in Chicago to award the license that has languished for years in legal limbo to Midwest Gaming & Entertainment in Des Plaines. The board voted for Midwest Gaming over two other finalists, Trilliant Gaming for Rosemont and Waukegan Gaming.

Developers in Harvey, Stickney and Country Club Hills had also bid on the license before the field was narrowed to three finalists.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.