Local officials aren't placing any bets on who will emerge as the front-runners for the state's 10th gaming license, but some are crossing their fingers a south suburb will be among the three finalists.
Developers in two northern suburbs outbid all four contenders from the south suburbs,
A Rosemont developer bid $435 million, and a Waukegan developer bid $225 million. SouthSide Casino LLC from Harvey bid $175 million. Calumet Gaming LLC in Calumet City and Hawthorne Gaming LLC in Stickney both bid $150 million. Midwest Gaming & Entertainment in Des Plaines bid $100 million, and CCH Gaming Partners LLC in Country Club Hills was the lowest at $60 million.
Harvey's bid came as a wildcard to some. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. continues to support Calumet City's and Country Club Hills' efforts, his spokesman Rick Bryant said. He was surprised to see Harvey among the bidders, Bryant said.
"We've not been approached by anybody from Harvey and not seen any proposal from Harvey," he said.
Country Club Hills and Calumet City have the best proposals out of the group and have generous revenue sharing agreements that would benefit municipalities in the region, Bryant said. They have solid financing, plans and locations, he said.
"Overall, we believe the 10th license should be awarded in the south suburbs."
1893 Entertainment Group's proposal in Calumet City includes the Columbian Exposition Casino & Entertainment Complex, a multi-use entertainment development next to Torrence Avenue and the Little Calumet River.
Although its bid wasn't the highest, the Calumet City proposal has several strengths compared to others, said Jerrold Carrington, a member of 1893 Entertainment Group. It is best situated to recapture gaming dollars lost to Indiana, he said. It's an entertainment destination, Carrington said. The proposal provides support to communities and schools through revenue sharing, and provides opportunities for women and minorities, he said.
Democratic state Rep. David Miller said he supports Calumet City's and Country Club Hills' proposals. Country Club Hills spent years trying to build a regional consensus, he said.
"There seems to be lot of play," he said. "I hate to see each of the three communities compete with each other and not support a stronger bid. If everybody collectively came together with some sense of agreement they could present a strong case for the Southland to get a boat, with the argument we need the destination and to try to stop the flow of people going to Indiana for gaming."
Although Stickney is a southwest suburb, it still doesn't address the heart of the economic problems in the Southland, Miller said.
"I'd argue Harvey, Dixmoor, Robbins and Ford Heights are some of the poorest communities in the state of Illinois," he said. "At least other proposals affect the core of that problem versus Stickney."
Despite Country Club Hills' low bid and the fact Rosemont's bid was more than three times higher than Calumet City's, Miller said he hopes the gaming board will give Country Club Hills and Calumet City a shot.
"I'd hope they'd consider economic growth, location and proximity," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
