Photography by Jeff Kubina, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Fairmount Park in Collinsville, Illinois, celebrated its biggest day of the year on May 2, during the Kentucky Derby. It offered live thoroughbred racing and simulcast wagering on the full card of races at Louisville's Churchill Downs.
For years, Illinois track owners have pleaded with the state legislature to approve slot machines at their venues, only to have bills stall or vetoed. The situation for Fairmount is even worse. Several bills that would legalize slot machine at thoroughbred tracks—with the exception of Fairmount—were filed last year, and another is on the way.
The folks at Fairmount Park are hoping this time they come to the aid of the struggling horse track. Related story: Fairmount Park Opens for 93rd Season, Owners Worry They Won't Make it Through the Year. That hope comes from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Slot machines at Fairmount Park, Illinois. We do NOT currently have any offers for Fairmount Park. However, if you have NOT played at Fairmount Park for 2 years or more and typically play at the levels outlined below, the URComped team will try our best to help you get COMPED by connecting you directly with an on property host.
East St. Louis is so heavily dependent on the financial windfall from Casino Queen—with 40 percent of its budget coming from the casino—that legislators are hesitant to pass a bill that could move dollars to Collinsville. The Collinsville Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Fairmount organization refute that estimate and contend that East St. Louis would still receive the highest financial reward if slots machines are added at the track.
Outgoing East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. told the Associated Press, “The gambling market in the St. Louis metro area is just about at the point of saturation.” This includes the proliferation of slot machines in Illinois bars, gas stations, and other locations, after these locations were legalized several years ago.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, there are now 35 fewer race days at Fairmount Park than there were in 2007. That's down from 150 back in 2000, when the track dropped harness racing.
As this 90th season of racing at Fairmount opened, track president Brian Zander told the Belleville News-Democrat, “[A] maiden race [at Fairmount] goes for $12,000, and the one at Arkansas [Oaklawn] goes for $25,000. What’s the difference? In Arkansas, they have a casino and other forms of gaming, and that’s really what we are competing with.”
Two bills reached former Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk, only to be vetoed for various reasons. Newly elected Gov. Bruce Rauner’s press secretary, Catherine Kelly, said in a statement earlier this year that Rauner “believes decisions on gambling should be done in close consultation with local communities.” That seems to leave the loggerhead between East St. Louis and Collinsville in place.
State Rep. Robert Rita (D–Blue Island) plans to file a bill similar to one that he penned last year, which does not include Fairmount in gaming positions but does allow new casinos in Chicago and four other Illinois locations.
Should the bill pass without authorizing slots at Fairmount, the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce warns, “Fairmount would not be able to compete with the tracks in Cook County and neighboring states. That would mean, without a doubt, a reduction in the number of race nights. Fairmount would quickly go out of business.”
There's an on-going battle in Illinois over proposals to allow racetracks to install slot machines. I decided to put this discussion in the Business forum as opposed to the Metro East or Sports forum because this fight will have a significant effect on the Metro, both economically and culturally.Some background:
Fairmount Park president says bill amendment could doom track (Post-Dispatch):
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illi ... 8b37f.html
Lawmaker: Resolution needed on rift between casion, horse tracks (News Democrat)
Fairmount Park Slot Machines
http://www.bnd.com/2014/05/12/3204810/l ... -soon.html
Fairmount Park Slot Machines For Sale
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/06/03/ ... ph-spiess/
The recent legislative session ended with the latest amendment to the proposed bill failing to make it to the floor for a vote. This is a very complex issue as the debate encompasses the effects of tax revenues, the survival of horse racing in the St. Louis area, and the saturation of gambling in the metro. Recent proposals would allow all horse tracks in Illinois to install slot machines, with the exception of Fairmount Park. This would in effect be the death knell for the already struggling Fairmount. The argument in support of this proposal is that allowing Fairmount slot machines would take revenue from the Queen, which is responsible for 40% of East St. Louis's revenues.
Conversely, while arguing that excluding Fairmount is just simply not fair, backers of the race track argue that the track is responsible for 400 jobs directly and supports another 600 (trainers, vets, etc.). In addition to this, they also point to the importance of Fairmount to the Collinsville tourist industry in terms of hotels, restaurants, etc. and even local agriculture (food and hay for the horses, fertilizer for the farmers.)
Some alternate proposals that would allow Fairmount to install slot machines would require that the track's tax revenue be divided between Collinsville, East St. Louis, and Alton (for it's impact on the Argosy). One of these calls for Collinsville to receive only 10% of the revenue and for ESL and Alston to receive 45% each. A more sensible, in my opinion, proposal is one that would have Collinsville receive 50% and ESL and Alton 25% each.
As a Collinsvillian, I'm biased, but I think the closure of Fairmount Park would be a great loss for the entire region. Yes, Collinsville would feel the economic repercussions, but I think it would be an even greater cultural loss for Greater St. Louis. Perhaps I'm just nostalgic, but having a thoroughbred racetrack is a great asset to the region in terms of both entertainment and history. And on a personal note, I've had some great times at Fairmount Park and would much prefer going there over any casino. I would never go to Fairmount for the slot machines, but if those slot machines allow larger purses, which attracts better horses, that draw larger crowds and makes the whole horse racing experience better, then I'm all for it.
Something to keep in mind is that this is all part of the bigger battle going on throughout Illinois about the state's gambling industry and state revenue.