Fund bill passes Illinois House

A bill that would divert 3 percent of annual gross receipts from the four biggest Illinois riverboat casinos to racetracks in the state passed the Illinois House of Representatives, 72-32, on Wednesday. The bill must still pass out of the state Senate and be signed by the governor to become law.

The bill came to the floor Wednesday in a different form than when it was defeated in the House two weeks ago. Then, language called for 3 percent of gross receipts from all nine state riverboats to go to racing.

Should the bill become law, it would void existing legislation that calls for the Illinois racing industry to receive a percentage of receipts from a 10th riverboat casino. Issuance of a license to operate that casino has become bogged down in bureaucratic and legal wrangling.