Should Gambling Come To Bloom Township?

HOMEWOOD, IL — Could horse racing and a casino come to Bloom Township?

New gambling legislation passed over the weekend leaves room for that to happen.

The legislation permits, among other provisions, the opening of casinos in Chicago, Waukegan, Rockford, Danville and Williamson County. It also permits slot machines at both O'Hare and Midway airports, as well as a new horse track in Palatine.

But the south suburbs are in line for two new venues — a casino and a 'racino,' or combination horse racing track and casino — under the state's According to the law, a new harness track can be built in one of seven townships in Cook County: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Orland, Rich, Thornton or Worth townships. It can't, however, be situated within 35 miles of an existing racing facility without that track granting permission. The new casino could be located in one of those same townships, excluding Orland, the Sun-Times reports.

As the Sun-Times reports, Rick Heidner, of Gold Rush Gaming, is the favored candidate for the racino deal. His eye, the newspaper said, is on the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center site (which is in Orland Township).

Heidner is also part of Melody Square LLC, which is under contract with the Village of Tinley Park to negotiate building a sweeping, largely age-restricted, housing development on that site.

State Sen. Michael Hastings of Tinley has said publicly he'll back a proposal in the area.

"There are great locations in Bremen, Orland & Rich townships. I would support locations in any of the three!" he wrote on his Facebook page.

In the past, Homewood has proposed building an entertainment and casino complex at Interstate 80/294 and just west of Halsted Street, and has hired lobbyist to secure its position as a casino contender in Springfield.

Ford Heights has been an option, as CBS Chicago reports. Other proposed Bloom Township locations are not yet clear.