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State denies dismissal of casino suit
Message was posted: 12:44 Dec 30th, 2006

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Casino news source: Herald News - http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/ State denies dismissal of casino suit December 30, 2006 By JOE HOSEY staff writer JOLIET -- The state crapped out in its bid to bounce a lawsuit filed by four Chicago-area casinos. The two sides are in Will County Circuit Court, where the casinos are trying to stop a special tax created last summer. Judge Bobbi Petrungaro on Friday denied a motion by the Illinois Attorney General's office to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Empress Casino Joliet, Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel, Hollywood Casino in Aurora and the Grand Victoria in Elgin. The casinos, meanwhile, have filed a motion asking Petrungaro to find in their favor before trial. The case will return to court March 1. The casinos are suing the state in hopes of dodging a tax that would force them to share $36 million a year with horse racetracks. The tax applies only to the four Chicago-area casinos. The plaintiffs contend the tax unconstitutionally single out casinos in the Chicago area in order to get approval from downstate legislators. The suit also contends that the tax violates the state constitution by compelling casinos "to directly subsidize a less successful competitor's operations."