Is a racino a winning ticket for Decatur's prosperity?
Pending approval of the state legislature later this year, Decatur could be home to a racino, “Decatur Downs”. A racino is a casino and horse racing track and Decatur Downs would be located at the northwest corner of U.S. 36 and Wyckles Rd. The casino would include 900 gambling positions and harness racing would take place around a one-mile track.
REASONS TO SUPPORT A RACINO
The state’s horse racing industry is in decline. Having a casino and harness racing could spark a statewide horse racing renaissance with Decatur at the forefront. A new racetrack in Decatur means more people employed in this industry from veterinarians to breeders. It is expected that the $150 million economic development project will bring 300 permanent jobs and 1,000 visitors to the Decatur area each day. Moreover, the facility could include a sports complex and other amenities.
Not only will visitors gamble and enjoy horse racing, they will stay in local hotels, dine in area restaurants, and buy city gas resulting in increased revenue in the millions of dollars for the city. Additionally, it will add another tourist destination to Decatur which already has among other things Lake Decatur, the downtown shopping district, and outstanding entertainment venues. It may even save an industry in decline. Decatur will rightfully be known as the gaming capital of Illinois.
REASONS TO OPPOSE A RACINO
Decatur already has a gambling problem. In April 2025, the city had 82 gambling establishments containing 485 slot machines. Does the city really want an 186% increase in the number of gambling positions? The annual per capita gambling loss in Decatur is ~$700 per year with a large amount of the gambling revenue being transferred from poorer individuals to large businesses that are based outside of Decatur.
The cover of “Barron’s” May 26 issue features a photo of Churchill Downs with the text “A Race Against Time – As sports betting soars in the U.S., gambling problems are just around the bend. No one is prepared for the public-health crisis.” As per the article, millions of people live with gambling addictions that are “associated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, economic insecurity, substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, and crime.”
There are also several unanswered questions including whether the company developing the racino, Revolutionary Racing, will be asking for any local funds to construct the facility. Apparently, the company has pledged not to request any state funds, but the same pledge has not been made to the city council.
The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling published in 2024 may summarize the pros and cons of a racino best: “While governments readily appreciate revenues from the gambling industry …, they generally underestimate the prevalence and seriousness of social harm done and the associated public costs.”
What do you think? Should the Decatur City Council support the development of a racino?