CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With approval for sports betting in Chicago stalled in the City Council, some advocates suggest it’s time for backers to give minority-owned businesses a piece of the action to get things moving.
The ordinance held in committee would allow five major sports stadiums such as Wrigley Field and the United Center, to establish sports betting operations, but some Black and Latino Aldermen balked at the paltry tax revenue for the city and the lack of required minority participation.
"It's wrong for us to not be able to own part of this industry as much as our people take a chance and bet their money," said Former State Senator Rickey Hendon.
He is leading some economic development activists calling on the legislature to expand state law so some minority-owned betting parlors in Chicago could be established nearby up to ten blocks away.
"We're asking for a ten block map area," he said. "They can keep their five block exclusivity to themselves, but allow black people, women, and Latinos within ten blocks to have one or two or a few and spread the wealth."
Hendon said he’s tried to make that suggestion to some sports team owners, but they don’t return his calls.
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