GAMING RULES HAVE CHANGED IN ILLINOIS

ALTON, Ill. -- Opponents charge that the restrictions government imposes on gambling often become as loose as a loser's collar as time goes by.

Recent developments on the other side of the Mississippi River follow that assertion, though movement is under way in the legislature to give port cities more control over the operations.

One easing of gambling restrictions occurred only last April, when the Illinois Gaming Board issued a new regulation that allows operators to increase the number of slot machines by 10 percent and to boost the number of gaming tables as well.

The new regulation is an interpretation of the Illinois law that limits each casino to providing space for 1,200 "gaming participants."

The Gaming Board based its interpretation on a statistical finding that slot machines on the state's current six boats are in use an average of only 90 percent of cruise times, and that each gaming table averages only five players.

Blackjack games usually can accommodate six or seven players, and 16 people at a time can play craps or roulette.

The new 1,200-passenger Alton Belle II is equipped with about 650 slot and video poker machines and about 35 gaming tables.

The Gaming Board's reading of the law means the new boat will use up only about 800 of the 1,200 gaming participants it is allocated, Argosy Gaming Co. CEO Steve Norton has said.

The extra 400 would fit nicely into the 490-passenger Alton Belle.

Linda Mulcahy, public information officer for the Illinois Gaming Board in Chicago, said she could not confirm or deny whether Argosy's contention is correct.

With the maiden cruise of the Alton Belle II last weekend, the owner, Argosy Gaming Co., now can choose whether to continue operating the old Alton Belle in the city, to lease it or move it to a new location. A company official said no decision has been made.

Also in April, the Alton Belle began offering "continuous gaming," which allows passengers to buy tickets for more than one cruise. Previously, passengers were required to disembark after each cruise and reboard if they wanted to continue gambling.

Regulations prohibited continuous gaming when the Alton Belle became the state's first riverboat casino in September 1991.

On the side of new controls, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has proposed a public hearing procedure for granting new or renewed riverboat gambling licenses.

The hearing would review the gaming company's plans or record in the areas of revenue sharing, job creation, affirmative action hiring, training and promotion and cost sharing of local improvements.

The findings would be forwarded to the Gaming Board to be evaluated in its decision whether to grant or renew a license.

Licenses are renewed after the first three years of operation.

The riverboat gambling operators warn that imposing these kinds of restrictions will have a chilling effect on the growth of the infant industry.

They say Madigan proposes cooking the goose that's laying all the golden eggs.