RIVERBOAT FOR EAST CAPE STILL POSSIBLE, SAYS WILSON

CAIRO, Ill. -- James Wilson is still interested in a floating casino operation in or near Alexander County.

Wilson, mayor of Cairo, the largest city in the southernmost county of the state, headed up a Cairo Chamber of Commerce committee in 1991 to attract a riverboat casino to Cairo.

One of the casino groups that talked to Wilson was Players Club International, which eventually opened operations at Metropolis.

"We're hoping that Cape Girardeau will vote to approve riverboat gaming," said Wilson Monday. "But I am in the process of re-activating a riverboat committee to spearhead a move to locate a riverboat casino at East Cape Girardeau, Ill., just across the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau, in case the Missouri voters disapprove.

"We realize the economic value of a riverboat casino operation to the region," said Wilson. "We're just getting started. Members of our former riverboat committee can serve as a core group. We also want to talk with city and area officials in the northern area of Alexander County."

Wilson, who spearheaded the Cairo efforts for a riverboat casino before being elected mayor, said he also wanted to talk to representatives of the Boyd Group, a resort and gaming group from Las Vegas.

"I think the Illinois Gaming Board is about ready to open up another phase of licensing," said Wilson. Wilson said there had been some discussions concerning a couple more riverboat casino operations, and Alexander County could have a shot at one of those licenses.

"The northern part of the county is far enough from Metropolis," he said, adding that Alexander County needs an economic boost.

Players Club officials said one of the reasons the company preferred Metropolis over Cairo was because of the low-water mark in Cairo, which would have limited the floating casino's movements. The low-water mark is the boundary of the state borders between Kentucky and Illinois. Players officials said because of the makeup and changes in the winding river the low-water mark at Metropolis provides a more conducive water route.

Another reason for Players' selection of Metropolis, a city of about 7,100, was its location across the Ohio River from Paducah, Ky., which has a population of 30,000, with Interstate 24 access.

"We feel a that a boat at Cape Girardeau, or East Cape, would be a big economic boost to Alexander County," said Wilson.