I haven't followed this as much as the two of you but I have a couple of thoughts. First off, I agree with most of what you said. I have no problem with the Flynns being cut out of the license. However, I see it that there are two things going with this deal. MGM/Mirage has to buy the License and the Construction project. You are right that the Flynns should not profit .01 from the license since A.) it was never actually appoved that the license would be moved for the project and B.) it was under Revocation because the Flynns fraudulently didn't disclose the identities of some investors. Under B.) though you do have the issue that, as I understand, the Flynns do have a case pending in court challenging the revocation of their Dubuque License. In a settlement in that case they may have some cause to expect some proceeds from that license. However The State might have some grounds to keep such proceeds from the Flynns since they allegedly committed fraud by not disclosing the identity of some connected investors.

This is where my confusion is. What assurances did the Flynns and their investors have that the license WOULD be approved before they gave in their investments and started the project. I do not recall but were there some conditions or other objectives that connected the license to the ROSEMONT PROJECT. In other words, when you talk about bids for the license, does that include that it be IN ROSEMONT or could a winning bidder move it to another location. Did the state legislative changes in the gaming laws specify that this license would be located in Rosemont. If so, wouldn't the license and the construction of The Emerald go hand in hand. Therefore the investors and Flynns are deserving of some return on their investments into the construction site etc. even if they do not get anything for the license. Therefore the feeling that the Flynns should not get any advantage is flawed in that their investment is not only in the license. I hope they get this project back on track since there are, obviously, alot of small people who are hurting from it sitting idle. From the smaller investors like Payton's Wife to the workers who were building the project, all the way to those who could really use the employment in a casino in this area.

As a low to mid level player and chip collector, I don't know if I am all that excited anymore about this casino. As the article mentioned MGM/Mirage may be looking toward this as a way to move away from players like me and to the higher stakes gamblers. Surprisingly, I have never been to one of the boats here in Chicago, Indiana or Wisconsin. I would really like to but from what I read and hear you can't find a blackjack table for less than $20 a hand. I fear that with the traffic that a Rosemont Casino would bring they certainly won't have to work too hard to fill it up. Their limits could even be more out of range. That rules me out.