By TODD WESSELL

Journal Editor

As state legislators, gaming regulators, and Gov. Blagojevich ponder the future of a 10th casino in Illinois, Mayor Tony Arredia continues to express his belief that Des Plaines, not Rosemont or any other community, will eventually host the lucrative gambling operation.

"We're still No. 1," said Arredia during an interview with the Journal yesterday (Tuesday). He made those same comments at a public meeting Monday night.

The on-again, off-again controversial subject of a casino surfaced Monday night during a 3-1/2 hour brainstorming session involving alderman and city department heads. At one point, Ald. Pat Beauvais (1st) raised the question of whether Des Plaines should consider sharing a casino with Rosemont. That question triggered a strong reaction from some elected city officials, including Arredia, who said Des Plaines had already decided not to share proceeds with Rosemont.

"You would think that if we proposed a joint effort it would move a casino toward this area," said Beauvais.

Arredia yesterday said one of the best things he pushed for as mayor was for Des Plaines not to share in host tax revenue Rosemont would generate if it is picked as the site of the 10th casino in Illinois.

"That enabled us to make our own deal to share with other communities," said Arredia. We remained free. You don't make a deal with a town will never get a casino," referring to Rosemont.

Arredia is obviously still smarting from what he believes was a failed attempt by Rosemont officials to smear the reputation of Des Plaines and thus reduce its chances of landing the casino and enhancing Rosemont's.

"I haven't heard anything that shows that Rosemont will get the casino," Arredia explained. They tried to smear us by saying we hired a known felon and that the mafia is in Des Plaines. We're still No. 1 Everything's ready to go. Now it's up to the Governor. We have no input."

For years, the state has been trying to resolve where the 10th casino will be located. More than two years ago, Rosemont was chosen as the host community by the Illinois Gaming Board after an oopen auction. However, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan blocked that move by raising concerns that there is organized crime in Rosemont, a charge vehemently denied by Rosemont officials.

Just recently, Judge Abner Mikva ruled that the Emerald Casino, whose license was earmarked for Rosemont, should be revoked. That decision could result in a re-bidding of the license to the highest bidder and location of the casino to a community other than Rosemont.

Gambling operations in the past have bidded hundreds of millions of dollars to run a casino in the Chicago area. A casino in Rosemont or Des Plaines could generate as much as $25 to $30 million per year in host tax revenue alone.

Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm is working with Des Plaines to build and operate a casino on property near River Road and Devon Avenue. That site is located only a block or two away from Rosemont's northern border.

Rosemont has said a casino there would be located along the Tri-State Tollway at Balmoral Avenue.