CHICAGO – A determined push for Illinois to approve new casinos and racetrack slot machines with an equally determined governor standing in the way? Yes, the state has been here before.

Illinois' consideration of expanded gambling is stuck in the same place it was a year ago, after lawmakers again approved a bill for five new casinos – including one in Chicago – during the final days of their spring session. But the state may avoid a complete legislative deja vu.

This year lawmakers decided not to take the unusual step of keeping the bill away from Gov. Pat Quinn to prevent him from vetoing it. He likely will get the bill by the end of the month, and gambling proponents say they are anxious to work with him to find a compromise on his concerns about ethics issues and the racetrack slots.