The Illinois Gaming Board is expected to pick three finalists for the state's 10th casino license today.

The board's announcement will come just a month after seven cities turned in bids for the long-dormant license. The third highest bid was from west suburban Stickney. Mayor Donald Tabor says he's confident a casino would greatly improve the quality of life in his village.

TABOR: It would be beneficial to the community cause we could do a lot of the infrastructure with the money that would be generated and you would have over 2,000 jobs probably by the first of 2009. Tabor says if Stickney gets the license, the casino would be built near the Hawthorne Race Course.
A gaming board spokesperson says once the three finalists are picked, each will formally present their bids at a public hearing. He says the board wants to name a winner by the end of the year.

I'm Tasha Flournoy, Chicago Public Radio.