The state's leading overseer of gambling has issued a warning that deserves to be taken seriously.

State legislators, acting in the final days of the recent legislative session, approved a dramatic expansion of gambling in Illinois. Now they're trying to persuade Gov. Pat Quinn to sign the bill.

Quinn, however, had indicated before the bill was passed that he would not sign it. Since then, he has described it as "top heavy." But Quinn doesn't bind himself to his comments from one day to the next, so who knows what he'll actually do with a bill that would create five new casinos, including in Chicago and Danville, and allow slot machines at Midway and O'Hare airports and the state's six racetracks.

But before Quinn does anything, he ought to consider the recent comments of Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe, who contends the gambling-expansion bill is too big, too technical and too slapped together in the final hours of the General Assembly to become law.

"You can't make perfume out of a pile of garbage," said Jaffe, rejecting the notion that an amendatory veto by Quinn could solve what he perceives to be problems with the legislation.

Powerful interests, however, support this proposal to vastly expand gambling in Illinois, and they were quick to condemn Jaffe for speaking out.

"I have grave concerns about (Jaffe's) comments. It's clear he's gone way beyond the borders of his job as a regulator," said an angry state Rep. Lou Lang, one of the sponsors of the expansion.

But Lang's comments are off the mark. Why shouldn't Jaffe, chairman of the state's oversight board, speak out? It's his job to oversee the state's gambling industry, and he has a duty to warn of potential problems.

Jaffe also warned of potential monkey business. He noted that one provision of the pending bill eliminates the requirement that those seeking to operate slots at racetracks undergo fingerprints for criminal background check.

It can't be an accident this provision was included in the bill, and it portends ill for the future.

The gaming board has already rejected a proposed casino for Rosemont because of the mob ties of its owners. Shady people still want in this business because it's so lucrative, and the state needs to use every tool in its arsenal to address that.

Gov. Quinn has a big decision to make, and he's getting considerable advice from all sides. Most people seem to regard the expansion either as a moral issue or a revenue issue. The News-Gazette has been supportive of the effort by Danville officials to secure a casino as one solution to the city's budget woes. But Jaffe has raised serious concerns that can't be ignored.