{"id":7265,"date":"2018-05-29T21:34:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-29T21:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=7265"},"modified":"2018-05-30T14:11:27","modified_gmt":"2018-05-30T14:11:27","slug":"illinois-pump-fakes-with-an-online-free-gambling-expansion-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/illinois-pump-fakes-with-an-online-free-gambling-expansion-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Pump-Fakes With An Online-Free Gambling Expansion Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Illinois<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has been trying to legalize online gambling<\/strong> and daily fantasy sports<\/strong> for several years, but plans were sidetracked a bit in 2018. Sports betting<\/strong> took over the spotlight, with five bills<\/strong> introduced in the span of about six weeks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Following the recent\u00a0US Supreme Court<\/strong> decision<\/a>, lawmakers\u00a0took an apparent step to fast-track<\/strong> legalization of all three. A dormant casino bill<\/strong> was loaded up with provisions that would have created an omnibus expansion<\/strong> akin to Pennsylvania<\/strong> last year.<\/p>\n With just two days left in the legislative session, however, there\u2019s not much time<\/strong> for discussion. If the bill is going to pass, it\u2019s going to do so by excluding any items that\u00a0lack broad support<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Right now, that list includes all forms of internet gaming and gambling<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The current version of S 7<\/strong><\/a> would authorize six new casinos<\/strong> across the eastern half of the state, along with gambling terminals in the Chicago airports<\/strong>. It would also allow the state\u2019s horse racing tracks<\/strong> to become\u00a0racinos<\/strong> with the addition of tables and machines.<\/p>\n The Senate<\/strong> passed the bill in 2017, but it\u2019s undergone significant changes<\/strong> since. Last year\u2019s session expired with the bill stuck in an amendment loop within the House Rules Committee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Almost a full year later, the bill suddenly came back to life in May.<\/strong><\/p>\n Rep. Robert Rita<\/strong> first added his name as a sponsor, then filed an amendment<\/strong> last week.\u00a0As reported by Online Poker Report<\/a><\/strong>, the new sections would allow the state to legalize online gambling, DFS, and sports betting. There are no provisions, but the articles were inserted as placeholders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n That seems to be the extent of it for now. Rita\u2019s outline says this: \u201cLeave internet gaming, fantasy sports, and sports betting sections blank to be resolved later.\u201d\u00a0During a committee hearing on Monday, he confirmed that those three issues are too controversial to deal with this week.<\/p>\n The group voted 5-4 to advance the bill, but that was one fewer than needed to move it to the floor. It remains in the House Gaming Subcommittee<\/strong>, which Rita chairs.<\/p>\n The legislature could revisit the controversial bits over the summer or, more likely, after the November<\/strong> elections.<\/p>\n Illinois has once again taken a pass on passing online gambling legislation, and it\u2019s not for a lack of consideration. Sports betting, in particular, got a hard look this year.<\/p>\n Sen. Napolean Harris<\/strong>, a Democrat from Harvey, sponsored one of the measures to set rules, taxes and regulations for Illinois.\u00a0\u201cIf they allow sports gambling in Indiana before they do Illinois, I can see a lot of Illinoisans just jumping the border, placing bets,\u201d Harris said to NPR Illinois<\/a>.<\/p>\n Harris\u2019 bill is one of several active across both chambers of the Illinois legislature. Lawmakers considered the issue at an intermediate level, including a round of hearings in April. Steve Brubaker<\/strong> posted on Twitter<\/a> that MLB<\/strong>, NBA<\/strong>, and PGA<\/strong> had hired lobbyists in the state, and league lawyers were present to provide testimony.<\/p>\n The Illinois Senate<\/strong> passed a bill that would have legalized online casino games<\/a> in 2017. Bills concerning online poker and DFS followed in the latter half of the year. None of them made it through the House<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Even DFS remains illegal under existing law, as stated by Attorney General Lisa Madigan<\/strong>. Despite this, operators are still active in the state. DraftKings<\/strong> and FanDuel<\/strong> still serve the state, along with most of their competitors.<\/p>\n Four years into the conversion, lawmakers have yet to pass any relevant bill. Five of them carried over into 2018 without consideration.<\/p>\n The Chicago Tribune<\/strong> reported that supporters of legalization and taxation of sports betting expect the legalization to produce revenue for the state and change the black market industry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The competition from the other gambling proposals for new casinos<\/strong>, fantasy sports, and slot machines<\/a> at racetracks<\/strong> may affect its passage. Rep. Lou Lang<\/strong> told the Tribune that the odds are against passage by the adjournment date.<\/p>\n In total, he said that sports betting would generate less than $100 million<\/strong> a year for state coffers. A study from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC<\/strong> showed earnings could total about $680 million in the state <\/strong>and tens of millions in tax revenue.<\/p>\n Still, casinos would be subject to licensing and integrity fees<\/strong> and would be limited to Illinois residents. Wagers would be taxed at 12.5 percent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Illinois casino operators and the Illinois Casino Gaming Association<\/strong> are concerned about high taxes and fees. The fees could consume 20 percent<\/strong> of the proceeds.<\/p>\n The same concerns come with legalization about the \u201chuman cost of this type of gambling.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The post Illinois Pump-Fakes With An Online-Free Gambling Expansion Bill<\/a> appeared first on Play USA<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Illinois\u00a0has been trying to legalize online gambling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"vebbtech_seo_disable_yoast":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_author":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_date":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_factchecker":false,"vebbtech_seo_fact_check_enabled":false,"vebbtech_seo_post_reviewer":0,"vebbtech_seo_post_review_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7265","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-link","6":"category-news-category","7":"post_format-post-format-link"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Illinois casino bill<\/span><\/h2>\n
No stranger to legalization attempts<\/span><\/h2>\n
Expected revenue back to Illinois with legalization<\/span><\/h2>\n