Illinois On The Verge of Legalizing Sports Betting

With the popularity of sports betting in the United States on the raise, another state has declared interest in offering these gambling services to its people. Lawmakers in Illinois will focus on adding sports wagering to the state’s gambling portfolio…

…but they warn that the taxes must not be too high because the people would be forced to go elsewhere and gamble.

Currently in Illinois, the gambling industry revolves around casinos, horse racing and slot machines which are allowed at bars and a great effort is required to expand the services in this state. Before the US Supreme Court allowed states to introduce and regulate sports wagering…

…the focus was on opening new casinos and fantasy sports wagering.

However, since the game-changing decision, state Representative Lu Lang, D-Skokie, is trying to find the best solution for the state.

The proposal has been in works for months now and so far, several drafts have been issued. “When I have a draft that I’m happy with, I still won’t be introducing it, rather I’ll be distributing it to various stakeholders for their comments and we’ll try to piece together what is necessary to the bill,” said Lang

Various Things to Consider

The state Rep. told the committee in Springfield that various things must be considered in order to regulate sports wagering in the best way possible. For instance, the state will have to decide on how to utilize the technology which is available to them. Some other situations that need to be addressed include…

…the idea of having only one vendor and making sure everything goes in accordance with the Federal Wire Act.

“You cannot transmit the types of info that involves sports betting across state lines over a wire,” Lang said. “Every state that wants to do this must be insulated.” He also believes that if this law is to be implemented, Illinois could become a hub for sports wagering…

But there’s more:

This is a great opportunity for Illinois to generate growth. Lang added: “I do think it will create a new industry in Illinois. I do think it will put a lot of people to work in this industry and it will take people off the grid of gaming illegally online.”

Ideas and Revenue

Another thing Lang finds important is transferring sports betting online rather than allowing it only in land-based casinos. That would increase the revenue significantly as many people prefer to play from the comfort of their homes

However, he warned that taxing it too much could only have negative outcomes. “It will drive people out of the market and it will hurt the bottom line for the state,” Lang said. “For me, this is about the bottom line for the state, and economic development.”

Various estimates suggest that the state could profit between $50 million and $150 million, but spending the money is another matter.

“We have many needs,” Lang said. “We can pay pensions. We can put it into the mix as part of a large capital bill.”

Other Opinions

Not everyone is in favor of regulating such activities and people like Anita Bedell, Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems Executive Director said in October that it would only magnify gambling addiction.

She said: “People who would not go to an illegal website, who would not go to an illegal bookie, would do so because it’s legal.”

The Illinois General Assembly could include sports betting on their agenda this year. But with each ing day the state is getting closer to legalize sports wagering. Illinois is expected to eight other states that have already regulated their markets, one of it being New Jersey.

Source:

“Sports Betting Bill In the Works For The New Year”, Daisy Contreras, nprillinois.org, December 21, 2018.