Lawmakers in Illinois have again turned their attention to previously failed attempts to legalise online gambling.
The chair of House sub-committees on Gaming and Sales and Other Taxes, Rep. Bob Rita, is once again a major driving force behind new initiatives that will see hearings in August and October this year to hear views on the legalisation of online poker, online casino, sports betting and daily fantasy sports.
In a statement this week Rep Rita warned that voting on the issues is unlikely before November, but observed:
“Gaming expansion presents many tremendous opportunities to create revenue, jobs and economic growth in Illinois. The gaming landscape has changed significantly since I took on this issue five years ago, and I want to use these hearings to understand how those changes present new opportunities for us to put the right package together as we look to meet budget needs and provide a spark for our economy.”