Illinois sports betting legislation struggles

With less than a month remaining before the Illinois general assembly adjourns, the prospects for sports betting becoming legal in the state this year are fast deteriorating according to industry observers.

There are currently three bills relating to sports betting in Illinois’ senate and two, SB 3432 and SB 2478, missed the May 3 deadline for passage imposed by the Senate Gaming Committee.

SB 3432 includes a league-friendly 1 percent integrity fee, but did not achieve a third reading in the Gaming Committee, and is effectively dead for this session, though its author plans to continue refining and reworking it in anticipation of putting forth more complete legislation in 2019.

SB 2478,  sponsored by Gaming Committee chairman Sen. Steve Stadelman, also missed a third-reading deadline but remains in committee, with Stadelman’s office confirming that the Senator is seeking an extension in the hopes of moving the bill forward during this session.

This bill, referred to as the Sports Consumer Protection Action, tasks a state agency with enforcing sports betting laws for both in-person and mobile sports wagering, subject to federal legality.

A third bill, SB 3125 sponsored by Senator William Brady,  was referred back to the Assignments Committee late last month, and seeks to amend the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 to allow sports wagering at racetracks.

On the House side, HB 5186, the so-called Sports Wagering Act introduced by Rep. Tim Butler, reportedly lacks traction and was referred to the Rules Committee in February, where it languishes.

Illinois is among around a dozen US states that are awaiting a Supreme Court decision that could overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which restricts sports betting to just four US states.

The states have been working on legislation contingent on the Supreme Court decision in order to be prepared to offer sports betting should a positive finding emerge.

Critical issues in Illinois appear to involve questions about where sports betting will take place and whether or not to allow online sports betting following a positive Supreme Court decision.

Illinois has 10 casinos and 10 horse racing tracks spread across the state. Both kinds of venues could easily accommodate sports betting, the question is whether they would be allowed to. As in New York, New Jersey and other horse racing states, the tracks want the ability to offer sports betting.

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