Last minute push for online wagering in Illinois

Illinois lawmakers have introduced three proposals in the legislature during the current Spring legislative session which closes this week.

One of the measures, Senate Bill 0208, sponsored by Senator Kwame Raoul D-Chicago, was advanced by the Illinois Senate Gaming Committeeearlier this week in the dying days of the current session, the bill authorizes daily fantasy sports and internet gambling.

SB0208 proposes age restrictions of 21, prohibits DFS company employees from participating in play, and requires an annual independent audit to ensure compliance.

Licensed operators would be limited to owners of existing terrestrial casinos. This would also apply to State racetrack owners, as an amendment to the bill.

The bill further proposes 10 percent of proceeds derived from internet gaming would be designated to the Illinois Department of Human Services for problem gambling detection and programmes whilst the remaining be split between the pension and education systems.

“Online gaming has already been regulated in three states right now — New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. There’s an extreme amount of investment in technology to be able to safely and securely make sure players are the proper age to gamble,” Richard Schwartz, president of Rush Street Interactive, said.

Chicago-headquartered Rush Street Interactive will be taking a keen interest in the bill having extensively lobbied and supported the introduction of daily fantasy sports and internet gaming in the State.

But observers note as complex an issue as the legalization of DFS and internet gaming is, being pushed through in the dying days of a legislative session doesn’t offer much opportunity for success.

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