Sportsbook

Illinois Lawmakers Set On Legalizing Sports Betting

Friday 22 de March 2019 / 13:09

⏱ 2 min read

(United States).- Illinois Democrats are offering several options on how legal sports gambling could work in the state.

Illinois Lawmakers Set On Legalizing Sports Betting

There are four different scenarios on the table: one would allow for an unlimited online betting platform, while another would license the state’s 10 casinos and three race tracks.

But why so many choices?

“We want to give our colleagues a menu of options and we’ll try to whittle down what works best,” said state Rep. Mike Zalewski, a Democrat from Riverside who’s been heading negotiations. He said he doesn’t want to lock in on one specific approach just yet.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is counting on $200 million dollars from sports gambling licensing fees, to make up for additional spending in his budget proposal.

Zalewski said he and other Democrats want to make sure they fulfill that plan. He said the proposals have stayed true to what the governor envisioned—even though there are some minor changes.

“I don’t think he has a problem with us altering—he wants us to be good faith negotiators, which we are trying to be,” he said. “So all in all, as a starting point, we accomplished a lot of what he asked for," Zalewski said.

Pritzker’s budget proposal left many questions unanswered, especially specifics on what a legal platform would look like. Now, lawmakers have a lot to choose from before the end of session in May.

Lawmakers will hear from stakeholders next week in what is expected to be one of numerous hearings on the issue.

Categoría:Sportsbook

Tags: Sports Betting,

País: United States