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* Yesterday afternoon…
Hb4214 Illinois. Deputy Majority Leader @StateRepLouLang filed a sports betting bill today. Just a caption. No language yet. Go Lou. Purses will need a cut BTW.
— Steve Brubaker (@SteveBrubaker) January 4, 2018
It’s just a shell bill so far.
* From a publication called Legal Sports Report…
It seems like a new sports betting bill — or at least the possibility of one — surfaces almost daily in US jurisdictions in recent weeks.
The latest example comes in Illinois, which has not seriously tackled the topic of sports betting to date […]
Like efforts around the country, Illinois would need a change to federal law in order to offer sports gambling. That could come as soon as the first half of this year, if the US Supreme Court strikes down the federal ban in the New Jersey sports betting case.
More than a dozen states have eyed legal sports betting in recent weeks. […]
How sports betting would go down in Illinois is not clear, but the state has casinos, video gaming terminals and horse racing tracks, all of which would likely want to be involved with sports wagering if possible. There is also the Illinois Lottery.
* The Question: If the federal ban is killed off, should Illinois legalize sports betting? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Yes. The logical place to do so is through the racetracks and OTB parlors around the state. New jobs, new revenue and a chance to revitalize the Illinois horse racing industry and put it on equal terms with surrounding states that already have racinos.
Comment by Reformed Optimist Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:01 pm
Taxes taxes and more taxes.
Comment by Regular democrat Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:02 pm
Yes, it brings in the same revenue just like the video poker. Although sports betting is actually enjoyable.
Comment by Seats Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:03 pm
Yes, because why should Vegas get to horde all the action on the upcoming Chicago State / UT Rio Grande Valley clash?
Comment by City Zen Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:05 pm
GO LOU!!! It’s already set up. Just re work the existing video poker machines. Go back to the machine and put $100 on Alabama -4 and go watch the game at the bar. This goes on anyway under the table all over the place.
Comment by Eire17 Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:06 pm
I voted “yes”. Like a lot of things deemed to be “illegal” by government, this falls into the category that people are going to bet anyway, why not legalize it and benefit from the tax dollars it will generate? We allow every other form of gambling, from pull tabs to bingo, from lottery to slots and craps at casinos. It would be naïve to leave the windfall in the pockets of the underworld types.
I do want to see the names of newly minted lobbyists to oppose this action. “Senator, there’s a Mr. Moose and a Mr. Rocco here to see you about the sports betting bill”.
Comment by Colin O'Scopey Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:09 pm
City Zen +1. Voted no, because if it includes college sports, the temptation to point shave for profit would be too great. Pro sports only…..maybe.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Vice tax?
Yes, please.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:11 pm
Voted yes. It is a voluntary revenue stream to the State. Now if the State could be responsible with new revenue it may help us.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:13 pm
Voted yes. This year nearly 5 Billion dollars will be illegally wagered on Super Bowl alone! All those taxes going to bookies and off shore casinos.
Comment by Generation X Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:17 pm
Voters “Yes”
Overseas, you can bet almost within stadiums of the events, sports teams are sponsored by gambling sites.
Vegas has a NHL team.
The revenue and regulated gaming system could and would be a boon.
Tough in 21st century life to have gaming not part of the racing discussion.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:22 pm
Voted absolutely yes. I have an offshore online account already. Might as well legalize and tax me.
Comment by Sox Fan Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:23 pm
Revenue creator - same reason the state should legalize marijuana (and i’m not even a user)
Comment by John Q Public Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:25 pm
I voted ‘yes.’ My rationale is much the same as with video gaming–it’s going on anyway and we’re missing out on potential tax revenue.
Comment by Earnest Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:38 pm
Yes. Regulate it. Take it.
Comment by Centennial Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:40 pm
I am all for it. Why give Nevada and bookies all that revenue. As a side note, does Lou Lang have a gambling problem? He is always the one to introduce gambling expansion bills.
Comment by TominChicago Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:43 pm
Yes. We need revenue and to pay our bills.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:44 pm
Where there’s vice to be had, Lou is at hand.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 1:49 pm
Do you think Lou Lang will allow bets on whether Illinois will ever have a balanced budget?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:05 pm
=== they do it anyway ===
That’s an argument for legalizing prostitution, heroin, cocaine, meth etc.
Comment by anon2 Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:14 pm
Lucky Pierre “Do you think Lou Lang will allow bets on whether Illinois will ever have a balanced budget?”
An even safer bet would be betting against Rauner complying with his constitutional obligation to propose a balanced budget.
Comment by TominChicago Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:23 pm
@TominChicago, like the state, Lang has a revenue problem. But his is solved by gaming interest donations.
I’m all for it too.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:30 pm
Hey, it won’t cost me anything, so allow it for those who like that sort of stuff. The state can use the money….
Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:35 pm
If Illinois had no legalized gambling of any sort, I would have voted “no”. I don’t believe the state should be in the gambling business. That ship has long since sailed, so I voted “yes”.
In for an inch, in for a mile.
Comment by Tommydanger Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:36 pm
Yes.
Unless someone can make a compelling case why it’s ok to bet money on the random selection of numbered balls or where the spinning dials stop in a machine, but not on sports.
Comment by m Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:40 pm
Unless someone can make a compelling case why it’s ok to bet money on the random selection of numbered balls or where the spinning dials stop in a machine, but not on sports.
The Chicago Black Sox
Former NBA official Tim Donaghy
Any boxing match
Humans can be corrupted easier than ping pong balls and slot machines.
Comment by AuH2O Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:48 pm
Yes please. In a perfect world we wouldn’t need to rely on gambling or legalized weed, but Illinois is as far away from perfect as one can get. So why not build some sports booking establishments throughout the state, including a big casino downtown and near the airport, and let the cash registers ring. I would think the great majority of residents would prefer that to another tax increase.
Comment by SSL Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:51 pm
That was an easy vote.
Comment by Keyser Soze Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Voted “Yes.” OW hit both of my points, so I’ll let his comments stand.
Comment by Lt Guv Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:07 pm
YES please ! Come on folks vote up on this one. The taxes would roll in. Illinois must have $100s of millions in bookie fees alone. This actually is a no brainer.
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:13 pm
== Humans can be corrupted easier than ping pong balls and slot machines. ==
Okay, but who is “protected” by keeping it illegal? The losing betters? The guy taking the dive? You’re assuming neither would’ve happened but for the law.
Comment by Downstate43 Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:13 pm
==So why not build some sports booking establishments throughout the state, including a big casino downtown and near the airport==
I’m not sure about Midway, but there is a Rivers Casino right next to O’Hare and the place is packed 24/7.(3:00 AM on a Tuesday and the parking lot will still be full). Not sure if the airport affects it, but there is a clear hunger for gambling, and the state might as well take its cut.
Comment by BucknIrish Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:28 pm
All types of gambling are a poor way to finance State government. This has been proven by the poor results of the lottery and other forms of gambling in Illinois.
Moreover, the moral and social cost is never considered: addiction, creation of money problems within the family, added political and security costs, etc.
Historically, gambling is a bad idea and cheapens and deteriorates the overall character of society.
Comment by Pete Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:34 pm
Voted NO. Just like the Casino industry, this will result in material amount of much needed economic lubrication being exported out of State and will hasten the continued decline of our communities.
Comment by Al Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:52 pm
What will happen to all of the Outfit’s bookies and loan sharks and collectors if this becomes law? Those guys have families too you know. And buffers. They’ve got a lot of buffers Senator.
Not only does the state get the action, it takes away a huge income stream from the mob. It’s a two-fer.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:36 pm
Whether or not sports gambling results in the decline of society and our communities is certainly debatable. But it’s happening today and I would almost consider it to be “quasi-legal”. We don’t enforce the existing laws either because we don’t have the resources or the will. Better to regulate and tax it then. At this point are problems are so significant that we can’t be choosy on where we generate revenue. And nothing contributes to the decline of a community more than a city, county and state that’s broke.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:37 pm
Yes, yes, a million times yes. It is not right that every state cannot take advantage of those foolish enough to gamble on sports.
Comment by Captain Obviuos Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:56 pm