Illinois Sports Betting Bill Tracker
Legal Illinois sports betting has been a major topic of discussion amongst lawmakers and gaming interests in the state. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling on Murphy vs. NCAA, Illinois legislators began drafting sports betting bills in preparation for the verdict. At the time, Nevada was the only state in the nation to offer single-game wagering, bringing in over $250 million in sports betting revenue in 2017 alone. With the 7-2 vote in favor of each state having the right to legalize sports gambling by the US Supreme Court, Illinois moved forward with their own regulations.
Since the May 14th, 2018 decision to lift the federal ban imposed by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), officials in the state proposed several sports betting laws. There were conflicting opinions regarding details such as integrity fees and data exclusivity, with only one of several bills including any type of compensation for sports leagues. With 10 riverboat casinos that could potentially start accepting sports bets, analysts have estimated that a legal sports betting environment could bring in anywhere from $50 million to $350 million for the state.
The bill that ultimately legalized sports wagering was not a stand-alone bill. Instead, legal Illinois sports betting was added as an amendment to an overall large gambling expansion bill on the final days of the 2019 legislative session. The bill ultimately included all stakeholders including, casinos, racetracks, sports leagues, stadiums, and online sports betting providers.
Summary: Creates the Sports Wagering Act which expands the Riverboat Gambling Act allowing gaming facilities to offer sports wagering. This includes the ability to offer sports wagering in-person at the licensed facility and over the Internet. The operator will pay a 12.5% tax of its gross sports wagering revenue.
- 02/21/19 - (S) To Subcommittee on Gaming
- 02/13/19 - (S) Assigned to Executive
- 01/30/19- (S) Referred to Assignments
- 01/30/19 - (S) First Reading
- 01/30/19 - (S) Filed with Secretary by Sen. Napoleon Harris, III
Summary: The gambling expansion package primarily includes the legalization of daily fantasy sports and iGaming, while also adding the short title for the Sports Wagering Act. The bill would authorize six new casinos in Illinois and establish the Chicago Casino Development Authority.
Excerpt: “Creates the Chicago Casino Development Authority Act. Provides for the creation of the Chicago Casino Development Authority… Establishes the Division of Internet Gaming… for the purpose of administering, regulating, and enforcing a system of Internet gaming (and makes conforming changes in other Acts)”
Actions:
- 01/08/19 - (H) Session Sine Die
- 05/31/18 - (H) Re-referred to Rules Committee
- 05/21/18 - (H) Assigned to Executive Committee
- 05/18/17 - (H) Assigned to Rules Committee
- 05/18/17 - (H) First Reading
- 02/28/17 - (S) Third Reading - Passed
- 01/24/17 - (S) Second Reading
- 01/11/17 - (S) First Reading
Summary: Establishes the Legalization and Regulation of Sports Betting Act. Includes only a short title provision.
Excerpt: “An act concerning gaming. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Legalization and Regulation of Sports Betting Act.”
Actions:
- 01/08/19 - (H) Session Sine Die
- 01/16/18 - (H) Referred to Rules Committee
- 01/16/18 - (H) First Reading
- 01/04/18 - (H) Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lou Lang
Summary: Creates the Sports Betting Consumer Protection Act. Authorizes a law enforcement entity to implement rules that prohibit or authorize certain patrons from sports betting electronically or at a physical sports betting facility. Allows the entity to also require reports of adjusted gross receipts from electronic or facility sports betting licensees.
Excerpt: “The Board may adopt rules which prohibit or authorize sports betting or electronic sports betting by an electronic sports betting patron or sports betting facility patron through an electronic sports betting account on an electronic sports betting platform or other means with an electronic sports betting licensee or sports betting facility licensee.”
Actions:
- 01/08/19 - (S) Session Sine Die
- 02/14/18 - (S) Assigned to Gaming
- 02/08/18 - (S) Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Steve Stadelman
- 01/30/18 - (S) Referred to Assignments
- 01/30/18- (S) First Reading
- 01/30/18- (S) Filed with Secretary by Sen. Don Harmon
Summary: Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Requires the Illinois Racing Board to establish rules that authorize organization and inter-track location licensees to permit sports wagering.
Excerpt: “The Board shall adopt rules authorizing sports wagering by organization licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees. For purposes of this subsection (q), "sports wagering" means wagering conducted under this Act on athletic and sporting events involving human competitors. "Sports wagering" does not include pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing or money spent to participate in paid fantasy sports.”
Actions:
- 01/08/19 - (S) Session Sine Die
- 02/27/18 - (S) Assigned to Gaming
- 02/15/18 - (S) Referred to Assignments
- 02/15/18 - (S) First Reading
- 02/15/18 - (S) Filed with Secretary by Sen. William E. Brady
Summary: Creates the Sports Wagering Act that will go into effect once PASPA is repealed or overturned. Authorizes sports wagering at facilities licensed under the Illinois Racing Board (IRB). Creates the Division of Sports Wagering within the IBR. Sets a license fee of $5 million and a 30% tax on adjusted gross receipts of sports wagering. Creates the Responsible Sports Wagering Advisory Board to recommend safe gaming standards.
Excerpt: “…this bill would authorize sports wagering but limit it to inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees for a period of 10 years, when the law will repeal. After 10 years, the General Assembly can decide to continue helping the horse racing industry by removing the repeal or open sports wagering to the State's other gambling licensees.”
Actions:
- 01/08/19 - (H) Session Sine Die
- 02/16/18 - (H) Referred to Rules Committee
- 02/16/18 - (H) First Reading
- 02/15/18 - (H) Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Tim Butler
Summary: Creates the Sports Wagering Act under the stipulation that the federal ban on sports betting is lifted. Authorizes sports betting at riverboat casinos, allowing licensees to offer in-person and internet wagering. Operators must pay a 12.5% tax on its gross sports wagering revenue.
Excerpt: “Gaming facilities may offer sports wagering: (1) in-person at the licensed gaming facility; and (2) over the Internet through an interactive sports wagering platform to persons physically located in this State or a jurisdiction that has entered into a reciprocal agreement with this State to allow sports wagering.”
Actions:
- 01/08/19 - (S) Session sine die
- 02/27/18 - (S) Assigned to Gaming
- 02/16/18 - (S) Referred to Assignments
- 02/16/18 - (S) First Reading
- 02/16/18 - (S) Filed with Secretary by Sen. Napoleon Harris, III
Summary: The synopsis as it was first introduced in the Senate was to amend the Invest in Kids Act and make a technical change in a section concerning the short title. The third and final amendment of IL SB 690 included provisions to create the Sports Wagering Act. This section of the bill designates who can hold a sports betting license and makes the use of official league data necessary.
Actions:
- 6/2/2019 - (S) Passed Both Houses
- 6/2/2019 – (S) Concurs
- 6/2/2019 – (S) House Floor Amendment No. 3 Senate Concurs 046-010-002
- 6/2/2019 – (S) Senate 3/5 Vote Required
- 6/2/2019 – (S) House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Be Approved for Consideration Assignments
- 6/2/2019 – (S) House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
- 6/2/2019 – (S) House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Terry Link
- 6/2/2019 – (S) Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1, 2, 3 - June 2, 2019
- 6/2/2019 – (S) Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1, 2, 3
- 6/1/2019 – (H) Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 087-027-000
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Illinois Sports Betting FAQ
Is There Anywhere I Can Currently Bet On Sports On IL?
The best place you can bet on sports here in Illinois is at your online sportsbooks. The age requirement is 21 and older so this is open to all legal adults who are huge sports fans and want to be winnings some extra cash. Illinois has approved sports betting in their district and offers many outlets for land-based gambling. Taking your sports betting online, there are both the stage-regulated and internationally-licensed sportsbooks. There will be plenty of promotions for newcomers as well as these online sportsbooks show their appreciation to all their users. These online sportsbooks can also be used while on your mobile device so using online sportsbooks is the best way to go.
Do These Bills Make Sports Betting Legal In IL?
The only bill that made Illinois sports betting legal was IL SB 690. The framework for the current IL sports betting market can be found in the text of that bill. There are provisions for land-based sports betting and online sports betting within that bill.
Who Can Become Licensed To Offer Sports Betting In Illinois?
According to Illinois sports betting law, the only establishments that can offer sportsbooks are casinos, racetracks, OTB facilities, and professional sports stadiums and arenas. Here are the operators that have obtained a sports betting license:
- Argosy (Alton)
- Casino Queen (East St Louis)
- Grand Victoria (Elgin)
- Harrah’s Joliet (Joliet)
- Harrah’s Metropolis (Metropolis)
- Hollywood Aurora (Aurora)
- Hollywood Joliet (Joliet)
- Jumers (Rock Island)
- Pair-a-Dice (East Peoria)
- Rivers Casino (Des Plaines)
Is Mobile Sports Betting Legal In Illinois?
Yes, mobile betting in Illinois is legal. There are several state-regulated online sportsbooks but they are limited in what they can offer due to state laws. Right now, sportsbettingillinois.com wants you to know residents can continue to use mobile sportsbooks provided by offshore operators such as Bovada and BetOnline.