House subcommittee in Illinois to discuss sports betting

The second of two hearings to consider the possibility of legalising sports betting will take place tomorrow in Springfield.

US.- As the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting, states are showing their interest in the benefits that the gambling modality could bring to their finances. Now Illinois is part of the discussions, as a House subcommittee will hold the second hearing to examine the possibility of expanding gambling in the state.

Lawmakers in Illinois are considering a plan to add more casinos in the state and allow slot machines at horse racing tracks, as well as sports betting and DFS. Rep. Mike Zalewski, chair of the House Revenue Committee, said that adding sports betting to the plans makes sense.

“It can sort of be the tie that binds the different industries and the bricks and mortar to one unifying approach going forward,” Zalewski said. “All of these things have the opportunity to bring the stakeholders together and figure out the best path forward.”

Moreover, a sports betting proposal that is backed by Senator Napoleon Harris would add a 1% integrity fee to a 12.5% state tax on wagers. That money would then be sent to professional sports leagues.

“There’s a broader conversation going on in the country about what the leagues’ role in these conversations will be,” Zalewski said. “They’ve come forward and said basically you’re going to be using our players, you’re going to be using our stadia, you’re going to be using our product to fund your activity and we’d like to have a place at the table.”

“If they didn’t need it before, why should they need it now?” he said. “But given that this is going to proliferate rather quickly, I think we’re going to have to reconcile the teams’ and the leagues’ role in this in a real way.”