Committee advances Illinois bill to add gambling to Substance Abuse Disorder Act
Senate Bill 2749 would include problem gambling as a public health issue in the state.
US.- The Illinois Senate Executive Committee has approved a bill that proposes to expand the state’s Substance Abuse Disorder (SAD) Act to include gambling disorder. Senator Julie Morrison introduced Senate Bill 2749 in January, proposing that problem gambling be considered a public health issue in the state.
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery (SAPR) would coordinate disorder prevention, treatment, recovery, and other supportive services. The bill would also require the DHS to advise the Social Services Advisory Council (SSAC) on preventing minors from gaming. It also proposes a toll-free hotline and a website offering counselling.
Morrison said: “By providing support and resources to those affected by gambling disorders, we are ensuring that our neighbors can continue to thrive in our communities and do not have to endure their battle alone.”
Illinois legislator proposes scrapping new sports betting tax
Representative Daniel Didech recently introduced a bill that aims to eliminate a fee introduced on sports bets in Illinois last year. House Bill 5143 proposes amending the Sports Wagering Act to remove a charge of $0.25 on each of the first 20,000 online bets that sportsbooks take each year and $0.50 per bet thereafter.
The Illinois Gaming Board reported a 15 per cent drop in sports bets for September last year after Governor Jay Robert Pritzker approved the new fee. Maura Possley, a spokesperson for the Sports Betting Alliance of Illinois, said that there were five million fewer bets placed compared to September 2024.
