Lawmakers in Illinois work on sports betting

It is estimated that a bill to legalise sports betting in the state will be discussed in the General Assembly next year.

US.- According to Democratic Representative Lou Lang, lawmakers won’t likely take up the bill to legalise sports betting in the state until a new General Assembly is seated in January. The information was shared by the politician on Wednesday during a hearing with two House subcommittees.

Lang said that lawmakers are working to address issues in regards to where sports betting will be allowed, how much the activity will be taxed and other details about online sports betting, as well as how it will impact casinos and horse racing activity in Illinois. “In the end, I’ll have to take all the ideas, do the best negotiation I can, pull it all together and try to put a bill on the floor I think I can pass,” Lang said.

While opponents to sports betting say that legalising the activity will inevitably increase gambling addiction, Lang believes that it will happen regardless and that it should be taxed and regulated. “People who want to gamble do gamble, will gamble and are gambling,” Lang said. “Billions and billions of dollars are wagered illegally every year. We’re not going to be able to stop them from doing it.”