Online casino gaming bills in both the Illinois House and Senate are both long shots to pass during this legislative session, but there is still hope for iGaming proponents that lawmakers will act favorably before the legislative session adjourns on May 24th.
Playing the Long Game
Illinois Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. is the sponsor of the Illinois online gaming bill HB 2239, and he realized early on that this gambit to bring iGaming to the Land of Lincoln could be considered more of a trial balloon than a distinct possibility. The legislative session ends in less than three weeks and it appears his assumption was accurate.
When asked about the bill’s chances earlier this year, Gonzalez Jr. said, “It is an election year, so there may be little movement in terms of legislation because of it. But because the budget is a perpetual discussion, as well as new revenue streams, I want to be sure that this bill is in the discussion. It’s tax revenue that the state is missing out on — this argument is more persuasive for the budget-wary sensibilities of many of my colleagues, beyond whether gaming expansion, in general, is a positive or negative.”
“I took on this bill expecting it will be a long-term project. So, we’ll see how that goes,” he added.
Maybe This Is Not the Year
According to Representative Dan Didech, the chairman of the Illinois House Gaming Committee, the reason for any substantive action on the bills is due in part to a few things.
“There’s not a ton of momentum for iGaming this year, so I think it’s probably a long shot, but stranger things have happened,” Didech said. “Gaming is an issue that sometimes comes together toward the end of the session.”
Didech also added, “For a variety of reasons, the state budget has been on much more stable footing the last few years and we expect that to continue going forward. So, we’re not seeing fiscal pressures to generate those sorts of revenues.”
Twin Bill
State Senator Cristina Castro has an iGaming bill of her own –SB1656– in the upper chamber and faces a third reading, but missing that May 3rd deadline is not a death knell as it can be brought back into discussions as budget discussions wind down near the end of the session.
“We are still in the early stages of the legislative session with weeks of budget negotiations and passing legislation still on the horizon. My colleagues and I will continue discussing numerous revenue-generating proposals in the coming weeks, including internet gaming,” said Castro.
It is no secret that iGaming has expanded at a much slower pace than mobile sports betting. Only seven states currently allow people within their boundaries to play digital slots or casino card games on their PC or mobile devices. Many legislators believe the temptation of casino gambling is potentially more addictive than sports betting, which is why most states have avoided it.
Addressing problem gambling
Speaking of problem gambling, Representative Didech has introduced House Bill 5307, which would “provide recommendations to the General Assembly on how the State should continue to meet its responsibility to assist those who suffer from a gambling problem or disorder.”
Didech said earlier this year, “I think our gambling expansion (mobile sports betting) has been a success for Illinois, but it’s our responsibility to be aware of the effects of that legislation and what, if anything, we need to do to mitigate those effects. Anything we do to address problem gambling needs to be data and evidence-driven.”
