US stunned as Illinois senators approve online gambling bill

OBSERVERS were left stunned on Thursday as an overwhelming majority of Illinois senators voted in favour of online gambling.

The bill in question would also formally legalise daily fantasy sports (DFS) competitions such as FanDuel and DraftKings.

It is a surprising turn of events for a state that has never given serious consideration to internet gambling reform in the past.

It was expected to be no different this time around, yet the bill sailed through the Senate vote in a shock 42-10 landslide.

The original proposal centred on fantasy sports betting, for which there is currently no formal regulation in IL.

It is understood the online gambling element was tacked on to appease the state’s land-based casino bosses, who view fantasy gaming as a threat to their own sports betting operations.

Under the terms of the bill, only existing Illinois casinos and bookmakers may apply for online wagering and gaming licenses.

The proposed Internet Gaming Act accounts for a number of different gambling categories, including real money casino games, online poker and wagering on horse races.

The separate Fantasy Sports Contest Act requires DFS operators to pay a five per cent tax on every first $1 million of revenue, rising up to 15 per cent for takings in excess of $8 million.

But it may be a while yet before Illinois punters can start the celebrations.

The House of Representatives will not be back in session until June 8, and there is no guarantee it will share the Senate’s views.

There are many influential figures in the lower house who oppose the push to legalise online betting and gaming, including speaker Michael J. Madigan.

Our thoughts on the Illinois gambling bill

The winds of change are sweeping the United States.

This news out of IL highlights a widespread easing of the stigma that once surrounded gambling in the so-called ‘land of the free’.

Now that major sporting organisations such as the NBA, the MLB and the PGA Tour are in support of fantasy sports betting, we can expect more and more state governments to start pushing for regulated online wagering markets.

There is a long way to go yet, however.

Online sports betting may never be truly legalised in the US until the 1961 Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) are taken out of the equation.

Who knows what might happen with the President Trump at the helm, but most signs point to a positive outlook for punters, bookies and gaming vendors in the States.