Sports Betting Talks Underway In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, IL — One week after the U.S. Supreme Court declared a federal ban on sports betting as unconstitutional, Illinois lawmakers are speaking out on what they believe will come next for the sporting event gamblers. Peoria Public Radio reports that in an interview with NPR Illinois, state Senator Napoleon Harris, a Democrat from Harvey, said there's no question Illinois is going to approve a law allowing sports gambling, but it's a question of when this will happen.

State lawmakers are already considering a plan to make this legal in Illinois, a move professional sports officials have supported, provided their leagues get a cut of the profits.

NPR Illinois says Harris is sponsoring one of the measures that would put in place the rules for betting at sporting events, however he said that lawmakers thought they had all summer to bring a bill during veto session.

While a plan is being considered, NPR Illinois says Harris wants lawmakers to approve rules before Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa do, because he can see Illinoisans heading over the border to the Hoosier state to place bets.

Again, the new Illinois law under consideration would legalize betting on amateur, professional and college games, allowing casinos to take sports bets in person and online from Illinois residents only.

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Patch reports the legal challenge to the federal sports betting ban came after then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a law allowing it at casinos and racetracks in the state. Justice Samuel Alito delivered the majority opinion May 14, saying "the legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make."

Illinois is one of seven states with plans under consideration to legalize sports betting in their respective states, according to CNBC.

There is just one week left for lawmakers to vote in the current Illinois legislative session ending May 31.

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