Internet Gaming Bill Could See Online Casinos Legalised in Illinois

House representatives Robert (Bob) Rita and Jonathan Carroll are behind House Bill 3142 known as the Internet Gaming Act. Should the legislation pass a House vote, existing land-based casinos would be allowed to apply for internet gaming licenses paving the way for online poker and casino games within the state.

With the sports betting industry thriving in the state, both Rita and Carroll feel that now is the time to allow online casinos enter the market.

Under the proposed legislation, each license holder would be allowed to run three casino skins. They can also partner with as many as three iGaming providers.

However the bill faces opposition with some representatives voicing concerns over video gaming terminal (VGT) operators’ potential loss of revenue.

Speaking out in support of VGT operators, Senator Dave Syverson said:

“Bars and restaurants that have been just devastated by the overly restrictive COVID rules from the state of Illinois need the little bit of video gaming they have going right now to help them stay in business. If they lost VGT revenue to the internet, we’d see a lot of restaurants and bars having to close.”

Image credit: Patrick Emerson / CC BY-ND 2.0

David Burke

London based reporter covering all aspects of the global regulated and unregulated land-based and online gambling industry - including business news, sports-betting, casinos, poker & regulation