On October 28, both houses of the Illinois legislature—with super majorities—passed an amendment to the state’s sports betting law allowing wagers on college contests.
House Bill 3136 now awaits the signature of Governor J.B. Pritzker. Because the bill passed with such a majority it will become law the moment the governor’s signature dries.
The vote came one day before the General Assembly was due to adjourn for 2021.
Sports betting was approved in 2019. Now any sportsbook licensee will be able to take college game wagers—but only retail. Not online. The bill creates a pilot program that would need to be extended after July 1, 2023.
Only bets on the final score of final outcome of an event are allowed—not on an individual’s performance in game held within the state.
Bill sponsor Rep. Bob Rita told an interviewer: “We did hear in our testimony that there could be some negative consequences to our Illinois players.” He added, “And that’s why we just looked at outcome rather than player performance.”
Also in the bill, in-person registration for online sports bets will come to an end March 5, just before the fan-favorite NCAA men’s basketball tournament. An amendment to HB 3136, which includes an expiration date for the controversial requirement, has passed each chamber by wide margins, according to Sports Handle.
In addition, Wintrust Arena—home of the recently crowned WNBA champion Chicago Sky—becomes eligible to offer a sportsbook even though the seating capacity falls under the 17,000 threshold.
The accessibility to mobile registration factored into Illinois generating more than $4 billion in handle this year through August. When figures are released for September, Illinois should join the rarefied air of $6 billion in all time handle occupied by New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
“Right now, there are only six sportsbooks,” said Joe Boozell, lead analyst with PlayIllinois.com. “I expect that number to double by the end of 2022 because no sportsbook really wants to launch if there is not an online registration.”
