Illinois moved last week to catch up with other states in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision removing the federal ban on sports betting. State House leaders added an amendment to Senate Bill 7—a bill to create a casino in the city of Chicago—that would formally legalize and regulate sports betting, online gaming and daily fantasy sports.
However, the measure will have to wait until next fall’s session, as the current session expired Thursday with the bill stalled in the House Gaming Subcommittee.
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, while not taking a position on legalizing sports betting, told the Chicago Tribune that the city should get a cut of the action in any sports betting authorization. “First of all, you know that’s a question for Springfield, it’s not a question for Chicago,” Emanuel said. “That said, if Springfield takes action, I’m going to make sure… I want to make sure Chicago receives its resources back. But the first step has to be the action taken by Springfield.”
