By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – By the time the next NCAA Tournament rolls around, you might be able to bet on it legally in Illinois.
Actually, the governor’s office would like to start well before then; say, as close to the start of the new fiscal year – July 1 – as possible.
State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) is carrying the bill and has drawn up four possibilities:
“Generally, they revolve around either giving a casino or a horse-racing track or an OTB or maybe even the lottery the ability to offer sports wagering as an option to a sports fan,” Zalewski tells WJBC News. “There will be a hearing next week in the Illinois House, and we’ve hopefully started a good dialogue.”
Expansion of gambling is customarily difficult to pass at the Capitol, but the governor’s office – aggressive in pursuing its goals and wanting that revenue – is hoping sports gambling is the exception.
HB 3308