Illinois may or may not legalize sports gambling in the coming days, but the bill being pushed doesn’t have the support of local casinos.
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, tells Legal Sports Report that his organization, which represents nine of the 10 casinos in the state, almost certainly would not support the full gambling expansion bill being pushed by Illinois lawmakers in the final days of the legislative session.
“I can’t imagine we would be agreeable to a large gaming expansion bill, as we haven’t been in the past,” Swoik said. “We would have to look at it, but right now I’d say a large expansion is still out of the picture for us.”
Swoik contended that the casinos would be more agreeable to a standalone Illinois sports bettingbill if improvements are made on previous proposals.
“If it was sports wagering only and the bill was drafted in such a way that it’s more reasonable in some aspects, I think we would be on board,” Swoik said. “As an association, our major issues are the tax rate, cost of license and how many venues there are.”
Following actions this week, Louisiana‘s chance of legalizing sports betting is very unlikely this year.
Shortly before lunch the House Appropriations Committee voted 14-6 to reject Senate Bill 153 by Metairie Republican Sen. Danny Martiny, which would allow the state’s 20 casinos to offer wagering on professional and collegiate sporting events. The Appropriations Committee packed the legislation so full of amendments that Louisiana Casino Association withdrew support.
Then in the afternoon the full House twice defeated maneuvers to keep sports betting legalization alive.
Technically, supporters of legalization still have a shot. But Rep. Joseph A. Marino, who was handling the legislation in the House, said he doesn’t think that’s very likely.
“I’ve read the room,” Marino said about the mood of the House in an interview late Tuesday. “I don’t see any light left at the end of the tunnel. We’re out of time.”
Pro sports bettor James Holzhauer became the second Jeopardy! contestant to surpass $2 million in winnings from the show last Friday.
Holzhauer, a 34-year-old sports bettor from Las Vegas, cruised to his 27th straight win Friday, racking up $74,400 to push his overall winnings to $2,065,535.
In 2004, Ken Jennings won $2,520,700 during a 74-game winning streak. Holzhauer is on pace to catch Jennings in just six more episodes.
Holzhauer survived a close call Thursday in a game that came down to a decisive Final Jeopardy! He didn’t have much of a sweat Friday. He finished the opening round with $24,600, a show record.
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