Lawmakers in Illinois Discuss Lifting Ban on Betting on In-State Schools

Written by:
Gilbert Horowitz
Published on:
Apr/28/2021

Lawmakers in Illinois met Wednesday to discuss amendments to the state's current gambling regulation.  Included in the discussions before the House Executive Committee were the banning of "sweepstakes" machines and the allowance of residents to bet on in-state schools.

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Opposition to Betting on Illinois Schools

  • University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman addressed the committee saying that it was a "major concern" that U of I athletes may be in direct contact with someone who is betting on them.
  • "They're living amongst the people who are betting on them, which is strange to know that somebody who lives in the dorm room right next door might be betting on them, somebody who was involved with one of our teams as a manager, video person, might be betting on them," he said.
  • Rep. Mike Zalewski, a Democrat, claims that residents can already place bets on state schools by simply crossing over the border to neighboring states like Iowa and Indiana.
  • Zalewski also pointed out that offshore sportsbooks still take bets on teams like the Fighting Illini, Wildcats and Ramblers and accept wagers from those in the state 18 and older.
  • Zalewski said his amendment to House Bill 849 allows universities to petition the Illinois Gaming Board to suspend wagering on in-state universities or colleges for a period of up to six months if "the college or university has a reasonable belief that a player of that team has been influenced, has suffered mental or physical injury, or has otherwise been affected by a wager."

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com

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