J.B. Pritzker, Illinois’ Democratic governor candidate, stated on Friday that sports gambling is something which the nation should consider for a way to secure additional revenues that can prop up its ailing finances, local news outlet that the Chicago Tribune reports.
Mr. Pritzker will face incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Libertarian Party candidate Kash Jackson, and Conservative Party candidate Sam McCann at the upcoming state gubernatorial election on November 6.
In an unrelated event, held yesterday, Mr. Pritzker told reporters that gambling is “an important matter to consider”, pointing out that other nations have legalized that kind of gambling action and “it’s turned into a sales generator. ” The governor candidate stressed that sports gambling should be regulated and that the ideal laws should be set in place, however that it is a subject that has to be considered by state lawmakers.
In a historic move, the US Supreme Court struck down on May 14 a longstanding national ban on wagering on college and professional sporting events. As many as four nations, people being Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, and West Virginia, have since launched legal sports gambling and Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
Mr. Pritzker himself has a financial stake in a gambling enterprise. He is a partner in the Niagara Casino Group, which owns the Casino Niagara and the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort.
Mr. Pritzker has not been the sole governor candidate to comment on the potential legalization of sports gambling from the nation. Gov. Rauner has previously pointed out that gambling is something which takes money from people, but that he would encourage any form of gambling expansion as long as communities encourage or ask for this type of move.
Springfield Rekindles Gambling Expansion Debate
The SCOTUS issued its sports gambling ruling in a time when Illinois lawmakers were entering the last phases of their legislative session. Additionally, legislators traditionally avoid taking on controversial matters through an election year. Because of this, the legalization of sports gambling wasn’t given much consideration up until lately.
Late last month, a combined public session of this state House Revenue and Other Assets and Gambling Sub-Committees revived the debate over a sweeping gambling expansion across the country that would also involve the legalization of sports gambling and fantasy sports. Lawmakers sought public input about the issue since they were (and still are) trying to find methods to heal the state’s budget woes.
Betting expansion was discussed for decades in the Illinois Legislature and multiple invoices considering the movement have been released but haven’t seen much success. The hottest legislative piece about the subject premiered last year as Senate Bill 7. The piece called for the construction of up to six new casinos across the country, the addition of table games and video gaming at horse racetracks and of slot machines in the O’Hare and Midway airports, in addition to for expansion of the video gaming machines sector. The bill was approved in the Senate, but was not voted at the House.
Throughout the August public session, the bill was lauded by a number of lawmakers as a person which would secure extra revenue for the nation in a time when it badly needs extra financing. But, opponents of the gambling expansion cited betting addiction concerns in addition to ones within the oversaturation of the state’s gambling market and cannibalziation of existing gambling earnings.
The following public session is set to be held in October and the legalization of sports gambling and fantasy sports is going to be a main subject.
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