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Illinois Internet Gaming Act Unheard in House Gaming Committee Before Primary
Illinois Internet Gaming Act sponsor Edgar Gonzalez Jr. is in a contested primary race that will see an outcome on March 19. So, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the state’s most outspoken advocate of real-money online casino legalization wasn’t present on March 13 at the committee meeting of the body currently considering his bill. Before his […]
Illinois Senate Bill Would Prohibit Chicago From Banning VGTs Without a Referendum
An Illinois Senate bill aims to amend the state’s Video Gaming Act to prohibit municipalities with a population over 1 million from banning video gaming terminals (VGTs) except by referendum. State Sen. Donald P. DeWitte sponsored the bill, which seemingly targets Chicago. Because it’s the only city in the state with a population that fits […]
State Senate Sends Illinois Online Casino Bill to Gaming Subcommittee
Five days after a House version of the Illinois online casino bill moved into that body’s Gaming Committee, state Senators directed SB1656 into the gaming subcommittee. Bonus listened on Feb. 7 to live audio of the Senate Executive Committee‘s five-minute-long meeting that consisted of the nine members quickly redirecting bills into subcommittees. Committee Chairwoman Cristina Castro […]
Illinois Online Casino Bill Moves Into House Gaming Committee
As promised, Illinois Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. made sure his Illinois online casino bill moved into a new committee. On Jan. 31, HB2239 entered the Gaming Committee. The Internet Gaming Act (IGA) sponsor has told Bonus he wanted to ensure House members discussed iGaming in 2024, even if they didn’t vote for it. Gonzalez, D-Chicago, […]
Illinois Representative Plays the Long Game With His Online Casino Bill, Senate Measure Moves Ahead
Illinois Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. is playing the long game to legalize online casino gambling. He believes state lawmakers may decide to play it safe in 2024 and not pass it. However, he thinks the Internet Gaming Act (IGA) will eventually become law. Gonzalez, D-Chicago, told Bonus on Jan. 13: I’ll be requesting the bill […]
States to Watch in 2024: Illinois — Will the Internet Gaming Act Progress or Continue to Gather Dust?
Illinois is probably a state that’s going to be thinking about legalizing online casinos for a long time. Many state residents would welcome them. There’s an established online sports betting industry in the state, and many companies involved with online gaming have a retail presence there. Until Illinois online casinos become a reality, the state’s name […]
Rivers Casino Des Plaines Belatedly Discovers August Data Breach
Rivers Casino has discovered that it was among the casino operators to have had data stolen in a string of cyberattacks earlier this year, although it seems that only one of its casinos was affected. Rivers Casino Des Plaines in Illinois has informed customers and the authorities that it discovered on Nov. 2 that a data […]
2023 Illinois Online Casino Bill May Be Revived in 2024
The Illinois online casino bill that stalled in a House committee in March 2023 may be revived in 2024, hopes state Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. On Oct. 31, he told Bonus he still believes HB2239 can move forward. If the bill is approved, Bonus estimates iGaming will generate $240 million in annual tax income for […]
Betway Declines Entering Illinois Sports Betting Marketplace
The Illinois sports betting marketplace won’t be Betway’s tenth sportsbook state because the operator bowed out of its online-only license application. On Oct. 26, attendees of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) meeting learned the bidding process ended without any operators receiving licenses. Betway had been one of two would-be online-only sportsbooks, IGB Executive Director Marcus Fruchter […]
Bally’s Chicago Gets Extension to Operate Temporary Casino But Timeline Remains Tight
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has granted Bally’s a full operational license for its casino resort in Chicago, valid until October 2027. In the process, the IGB also approved a 12-month extension for the operator’s temporary casino in downtown Chicago, necessary due to construction delays for the $1.9 billion permanent location. The temporary casino at Medinah Temple […]