Two companies had been allowing Illinoisans to illegally place bets on horse races on the Internet. Xpressbet and TwinSpires, which is owned by Churchill Downs — the company behind Arlington Park and the Kentucky Derby– stopped taking bets on Jan. 18, 2013, shortly after a Daily Herald story pointed out it continued despite the licensing law expiration on December 31, 2012. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130130/news/701309618/
Rep. Jay Hoffman, formerly point person in the House for Governor Rod Blagojevich, has introduced House Bill 964 to legalize Advance Deposit Wagering through December 31, 2015. HB 964 would allow these two companies, who conducted illegal gambling, to keep their licenses and continue to conduct Advance Deposit Wagering with no penalties!
Senate Bill 70 would allow video gambling closer than 100 feet from a school or church if the veteran or fraternal group, licensed establishment or truck stop obtained its original liquor license before the school or church located there. One of the concerns ILCAAAP brought up during testimony to oppose the video gambling, was the fact that many alcohol pouring establishments are closer than 100 feet from schools and churches due to exemptions to the law.
Children play video games, but it is illegal for anyone under 21 to gamble on video gambling machines that will be put in pizza parlors, family restaurants, bowling alleys, and other video gambling establishments located near schools and churches. There are insufficient safeguards to protect children from gambling when the machines are labeled and advertised as “video gaming”. An establishment just needs to have one person 21 years of age or older watching the area where the gambling machines are located. SB 70 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Executive Committee on February 5th.
HB 996 expands charitable gambling: removes the bet limit on games, like poker, doubles the amount of cash winnings, triples the number of charitable game events that a company can manage or operate, increases the number of charitable games events that can be held in one premise, and allows video gambling machines in the same establishments as charitable gambling. Currently, slot machines are prohibited at charitable games events. HB 996 turns charitable events into casinos.
Video gambling will not fly at the Peoria airport
During an airport authority meeting board members expressed opposition to a proposal. With just one restaurant at the airport, some board members say hungry travelers, not interested in gambling, would not have other options to choose from during long layovers. . . . Airport Director Gene Olson says many airports around the country have been approached about establishing video gambling. He says so far none in Illinois have bought into the concept. http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/189106061.html