Illinois Joins States Eyeing Sweepstakes Ban
Illinois is gearing up to tackle sweepstakes gaming, per Casino Reports scoop. Senate Bill 1705, pushed by Senator Bill Cunningham, aims to rewrite the state’s criminal code to outlaw online sweeps and video sweepstakes machines.
SB 1705 Targets Online Sweeps
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) backs it hard, calling these games unregulated virtual casinos – free to play but with coin buys for real cash, skipping consumer safeguards. Cunningham’s bill, now in the Senate Rules Committee, tags sweeps as part of an illegal market ripe for crime, a view echoing across states.
The move’s not solo. Mississippi’s Senate Bill 2510, Florida’s SB 1404, and New York’s SB 5935, all tracked by Casino Reports, hit sweeps too, with Mississippi’s unanimously passing its Senate in February before stalling over sports betting add-ons.
Illinois’s IGB wants sweeps gone to protect its $1.5 billion video gaming haul from 2024, per state data, arguing they dodge taxes and rules. Seven states now have similar bans in play, per industry counts, showing a growing push to clamp down.
Beyond Sweeps
Two bills: SB 1224 by Senator Lakesia Collins and SB 2145 by Cunningham, aim to rope daily fantasy sports (DFS) under IGB control. Casino Reports notes the IGB favors SB 2145’s broader grip, while operators lean toward SB 1224’s lighter tax hit.
Meanwhile, SB 1349 shakes up online sports betting, ditching a three-license cap, scrapping competitive bids, and cutting fees from $20 million to $15 million. Some fret it’ll flood the market, already at $11 billion in wagers since 2020, per IGB stats.
The sweepstakes ban’s the headliner, though. With 40,000+ video gaming terminals statewide, per IGB, Illinois wants to keep its regulated cash flow tight.
Sweeps, virtual or in-person, threaten that, offering slots and poker with no oversight, Casino Reports highlights. SB 1705’s felony penalties for operators signal a tough stance, mirroring Maryland’s 47-0 Senate vote for a ban in March.
Online Casino Chatter Lingers
Illinois considers online casinos too, but it’s a long shot. SB 1963 by Senator Cristina Castro and HB 3080 by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez are live options for now. Castro pitches iGaming as a consumer safety net and cash boost, potentially $1 billion yearly at a 25% tax, per Eilers & Krejcik estimates, but admits it’s no fix-all.
Support’s thin: FanDuel and Caesars back HB 3080, yet the IGB, bar groups, and others balk, citing market glut fears. With the session ending May 31, 2025, per state schedules, sweeps bans look likelier than casino green lights.
Recommended