Want To Bet On The Fighting Illini? Lawmaker Re-Files Bill To Allow In-State College Wagering

Written By Joe Boozell on February 11, 2021 – Last Updated on March 3, 2021

State of Illinois Representative Michael J. Zalewski (D) has re-introduced a bill that aims to overturn the prohibition on in-state college sports betting.

The bill he filed in January is the same as the one now being considered by the new General Assembly currently convened in Illinois.

The expenses were not approved by the Rules Committee following a second reading next month.

While it may not be available for March Madness betting, there is a chance that it could be approved in time for the 2021 college football season.

Residents of Illinois can place bets on the following school teams:

Bradley
State of Chicago
DePaul
Eastern Illinois
Illinois
State of Illinois
Loyola
Illinois’ northwestern region
Northwestern
Illinois in the south
Edwardsville is located in southern Illinois and is home to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE).
UIC – University of Illinois at Chicago
Illinois in the West

After Northwestern’s impressive performance in the Citrus Bowl and strong showing in the Big Ten, Illinois sports bookmakers should consider placing bets on the Wildcats and other promising teams in the upcoming year.

In January, Zalewski posted the following tweet:

I introduced HB5876 today, a bill to lift the prohibition on betting on in-state college games. Given that NCAA athletes were required to compete during COVID, the argument that they would suffer from betting is unfounded. https://t.co/qMjytt2jMP

Michael J. Zalewski shared this on his Twitter account, @mjzalewski, on January 10, 2021.

In his tweet, he expresses concerns that placing bets on college sports within the state could have negative consequences for the athletes.

Nevertheless, he expressed his desire to work with fellow state legislators to create a system that allows student athletes to benefit financially from bets made on their competitions.

How common is betting on university activities?

Even though professional sports are more popular, college sports still make up a significant portion of the sports betting handle in Illinois.

In the month of November, Illinois consumers placed around $113.6 million in bets on school sports. College sports made up one-third of the state’s total betting revenue, totaling $449.2 million.

The number of bets placed could increase as Illinois residents are able to wager on their local teams.

This would be particularly true as March Madness draws near in March.

Illinois currently boasts its strongest school basketball team in recent history.

Fighting Illini from Illinois might receive a No. 1 grain in March’s craziness

Let’s celebrate like it’s 2005! The University of Illinois is proud to have its strongest college basketball team since the days of Dee Brown and Deron Williams.

Despite the legitimacy of sports betting, residents of Prairie State are not allowed to participate.

In Joe Lunardi’s most recent ESPN Bracketology, the Fighting Illini are projected as a No. 2 seed, positioning them close to a possible No. 1 seed.

The Illini have an impressive 13-5 overall record and are highly respected in advanced statistics. Illinois is currently ranked as the No. 4 team in the country by KenPom.

After a recent winning streak, they have emerged victorious in four straight games in the highly competitive Big Ten conference.

You might be curious about the odds of Illinois winning the national championship. However, if you look at any of the five sportsbook apps in the state, you won’t see the Illini listed due to the ban.

DraftKings has posted odds in various states, including Illinois, where the current odds of winning the title are 20/1.

At the same time, the Illini have a solid 4 to 1 likelihood of reaching the Final Four.

Below is the upcoming schedule for Illinois:

16 February: Northwestern vs.
20 Feb. @ Minnesota
On February 23rd, Michigan State University
23 February: Nebraska vs.
27. February: @ Wisconsin
Ohio State on March 6th.

The Illini are currently the top-ranked team, with a perfect record against all opponents according to KenPom. They have an impressive ACT score of 8 and a strong security rating of 12. Additionally, they have a roster filled with talented star players.

Ayo Dosunmu, a standout guard in college basketball, consistently shines as a key player during March Madness. He boasts an impressive stat line of 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

Kofi Cockburn, the junior center, is averaging 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. The dynamic duo of Dosunmu and Cockburn is living up to expectations this season, performing at their peak level.

If the law allowing legal betting on the Illini passes in the state, will they be able to sustain their strong performance?

All we are capable of is desiring. Depending on where you are currently located, traveling to Indiana and Iowa may not be very difficult.