Illinois Lawmaker Sees Difficult Road Ahead For Online Casino Legislation

Illinois’s virtual casino policy won’t pass in 2022, according to lawmakers. One senator also considers the year 2023 to be a long shot.

Sen. Dave Syverson (in the picture) warned Play Illinois that a post-pandemic economic downturn could potentially end the prospects of internet gambling in Illinois.

Syverson remarked:

“I simply don’t foresee any substantial conversation regarding iGaming occurring in the political sphere until at least 2023. Moreover, if the economy is weak in 2023, it won’t be influenced either.”

Syverson, who has served as an Illinois senator for 29 years and is currently the dean, sits on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

Recently, a study was conducted by the commission to determine the amount of revenue the state missed out on by not implementing online casino gaming during the pandemic.

Why Illinois will decriminalise virtual casinos in 2022

Sen. Cristina Castro commissioned the study to encourage deliberation on internet gambling legislation in 2022.

She said that educating lawmakers might take time, but she expected the conversation to begin next year.

Syverson provided several other reasons why the Illinois Legislature won’t seriously consider internet gaming legislation in 2022:

It’s an election year, so now is not the time for politicians to act on contentious policy.
• Many of the game expansions passed by the legislature in 2019 have not been fully put into effect by the Illinois Gaming Board. Legislators do not deem it appropriate to exert additional pressure on the authorities.
• Illinois will not need the funds in 2022. Due to national crisis-related handouts, both state and local governments will have an abundance of money until the subsequent month.
• After the crisis, bars, restaurants, and veterans organizations are depending increasingly on revenue from video games. They are against the expansion of online gaming.

While not every lawmaker has a casino in their district, they all have bars and restaurants.

“Which politician would back something that is opposed by restaurants, bars, veterans, and fraternal organizations in their hometown?” Syverson questioned, adding “Particularly during a vote, that would spell political suicide.”

Why 2023 might present problems for the laws governing virtual casinos

Syverson is concerned that Illinois might face a harsh reality when the national funds are exhausted.

As of January 23, the cliffs are so remarkable that we are uncertain about the state government’s actions. I foresee potential extreme instability in the economy.

It could be considered logical for the state to lean on internet casino tax revenue at that point.

Nonetheless, the study points out the potential for online gambling to cannibalize VGT revenue.

Syverson perceives it as a consequence of a growing concern in Illinois about online businesses penetrating the market, leading to the potential closure of physical stores.

“Andldquo, I can guarantee that a significant number of restaurants, bars, and VFWs in Illinois are only still operating due to their substantial video gaming revenue. If this income were to suddenly diminish, their profits from gambling would significantly decrease. In terms of iGaming, I believe that expanding any internet-based venture compared to traditional physical establishments will be an extremely challenging task. & rdquo,”

Syverson provided the most comprehensive explanation. He suggests that the probability of the state and local economies recovering from the pandemic more favorably than expected is a risk associated with the potential legalization of online casinos in 2023.