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( pictured ) forewarned Play Illinois & nbsp that a post-pandemic economic downturn could spell the end for Illinois & rsquo, internet gambling && requo’s prospects.

Syverson remarked:

& ldquo, I simply don’t see there being any serious discussion about iGaming until at least 2023 in the politics of this right now. And if the economy is weak in Andrsquo, 23, it won’t be affected both. & rdquo,

The dean of Illinois senators with 29 years of service, Syverson sits on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

The commission recently administered a study on how much revenue the state lost by not having online casino gaming during the pandemic.

Why Illinois will decriminalise virtual casinos in 2022

Sen. Cristina Castroordered the study to spark consideration of internet gambling legislation in 2022.

It may take time to educate lawmakers, she said, but she anticipated the conversation to start next year.

Syverson listed a number of additional justifications for why the Illinois Legislature won’t take internet gaming legislation really in 2022:

It’s an election year, so now is not the time for politicians to act on contentious policy.
• Many of the 2019 legislatively passed game expansions have not yet been fully implemented by the Illinois Gaming Board. Legislators don’t view fit to put more pressure on the authorities.
• Illinois won’t require the funds in 2022. State and local governments will be flush with money through the following month as a result of national handouts related to the crisis.
• More than ever after the crisis, bars, restaurants, and veterans organizations rely on switch income from video games. They oppose the growth of online gaming.

Not all lawmakers have casinos in their districts, but all have bars and restaurants.

What politician will support something if his hometown restaurants, bars, veterans, and fraternal organizations oppose it? & ldquo & rdquo, Syverson enquired. Andlquo, especially in the midst of an vote, that would be political death. & rdquo,

Why 2023 might present problems for the laws governing virtual casinos

Syverson worries that Illinois may experience a rude awakening when the national funds run out.

Come January 23, the cliffs are so extraordinary that we are unsure of what the state government will do. I predict that the economy may become extremely unstable. & rdquo,

One might think that’s when it makes sense for the state to turn toward internet casino tax revenue.

However, the study notes the possible cannibalization of VGT revenue by online gambling.

Syverson sees it as a result of an increasing worry in Illinois about website businesses entering the market and forcing brick-and-mortar businesses to close.

There is only so much disposable entertainment money, Andldquo. I can assure you that many restaurants, bars, and VFWs in Illinois are merely still open because they have enough video gaming revenue to sustain them. That gambling profits would suffer greatly if it suddenly decreased all of a sudden. I believe that when it comes to iGaming, the possibility of expanding anything that & rsquo, s internet-based versus brick-and-mortars based, is going to be very difficult to happen. & rdquo,

Syverson gave the best explanation. The likelihood that state and local economy will recover from the pandemic better than anticipated is a gamble for the legalization of online casinos in 2023.