Gov. Pritzker Has Signed HB 3136. Here’s How The Bill Immediately Affects Illinois Sports Betting

Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3136 into law on Friday, a bill that will have a major impact on sports betting in Illinois.

The bill was passed by the state Senate and House during the October veto session, with the authors of the legislation focusing on addressing several key issues.

The effects of HB 3136 on sports bettors and gamblers in Illinois now and in the future will be significant.

It is now legal to wager on Illinois college team.

While it may seem fanciful and exciting, the reality is that only in-person betting on college teams will be allowed in Illinois, adding a touch of sassiness to the experience.

In order to legally place bets on Illinois, Northwestern, Loyola Chicago, and other sports teams, you must go to a physical sportsbook located at a casino, racetrack, or off-track betting facility.

Representative Michael Zalewski, a staunch supporter of complete legalization, sees this as a step-by-step approach to policy change. He anticipates that the discussion on online betting for Illinois college teams will be revisited in two years.

If this sacrifice is successful and free of any complications, it should lead to increased momentum for a full repeal of the ban by 2023.

Immediately, online casino subscription will be available again.

The deadline for registering for in-person sports betting under HB 3136 is March 5, 2022. The transition back to mobile sign-ups may occur before this date, but will not happen later than March 5.

Pritzker’s decision to bring back in-person registration in early April will align perfectly with the betting period for March Madness.

As a result, Illinois has only six online sportsbooks, despite typically ranking third in the US for monthly sports betting handle. This is unusual compared to other states where sports betting is legal, as they usually have double-digit numbers of sportsbooks. Therefore, Illinois stands out as an anomaly in the industry.

However, by the end of 2022, Illinois could potentially have more than 10 smart sportsbooks. Many brands find that starting in a physical membership setting is not feasible.

The reason for setting the end date on March 5 was because it was believed that there would be no bids for an online-only license. According to the Sports Wagering Act, issuing an online-only license would require a return to remote registration.

During the revision session, lawmakers decided to add this amendment as it was not initially addressed in the original draft of the bill.

Push tax & rsquo, video gaming, and now legal

Although it may not directly impact the sports betting industry, changes to video gaming regulations will still have an effect on the state’s overall gaming sector.

HB 3136 allows for a tax to be charged every time a player uses a video gaming terminal (VGT), commonly referred to as a “push tax.”

In this scenario, a press tax of one cent per push has been established. Several municipalities have recently approved a force fee to cover the related expenses.

The push tax has sparked significant controversy due to the burden it places on players, but it remains a vital source of revenue for local governments.