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

Written By Joe Boozell on February 11, 2021Last Updated on March 3, 2021
illinois college betting refiled

Michael J. Zalewski( D ), an State of Illinois Representative and nbsp, has re-filed a bill that would lift the ban on in-state college sports wagering.

The bill is identical to the one he filed in January. The distinction, however, is that the new General Assembly is currently convened in Illinois.

The expenses did not make it past the Rules Committee after a second reading next month.

Although it wouldn’t be approved in time for betting on March Madness, there’s a possibility it might be ready for the 2021 college football season.

These are the school teams that residents of Illinois can place bets on:

  • Bradley
  • State of Chicago
  • DePaul
  • Eastern Illinois
  • Illinois
  • State of Illinois
  • Loyola
  • Illinois’ northwestern region
  • Northwestern
  • Illinois in the south
  • Edwardsville in the south of Illinois (SIUE)
  • University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC)
  • Illinois in the West

Following a winter sports season where Northwestern dominated Auburn in the Citrus Bowl and nearly won the Big Ten, it would be ideal for Illinois sports bookmakers to place bets on the Wildcats and other teams in the upcoming year.

Zalewski tweeted the following in January:

His tweet refers to worries that betting on collegiate sports within the state could potentially harm the athletes.

However, he did mention that he hopes to collaborate with other state legislators to devise a method for student athletes to earn profits from bets placed on the competitions they participate in.

How common is betting on university activities?

Although professional sports enjoy greater popularity, college sports constitute a substantial portion of the sports betting handle in Illinois.

In November, Illinois consumers made approximately $113.6 million in school sporting bets. College sports accounted for a third of the state’s total control, amounting to $449.2 million.

The number could potentially increase given that Illinois residents have the option to place bets on their home state groups, needless to say.

This would be especially accurate in March as March Madness approaches.

Currently, Illinois has the best school basketball team it has had in recent memory.

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

Party like it’s 2005? The University of Illinois boasts its best college basketball team since the era of Dee Brown and Deron Williams.

However, despite the legitimacy of sports betting, it is not allowed for residents of Prairie State.

Joe Lunardi’s latest ESPN Bracketology has the Fighting Illini as a No. 2 seed, putting them within reach of a No. 1 seed.

The Illini boast a 13-5 overall record and are highly regarded in advanced metrics. Illinois, for example, is ranked as the country’s No. 4 team by KenPom.

They, who have recently been on a hot streak, have won four consecutive games in the densely populated Big Ten.

What are the chances of Illinois winning the national championship, you may wonder? If you check any of the five sportsbook apps in the state, you won’t find the Illini listed because of the ban.

However, DraftKings, for instance, has listed odds in other states. Currently, Illinois has a 20/1 chance to win the title there.

Meanwhile, the Illini has a strong 4 to 1 chance of making the Final Four.

Here is the forthcoming schedule for Illinois & rsquo:

    12 February: @ Nebraska

  • 16 February: Northwestern vs.
  • 20 Feb. @ Minnesota
  • February 23: At Michigan State
  • 23 February: Nebraska vs.
  • 27. February: @ Wisconsin
  • On March 6, Ohio State.

The Illini are ranked No. 1. They have a score of 8 on the ACT and have not lost against any at KenPom. They boast a security score of 12 and possess a significant amount of star power.

Ayo Dosunmu, one of the top guards in college basketball, is always a crucial player in March. Dosunmu averages 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

Junior center Kofi Cockburn averages 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. The inside-out combo of Dosunmu and Cockburn is performing just as well as we expected at the beginning of the season, and they are currently at their best.

If the law passes allowing people to legally wager on the Illini in the state, will they still maintain their good performance?

Desiring is all we are capable of. Depending on your current location, traveling to the territories of Indiana and Iowa might not be too challenging.

Bradley Leeb’s pictures, AP
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Boozell, Joe

Joe Boozell, a college sports writer for NCAA.com since 2015, has also had his work featured on Bleacher Report, FoxSports.com, and NBA.com. In his youth, Boozell competed against Anthony Davis and Frank Kaminsky in the basketball scene of Chicagoland… it’s not hard to visualize how those games turned out.

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