Home / Poker News March 2013 / The Poker Grapevine - Illinois Eying Online Poker Bill?
The Poker Grapevine - Illinois Eying Online Poker Bill?
Posted by: Randy Williams - Sat, 2013-03-09 11:37
As predicted by many an expert, without a federal initiative in place in regards to online poker, more and more individual states are exploring the possibility of legalizing the game and possibly even online gambling in order to augment tax revenues and to revive struggling industries.
One of the latest states to begin toying with the idea is Illinois. The State Senate Committee there has just approved a bill which was recently revised and amended and which would legalize
online poker and online gambling in the state, while looking to expand the existing live gambling industry.
While the bill is aimed at raising around $150 million a year in additional tax revenue from online gambling, it also calls for increasing the number of live gambling establishments within the state from 10 to 23.
According to the bill, none of the online poker/gambling companies which had accepted illegal wagers from US-based customers in the last 10 years would be allowed to legally offer real money services in the State. That provision covers
Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars as well as
PartyPoker.
Like in New Jersey, the Governor has thus far vetoed such attempts at legalizing online gambling in the past, but like Chris Christie, this time around, he may in fact be on-board with the initiative. In fact, Pat Quinn is said to have come forth with proposals on how online gambling tax revenue could help the state. Money generated off the new brick and mortar establishments and by the online operators could help pay for schools and education and it could also allow the State to settle a $100 million pension debt issue.
New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada have already legalized online gambling, while Iowa and Pennsylvania are also currently considering the matter.
