Home / Poker News August 2012 / The Poker Grapevine – Illinois Rejects Gambling Bill
The Poker Grapevine – Illinois Rejects Gambling Bill
Posted by: James Carter. - Wed, 2012-08-29 13:14
As individual states continue to at least attempt to expand gambling within their jurisdictions in the US, some pretty clear lines regarding where gambling and poker can possibly expect to gain some ground are drawn up. Illinois for instance is not one of the states currently open for any kind of expansion of the above said activities. A bill, which would’ve expanded Illinois casinos from 10 to 15 and which would also have opened the way for a casino in Chicago, was tossed out by Gov. Pat Quinn, who vetoed the initiative in a move reminiscent of Chris Christie’s veto of a New Jersey
online poker bill more than a year ago.
According to the Governor, the veto was a constructively aimed move, since the bill – in the shape in which it hit the Governor’s table – was seriously lacking in regulatory oversight, which left possible loopholes to exploit for organized crime. What Quinn, who has been a major supporter of legal gambling, wants lawmakers to do is to work to improve the bill before he signs it into law.
One of the biggest problems of the bill was that the casino which would’ve been built in Chicago, being city-owned, would’ve escaped the reach of the Illinois Gambling Board’s authority, under the current provisions of the bill.
Quinn has always been known as a vocal supporter of the expansion of gambling in Illinois, but he’s also looking to uphold some strict ethical standards.
In other news: the WPT has just added a new major sponsor to its 11th season lineup. Blue Shark optics will be the official eyewear provider of the tour. Blue Shark is a Florida based company specialized in the manufacturing of eyewear dedicated to poker players. Several high profile poker professionals like Hoyt Corkins and Chris Moneymaker endorse Blue Shark products.
Blue Shark products will be available at various US and European WPT stops through season 11.
