IL lawmakers discuss gambling initiatives, including taxes on fantasy
sports games
[March 26, 2025]
By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are considering a slew of bills
affecting gambling in the state.
Fantasy sports has become tremendously popular around the country, now
some lawmakers want a cut of the action.
One measure, Senate BIll 2145, would require fantasy sports companies to
pay a fee to operate in the state and places a tax of up to 40% on their
contest receipts. Tim Jensen of Real Time Fantasy Sports said the bill
would end their Illinois operations.
“As a smaller operator, we have hundreds of Illinois players that have
been with us for years if not decades, however, the half-million dollar
licensing fee exceeds our total gross revenue for the state of Illinois
and would effectively lock us out of the state,” said Jensen during a
Senate Gaming, Wagering and Racing Committee hearing Tuesday.
Bartlett Cleland is with NetChoice, an advocate of free enterprise on
the internet. He said fantasy sports companies should not be treated
like sports books.
“The overbearing tax structure designed for the sports books fails to
recognize the smaller margins and revenue limitations on fantasy
sports,” said Cleland. “Stunning to me, fantasy platforms earn about
1/30th of the revenue of sports books.”
State Sen. Christina Castro, D-Elgin, said if you want to play, you have
to pay.
[to top of second column]
|
“Whether the tax the gaming board proposed is the right one I’m not
sure, but it’s something to say I don’t want to be taxed, I don’t
want to pay fees,” said Castro. “You want the privilege to do
business in Illinois, guess what, you're going to pay for that
privilege.”
Another piece of legislation would create the Fantasy Sports
Consumer Protection Act which would allow the Illinois Gaming Board
to regulate fantasy operators.
Another measure in Senate Bill 2399 would place limitations on
betting, including limiting deposits into gambling accounts. The
measure provides that a sports wagering licensee shall not accept
more than 5 deposits from an individual during a 24-hour period, and
shall not accept deposits made by using a credit card.
State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, said studies show that there
are repercussions in states that allow gambling.
“They have cited an increase in bankruptcy filings in a number of
the states, even some evidence of increased reports of domestic
violence,” said Cunningham.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Illinois. If gambling
has become a problem for you or someone you know, call
1-800-GAMBLER. Help is also available through the website
AreYouReallyWinning.com and by texting GAMB to 833234.
 |
