The state’s House of Representatives is now reviewing an iGaming bill
Illinois lawmakers are taking another shot at bringing online casinos to the state after legislation to authorize regulated iGaming was introduced in the House.
House Bill 2239 was first introduced in 2023 and has now been assigned to the House Gaming Committee. The bill is sponsored by Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. and would create the Internet Gaming Act to provide the state and local governments with a fresh revenue stream.
HB 2239 seeks to authorize iGaming to operators awarded a license or providers partnered with a licensee. Each operator would pay a $250,000 fee and can offer up to three gaming skins, which can remain active for an additional $100,000 annual license fee.
The legal age to wager in Illinois under HB 2239 is 21, and a 15% privilege tax will be imposed on all bets. Tax revenue from iGaming would be allocated to the Illinois Gaming Fund.
Steps are also included in the bill to promote responsible gambling, with operators required to include signage on their platforms that furnish problem gambling assistance.
HB 2239 is one of several iGaming-related bills presented in Illinois. SB 1656 was re-assigned to the House’s Executive Committee last month after being introduced in February 2023. It was sponsored by Senator Cristina Castro and proposes permitting Illinois racetracks and casinos to hold up to three skins on a single online gaming license. SB 1656 follows Castro’s failed attempt to bring iGaming to Illinois in 2021.
Gross gaming revenue for regulated iGaming markets in the US surpassed $557 million in November 2023.
