Betting expands to college sports

Temporary measure will last one year

Springfield | A bill signed by the governor in late December expands gambling in Illinois to include college sports, for at least a year. See other changes below in yellow highlights.. House Bill 3136 allows in-person betting on state college sports teams. Lawmakers who advocated its passage cited additional revenues as a way to shore up strained state budgets.

By the end of September 2021, Illinois had $6.4 billion in handle according to playusa.com. The term “in handle” references the total amount of money bet or wagered. This generated $508 million in revenue for the state.

“We know from past experience that gaming does not enhance a community; it hurts a community,” Rains, the pastor of Quincy First Southern Baptist Church, said. “It causes children to go hungry, it hurts husbands and wives, it bankrupts businesses.”

He cited two examples of local familyowned businesses in his western Illinois community that closed due gambling addictions. “Folks view gambling as harmless, but it is a harmful vice. That’s the reality of gambling,” Rains said.