The law also includes new casinos in Chicago and the suburbs

Illinois Governor signs sports betting bill into law

"With this historic $45 billion capital plan, we're fixing decades-long problems, creating good jobs, improving communities for the next generation - and doing it together, across party lines," said Gov. JB Pritzker.
2019-07-01
Reading time 2:16 min
The governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a package of new bills as part of a capital construction plan in the state, which includes a massive gambling expansion.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved Friday a $45 billion infrastructure plan, funded in part by doubling the gas tax, expanding the sales tax on e-commerce transactions and expanded gambling, including new casinos in Chicago and the suburbs, as well as legalized sports wagering.

Pritzker, a first-term Democrat, on June 28 signed several bills designed to rebuild the state’s crumbling infrastructure, including two revenue bills, S.B. 1939 (P.A. 101-32) and S.B. 690 (P.A. 101-31). The revenue provisions are designed to create a sustainable stream of cash, estimated at nearly $2.7 billion annually when fully implemented, for a state plagued with fiscal challenges, Bloomberg reports.

"The Rebuild Illinois plan transforms our state’s approach to transportation infrastructure, finally treating our roads, bridges, and railways like 21st-century investments and not relics of the past," Pritzker said during a bill-signing ceremony.

Much of the revenue generated by S.B 690 would come from a major expansion of gambling. The bill includes a new sports betting system that would tax wagering revenue at 15%. The bill also provides six additional casino licenses, additional gaming positions at racetracks, and increases in the video gaming tax. The administration estimated the gaming provisions would generate more than $350 million for FY 2020.

"With this historic $45 billion capital plan, we're fixing decades-long problems, creating good jobs, improving communities for the next generation - and doing it together, across party lines," said Gov. JB Pritzker. "We're also making critical investments in our higher education institutions, our crime lab and veterans' homes, early childhood centers, and expanding broadband access to communities across Illinois. With these investments, we're creating and supporting hundreds of thousands of new jobs in our state. This is more than an infrastructure plan. This is a job creation plan the likes of which our state has never seen."

"With this law, communities across the state gain needed economic development and we become more competitive," said Sen. Terry Link (D-Indian Creek). "This investment in Illinois was overdue. A lot of people have waited a long time for this day to arrive. I'd like to thank my colleagues and Governor Pritzker for making it happen."

"I am proud to join Gov. Pritzker, Sen. Link and our many dedicated advocates in communities that will benefit greatly from the gaming expansion package in Senate Bill 690," said Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island), the lead gaming negotiator for the House Democrats. "This is a testament to bipartisan work in Springfield to create jobs and bring new entertainment and tourism dollars to areas that desperately need it around the state. Thank you to everyone who made this victory possible."

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