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Illinois Senate Approves Wagering Tax

April 25, 2008

The Illinois Senate approved legislation recently that would tax betting on horse races over the phone or internet. State Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, sponsored the measure, which passed the Senate on 37-13 vote.

Cullerton said the proposal would not expand gambling, but would tax those who are already betting on races over the phone.

“We’re not licensing those people in Illinois,” Cullerton said. “We’re not taxing them, so we’re losing [their revenue].”

Opposition to the measure was scattered beyond party lines, with some Republicans voting in favor of it and some Democrats voting against it. State Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said the measure does not constitute an expansion of gambling.

“It was a close call for me,” Luechtefeld said. “If I’m an advocate of gambling in any way, it’s the horseracing business. It’s a traditional thing we’ve had in this state for a long time.”

Licensing phone-in or internet bets would bring in an estimated $1 million in revenue, Cullerton said. The measure now heads to the House for further debate. The legislation is Senate Bill 2702