The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has published phase 2 rules that will allow for sports wagering at authorized locations across the Prairie State.
They follow phase 1 rules, adopted on December 19, 2019 allowing interested parties to apply for master sports wagering licenses, management service provider licenses, supplier licenses, tier 2 official league data supplier licenses, and occupational licenses.
The phase 2 sports wagering rules cover a number of areas including accounting measures, financial record requirements, commencement of wagering, prohibited wagers, types of events allowed, types of wagers authorized, and conduct of wagering.
Importantly, they set out prohibitions on betting on minor league teams, any college game involving Illinois schools and high school competitions, and placing wagers on behalf of bettors that are barred from making those bets themselves.
IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter explained: “Last June, the General Assembly passed and Governor Pritzker signed historic legislation significantly expanding casino/racino gaming, video gaming, and authorizing sports wagering in Illinois. The Illinois Gaming Board has been working in an orderly and transparent way to enact gaming expansion that best serves Illinois and adheres to the Sports Wagering Act.”
According to Fruchter, the release of phase 2 sports wagering rules is a “…continuation of that deliberate and thoughtful process, which will allow sports wagering to commence expeditiously and ethically across the State”.
He added: “We look forward to working with our industry partners to ensure that sports wagering in Illinois operates with high integrity in a manner that is compliant, accountable, profitable, and fun.”
Outlining the necessary protocol, Fruchter said: “Once applications are submitted, vetted, and approved, an applicant may receive a temporary operating permit and could then begin accepting wagers as soon as they are ready to do so.
“The IGB is committed to the establishment of an ethical, transparent, successful, and efficient sports wagering regulatory structure and the phase 2 rules are an important additional step in the establishment of that structure.”
