Illinois Is Poised to Become the Gambling Capital of the Midwest - ProPublica

Illinois Is Poised to Become the Gambling Capital of the Midwest  ProPublicaby Jason Grotto, ProPublica Illinois, and Dan Mihalopoulos, WBEZ Chicago An 816-page bill introduced and passed by the General Assembly over the weekend will, if fully realized, transform Illinois into the gambling capital of the Midwest. The legislation legalizes sports gambling; sanctions six new casinos, including one in Chicago; increases the number of video gambling machines as well as the maximum bet; and transforms the state’s horse racing tracks into “racinos” by permitting casino operations at the state’s three existing tracks while allowing two more to open. The number of state-sp...