May 27, 2008
Oppose SB 2702
Legalizes Internet Bets on Horses and Advance Deposit Wagering
Problem
- Advance Deposit Wagering is illegal in Illinois according to an opinion issued by the Attorney General on November 1, 2001.
- SB 2702 legalizes Advance Deposit Wagering in Illinois. This is an expansion of gambling.
- SB 2702 expands gambling to the Internet and in the home. Gamblers could lose their house while gambling at home!
- SB 2702 allows an Advance Deposit Wager to be placed from any location via a telephone-type device or any other electronic means-cell phone, BlackBerry, computer, etc.
- The age to gamble on horses is 18 in Illinois. Making gambling more accessible through the Internet will increase gambling addiction, especially for young people.
- SB 2702 would allow any fees from advance deposit wagering being conducted illegally and held in escrow or otherwise withheld from wagers to be distributed, with no legal action taken. (p. 10, lines 2-8) Note: According to a February 1, 2008 Chicago Tribune article, Balmoral Park, Maywood Park, Hawthorne Race Course and Fairmount Park have entered into agreements with Youbet.com to offer advance-deposit wagering and online betting. In November, 2007, a subsidiary of Arlington Park's parent company Churchill Downs Inc. called TwinSpires.com, bought three Internet betting companies for $80 million and took over their advance accounts and started accepting wagers in Illinois. On January 24, 2008 the Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, Inc. web site announced Big News! Advance deposit Wagering will begin in Illinois in 30 days.
Solution
As Legislators, you can enact a stronger law as they did in Arizona or restrict residents from gambling on Youbet.com. On Sept. 19, 2007 a law passed by the Arizona legislature took effect that made it a felony to accept or place a wager on a horse race anywhere in the state except at a licensed track or off-track betting parlor. Youbet.com ceased to accept wagers from Arizona residents. On Sept. 26, 2007 Youbet.com also ceased to accept all wagers from customers in the District of Columbia. Instead of changing the law to expand gambling, the tracks and the Illinois Racing Board can block the signals to prevent gamblers from betting on Illinois horse races from cell phones or at Youbet.com.