What Illinois Should Learn From the United Kingdom About Legalizing Online Gambling
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The legalization of sports betting in the U.S. was officially ushered in by the Supreme Court in 2018. Many states have not passed new laws allowing big brands to start operating. The UK legalized sports gambling half a century ago.
Betting on horse races at local race tracks was legalized in Illinois in the 1920s. By 1990, the Riverboat Gambling Act made running commercial casinos legal if they were located in counties with more than 3 million people and outside Lake Michigan. In 2009, Illinois Lottery was allowed to install lottery terminals in local bars and similar venues. It is currently illegal to offer online gambling in Illinois.
The UK legalized private casinos in 1960. Since 1994, the government has run the National Lottery. The UK Gambling Commission oversees and regulates gambling laws in England, Wales, and Scotland. The commission also regulates remote playing and betting, including internet sites and mobile sportsbook/casino apps.
The United Kingdom allows residents and foreign visitors to participate in online gaming. The players have to be of legal age or 18+ and play at sites that have a remote operating license. Online gambling is highly popular in the UK due to its legality, regulation and wide array of games.
They have to be of legal age or 18+ and play or at sites that have a remote operating license.
The UK has legalized online gambling and the government can profit from it. The USA is expected to reach 44 billion dollars in gambling revenue in 2021. Illinois should learn from the UK's success. The state government should consider expanding the law to include all forms of online betting.
Leslie Alexander is the Content Lead of the Gamblizard site. She is an avid writer who enjoys dabbling into topics related to the casino industry.
