Always looking for ways to kill the golden goose, Illinois lawmakers are contemplating gambling expansion yet again. Slot route operators are 
understandably balking at Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s proposal to raise the current 30% tax rate to a 50/50 split with the state. Video gambling interests counterpropose doubling the bet limit from $2 to $4, raising the amount of potential winnings per bet from $500 to $1,199, and increasing the number of VLTs allowed per route by 20%. These measures, Ivan Hernandez of the Illinois Gaming Machine Operators Association promised, would bring the Land of Lincoln $210 million more revenue in two years.
Sports betting is also on the Illinois docket, with one proposal—aimed at soothing anxiety over point-shaving and bribery—stipulating that wagering on intrastate college games be forbidden. “I don’t see a good rationale to do it. From where I sit, you’re just asking them to bet in a different state or with an illegal bookmaker,” says Sportradar‘s Jake Williams. If there’s a saving grace to all this, it’s that Pritzker’s taken the position that discussion of new casinos and racinos be set aside, which has to have Tom Swoik, industry point 
man, heaving a sigh of relief. As for Pritzker’s proposed sports books, there would be 20 of them, licensed at $10 million each (plus a $5K annual renewal) fee and given a $1.8 million tax cut for each of their first five years. They would be taxed at 20%, from which the state hopes to recoup $77 million, minimum.
“My members are in favor of sports betting as long as the casinos can participate in it,” remarked Swoik, who has 10 constituent casinos who could qualify for a sports book. “We think that it’s one of the few markets left out there where expansion will help the industry and help the state, as opposed to additional casinos or slots at racetracks. That’s just going to shift money around.” Since he’s banking on sports betting to cover a hole in the state budget, Pritzker’s got a lot riding on this.
* “Just because the governor’s hit the pause button doesn’t mean we still can’t take a look at something,” said state Rep. Joe Verrengia (D), trying to breathe life into gambling-expansion talks that have apparently sputtered to a 
standstill. Various offers were made to the tribal owners of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino. For instance, exclusive rights to sports betting and Internet gambling bafflingly failed to move the needle. So did a proposed tradeoff: Abandon Tribal Winds in East Windsor in favor of a casino in Bridgeport, leaving MGM Resorts International out in the cold. MGM may go back to court, while Connecticut Lottery Corp. and Sportech Venues want in on any sports betting. Making everybody happy is obviously going to be an impossible task.
MGM agrees. “While we appreciate Governor [Ned] Lamont’s diligent efforts to work with all parties and put Connecticut’s interests first, our view remains, and the residents of Connecticut overwhelmingly agree, that
an open, competitive, transparent process is the best way for Connecticut to maximize economic benefits,” it stated. While the safest course is to stick with the tribes that brung you, MGM isn’t going away without a fight.
* VitalVegas is reporting that MGM is phasing out its free-drink system in favor of one whereby you earn booze through point tiers. Which sucks. Scott Roeben calls it the end of an era. We agree. For an example of a hotel company that’s going in a more customer-friendly direction, try Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Bon appetit!
* 25% of bettors at FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey actually hail from New York State, as do 44% of those vainly attempting to penetrate the Garden State’s geofencing from across the state line. So far, competition from Pennsylvania hasn’t dented New Jersey’s business but that may change when the Keystone State unrolls mobile wagering later this month.
* Sands China is promising “an exciting whole-body, fully immersive live virtual reality experience suitable for all ages” when The Londoner (formerly Sands Cotai Central, which sounds like a traffic hub) reopens in staggered 
fashion over the next 1.5 years. Free entertainment will include “the famous Changing of the Guards and daily retail parades featuring much-loved characters from British history, culture and literature.” The emulation of British history will be very slavish, with reproductions of the Crystal Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. It remains to be seen what great city Sheldon Adelson will copycat when he goes to Japan.
