SPRINGFIELD -- Six new casinos, along with legalized sports betting, are coming to Illinois after Senate lawmakers approved a massive gambling expansion bill Sunday.

Il Sports Gambling Law

Senate Bill 690, sponsored by Indian Creek Democratic Sen. Terry Link, passed that chamber on a 46-10 vote after being approved by House lawmakers the day before. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has already announced his intention to sign it into law.

Gambling Bill Passes Illinois Senate, Pritzker Expected To Sign Into Law June 2, 2019 at 10:23 pm Filed Under: Chicago Casino, gambling, Sports Betting, State Legislature. A bill legalising sports betting has been approved by the Senate in Illinois, with Governor J. Pritzker expected to sign the bill into law. The news follows Tennessee's legalisation of sports betting in similar circumstances last week, although Louisiana recently chose not to proceed following one too many amendments. Illinois legislature passes sports betting bill Jun 2, 2019 David Purdum ESPN Staff Writer The Illinois legislature on Sunday passed a broad funding bill that will authorize sports betting online. Less than 24 hours after the Illinois House approved a massive capital bill that includes sports betting, the Illinois Senate concurred Sunday, voting 46-10-2.During discussion ahead of the vote on SB 690, it was clear that daily fantasy and online sportsbook operators are not happy with what sports betting will look like in the biggest market state to legalize this year. The legislature sent Gov. Pritzker a bill he’s expected to sign that will dramatically expand legal gambling in Illinois. Existing gambling venues get more gaming positions that can be.

Il Sports Gambling Bills

'I've only been doing this for 20 years to get this done, and it's a little emotional,' said a teary-eyed Link during floor discussion of the bill.

Link estimated that gambling expansion along with other revenue-raising measures in the bill could net Illinois more than $12 billion in the next six years.

'This key piece of legislation really is going to make an economic difference of keeping our dollars home,' he said, adding he expects 'thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in construction across the state.'

That construction would go toward the six new casinos authorized by the bill in Waukegan, Rockford, Danville, South Suburbs, Williamson County and downtown Chicago.

Casinos, race tracks and sports facilities that seat more than 17,000 people -- such as Wrigley Field or United Center -- would also be eligible to buy sports betting licenses under the bill, making Illinois one of about a dozen states to legalize the practice after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year allowed it.

The legislation also includes allowing slots at O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago.

Il Sports Betting Bill

In a news release Saturday, Pritzker expressed his support for the measure and praised the lawmakers who have unsuccessfully tried to expand gambling in the state for years.

Il Sports Gambling Bill

'Legalized sports betting and expanding gaming will create jobs up and down the state ... where communities hungry for employment will see 10,000 new jobs,' he said. 'Gaming expansions in this state have been attempted and failed for years. ... Today is a win for the whole state.'

Revenues raised from the new casinos, the selling of sports betting licenses, and a higher tax on video gambling machines would go toward funding the vertical components of a long-term capital infrastructure plan, such as state building renovations. Sports betting licenses would range from $3.2 million to $20 million and be offered to both brick-and-mortar facilities and to online operators, with taxes of 15 percent.

Under the bill, race tracks in the state would be able to install slot machines and table games, turning them into racinos. A pilot program will also assess sports betting through the Illinois Lottery, a plan that was considered but dropped by lawmakers earlier in the session.