Get A Grip: The Week In Sports Betting: Illinois Lagging In Midwest

It’s information overload everywhere, and there’s not time enough to sleep and eat and stay fully apprised of what’s happening on this crazy blue dot of ours (two out of three ain’t bad).

Here’s the weekend Sports Handle item, “Get a Grip,” recapping the week’s top stories and rounding up key stories in sports betting, gaming, and the world of sports at large. You may have missed them, and they are worth reading.

What’s up in Illinois?

Iowa became the first Midwestern state to launch sports betting on Thursday, and more than two months after the Illinois General Assembly sent sports betting to its governor as part of a massive capital bill, it’s looking a lot like nothing has happened.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, no movement has been made on sports betting, making the Super Bowl launch that original bill sponsor Mike Zalewski hoped for seem out of reach. In most cases, it’s taken at least six months from when a bill becomes law to launch, and in many cases longer.

“We’re creating an entire industry from scratch. You’ve got to take time to do that deliberately and not rush into something that either doesn’t work or has problems or any number of other concerns,” Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter told the paper earlier this week.

There is no hard deadline in the new law, though stand-alone mobile wagering can’t begin until 18 months after the launch of the first brick-and-mortar sportsbook in the state. Illinois regulators must develop proposed regulations, open them to public comment, license venues, and much, much more before a launch can happen. The state does have some gambling infrastructure, so that should help, but sports betting is just one piece of the gambling expansion that was approved by the general assembly and signed into law on June 28 by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Neighboring Iowa and Indiana both legalized sports betting ahead of Illinois, and both have been quick to get regulations in place. In addition, sportsbooks in both states began prepping for sports betting ahead of it becoming legal. Iowa needed only three months to launch. The first Indiana sportsbook is set to open on Sept. 4. The NFL season kicks off on Sept. 5 when the Green Bay Packers play the Chicago Bears in a Thursday night game.

More of the most interesting, important stories

MLB’S LATEST PARTNER: FanDuel is now an official gaming partner of the league. [CNBC]

NJ’S STRONG SUMMER: In July, Garden State sportsbooks took in more than $250 mm in handle. [SBCAmericas]

$500K PA PICK’EM: Rush Street Interactive introduces a season-long NFL picks contest. [PennBets]

Through July, the PA legal sports betting industry took $303,997,396 in bets. FIrst retail book opened in November, and the first online book launched in late May.https://t.co/uyKJ4uaVe2

— Brian Pempus (@brianpempus) August 16, 2019

JERRY WORLD II?: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a step closer to building $225 mm Arkansas casino. [DMN]

BETTING TALK: CBS is reconsidering its policy banning gambling talk on broadcasts. [SportTechie]

PUERTO RICO STILL ON TRACK: Senator says political turmoil won’t slow sports betting. [BloombergTax]

FINGERS CROSSED: Michigan casinos prep for sports betting, even though it’s not yet legal. [DetroitNews]

TARGET DATE: Indiana’s Hammond Horseshoe Casino aiming for Sept. 4 sports betting launch. [NWI]

CITY OF CHAMPS? Las Vegas bookmakers seem to think that’s L.A. [LAT]

It's time to #GambleOn! Former NJ state Sen. Ray Lesniak joins us to analyze the NFL's about-face on sports betting, plus we're talking @espn's Daily Wager and slots in PA, and you won't want to miss @BergenBrennan's vital tips for surviving softball: https://t.co/5ULKvYxmHL

— Eric Raskin (@EricRaskin) August 15, 2019

BET BASEBALL: Legal sports betting is catching on for baseball in New Jersey. [NJOG]

A DRINK AND A WAGER: D.C. bars apply for sports betting licenses. [CityPaper]

PERFECT PARTNERS: Upstart airline Allegiant gets naming rights to Raiders new stadium. [LasVegasSun]

NEW PARTNERSHIP: Canada’s Gateway announced a new casino partnership with the NFL. [Yahoo!]

In the wider world of sports

FILL THIS: Biggest roster holes for every NFL team. [ESPN]

WHO’S STARTING?: Inside look at quarterback competitions in Miami and Washington. [SI]

BIG PAYCHECK: Young and pretty good at QB enough to be NFL’s highest paid. [SBNation]

A tremendous player and an even better man – I shall forever appreciate his support and encouragment from the start of my career: “she’s not a girl, she’s a Raider.” We miss you Gene. https://t.co/iKdkHK8ciT

— Amy Trask (@AmyTrask) August 15, 2019

MOVE IT ALONG!: U.S. sports just take too long. [WSJ]

CAUSE FOR CONCERN?: The once red-hot Mets lost three in a row earlier this week. [NYT]