SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers continue to push for more gambling, and Wednesday at least three more will be considered in committees.
HB 1224 will legalize Remote Caller Bingo, and will be heard in the House Executive Committee February 20. The Legislature passed a similar bill in the Senate in 2011, but the bill failed in the House.
HB 1224 would allow high-stakes Bingo for anyone 18 and older and would allow one company to broadcast bingo to 10 locations, with one live bingo caller. There are no safeguards to prevent fraud or organized crime. HB 1224 will be heard in the House Executive Committee February 20.
HB 1306 would keep the public from knowing the amount of money local residents lose in each establishment providing gambling n their community. Currently, monthly Video Gambling reports are issued each month and posted on the Illinois Gaming Board’s web site. Reporters and the public do not need to file a FOIA request to receive this information, and this practice should continue. HB 1306 would allow the Illinois Gaming Board to release information about the total amount lost in each municipality. HB 1306 will be heard in the House State Government committee on February 20.
