Welcome to Illinois. Giant loads of crap are our specialty.

Thats what I was saying last week. The problem is Cullerton wants Lottery to run it and Quinn wants the gaming board to run. I don't see Cullerton budging on this issue.

Judge Jaffe, IGB director, is like 800 years old. He actually believes there is a chance that the mob will get involved. Hes also taken like 4 years to roll out the video poker machines. We do not want him overseeing this. It would take years before we play poker.

Well obviously any state the legalizes poker will have there own department "run" the gaming industry.

But you will probably get your wish in as much as poker stars will buy a casino and have their own site. They are now part of the bargaining process and the locals casinos have already lost that battle.

I saw that welcome sign driving back home from business the other day at the Indiana/Illinois border.

"Jaffe expressed concerns about the size and complexity of the legislation, saying “it’s impossible to read.” He emphasized that the gaming board must be given the same regulatory and investigative authority that it has over other gambling outlets in the state, over any Chicago casino." (via an IL State Senator newsletter)

The proposed bill is 29 pages long. @#_I!_$UJ!@#RJH WHDFQWEDEQF

Yeah I was at the Committee hearing when he testified. He keep saying he didn't read the bill, but then he would answer questions about something in the bill. A Senator would call him out "I thought you didn't read the bill??" and he would go back to saying he never read it. Hes just a crotchety old man and wants people to come to him when a bill involves gaming, they didnt so. ..

Doesn't help to have him bitching but trust me, he means nothing to this process. But just for the good of society this guy should not be the director of any government entity. Please retire Judge.

Halsted-

Having lived in this state for 30 years and seeing how much corruption happens here on a regular basis, is it to conspiracy theorist to say that this will get done, it`s just a matter of everyone getting their piece of the pie under the table?

Well I don't think you need to call it a conspiracy theory, under the table or just Illinois politics. This is how the process works everywhere from what I hear.

Let me explain and then Ill give our situation:

A legislator introduces a bill, normally the bill is from one of his/her constituents, someone he knows, or from a agency/lobbyist/organization.

The bill gets sent to a committee

The bill gets supported or opposed by all the relevant entities. So in our case the IGB with the state, Casinos, horse tracks, Illinois lottery, the State House of Reps, and the Governor.

And if you can get enough of agreement to pass both houses and the Gov office you are good to go. But you want the support of all of them if possible.

So for us:

IGB - opposes - willing to work with the sponsors to move to neutral
Casinos - proponents
Horse Track - proponent
Illinois Lottery - proponent
State Senate - proponent
State House - I don't know yet
Governor - I would say neutral leaning opponent

Thats not bad. I would forget about IGB because in this bills case they are putting the responsibility mainly under the Illinois Lottery. If we were opposed by say the Department of Revenue that could kill a bill believe it or not.

The Casinos could change their mind b/c of poker stars recent involvement but I think at this point we are in the clear (i know the lobbyist for Caesars so i will know if anything changes) The Casinos held us up last year, that was the issue and I think we have moved pass it.

State Senate - the Senate President told me personally he has the votes to pass it. Thats big.

The only issue I know of (and there may be others) is the issue of who runs it. Cullerton wants Mike Jones of the Lottery and Quinn wants someone else (might be Judge Jaffe of the IGB, who we dont want)

I hope that doesnt hold up the bill. I think we have a real solid chance and we will know by May 30th (end of session).

So i will say we have about 75% chance right now, obv could change

As someone currently in a state that may never see online poker (S. Carolina), that is moving to Illinois in about 3 months.. I'm pretty excited to see any action at all.

http://rebootillinois.com/?opinion=3291

http://capitolfax.com/2013/04/24/rep...g-out/#respond

Well apparently my optimism was premature. If this is true, and Rich Miller is pretty good at his job, then its a pretty sad day for Illinois poker players. This was our best vehicle imo.

Pretty bummed, I'll try to find out if its true/if it will be attached later.

Oh and if you are looking to take out your anger on someone and then end of that article is true (which it is) This Steve Brubaker guy is the horse track lobbyist in Springfield. Thanks for asking our opinion Steve!!!!!!!

If true is so unfortunate as IL has so much potential, but with decades of mismanagement i guess it is pretty naive of me to have much optimism

*** UPDATE *** The Senate President’s office says he intends to file the I-Gaming legislation on a separate bill.

Phew

Any thoughts on when we will know if or when the I-Gaming bill is passed? Do you think this could possibly end up being a good thing for online poker?

Short version:

Session ends May 31st, Need a bill to pass both houses by that date. The Gov gets 60 days to veto/approve( I think 60).

Long version

The senates 3rd reading deadline is tomorrow and the house deadline has already passed. That means no new bills.

So we need to amend a bill that has passed the Senate. After that it will be assigned to a house committee, amended in the house gaming committee, voted on by said committee, then the State house and finally be sent back to the senate and approved before May 31st.

Fun stuff.

If it is going to be a stand alone bill it will be attached to whats called a "shell bill". I would expect SB007, SB0718 or SB0719 to be the vehicle in the house. I assume one of those will pass out of the senate tomorrow.

Still we have May 31st as an immediate deadline and then the Govs 60 days.

Halsted, thank you for the info and your effort.

+1. I don't really understand why they would take it the I-gaming out and then introduce it as a new bill. Won't the ITHA still be against it? I don't understand how this stuff works.

The pony boys want a piece of the pie. According to a Calvin ayre (sp?) article Churchill downs would of gotten the lions share and that didn't sit to well with the rest of the crooks, I mean horse tracks.

Steve's a good guy. He's a past PPA state director.

Someone I know got an email that was a survey regarding Pokerstars coming to Illinois and would we want it.

If anyone knows where I can fill this out and send it to other people I would love if you can PM a link.

I believe this was sent by the PPA originally but I'm not certain.

Thanks.

http://www.sj-r.com/thedome/x1213304...l?rssfeed=true

Is it safe to say Illinois I gaming is dead then ?

Dunno, but I just contacted my state rep and told her what I think of it being removed. Illinois and Pat Quinn are steaming pile of dung.

No, it is safe to say the opposite.

But if they stripped the i gaming portion from the bill because it was opposed by the clout bearing members of the state, then why should we have any hope that this can pass as a stand alone bill?