Cullerton preparing to make online gambling a stand-alone bill

SPRINGFIELD - With only three other states having legalizing online gambling, the powerful Senate President John Cullerton is pushing Illinois to be the fourth. The expansion would ban gambling industry campaign contributions and add more responsibility for Lottery Director Michael Jones, set up a new executive director of online gaming, an Online Inspector General and yet more controversy for a state agency already at war with Northstar, the private lottery provider. 

[Governor Pat] Quinn has shot down several attempts at gambling expansion in the state, but indicated he could support a current bill with a few exceptions. He believes the idea of online gambling was slipped into the measure at the last-minute and it needs further review.

Senate President John Cullerton is expected to wipe online gaming from the current legislation and push it as a separate issue, according to the State Journal-Register.

In several attempts to bring more casino revenue to the state, legislators have tweaked the language of an expansion bill. The latest includes a ban on campaign contributions from the gaming industry and sets aside funds for education, as Quinn requested.

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