As reported by Greg Hinz, Gov. Rauner is trying to stop efforts to regulate and potentially block fantasy sports sites such as Draft Kings and Fan Duel from accepting bets from citizens living in Illinois.
According to Hinz, the action appears at least partially linked to poor relations among Rauner, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and her father, speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan. It also comes after the sports sites retained lobbyist Eric Elk, who previously worked for, and is closely tied to, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, and who hired or supervised several senior Rauner aides when they worked in Kirk's office as well.
Financially threatened by the fantasy sports sites, the Illinois Gaming Board has publicly expressed its intention to seek a legal opinion from AG Madigan on whether the sites can legally operate in Illinois. AGs in Massachusetts and New York have recently argued that major government regulations are needed in order to protect state monopolies on gambling revenues.
More at Crain's HERE
