Gambling bill could be a good bet

Illinois legislators again have been working on a gambling bill.

Passage would mean, among other things, that racetracks would get slot machines they hope will save their industry.

Of course, Gov. Pat Quinn would have to sign the legislation and in the past has indicated little inclination to do so.

I’m not politically aware enough to know what the chances are for a gambling bill like this. One never has passed before, however, so a safe bet might be that it won’t this time.

Meanwhile, has anybody around here noticed what is going on in New Jersey? That state’s governor, Chris Christie, is proposing legal sports betting.

Wow! Makes a few new casinos and slot machines at racetracks in Illinois look like 20th- century stuff in a 21st-century world.

So, how would you like to plunk down a couple of bucks on the Cubs today against the Padres? OK, maybe the prospect of betting on the Cubs would be enough to vote down the idea.

But what about on the Celtics against the Heat? Or on the Kings against the Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals? Or on how many games the Bears will win next season?

Christie’s plan defies the federal law that prohibits sports betting in all but four states, none of them New Jersey or Illinois. Here’s how The New York Times quoted Christie on the subject this week:

“If someone wants to stop us, then let them try to stop us. We want to work with the casinos and horse racing industry to get it implemented. Am I expecting there may be legal action taken against us to prevent it? Yes. But I have every confidence we’re going to be successful. We intend to go forward.”

Now, remember, this isn’t just some schmo talking. Many would have liked to see Christie run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Christie must be passionate about the issue because it’s politically risky. The anti-sports betting lobby includes the powerful NFL and other professional sports leagues.

But money is short everywhere, including New Jersey, and don’t we know all too well Illinois’ financial woes?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and making a pitch for sports betting is one of any state’s options if the feds can be circumvented.

In the piece on The New York Times website, Christie told the story of leaving a game and talking to a fan who was glad the Giants won but ticked because they didn’t cover the spread.

The point was that people already are gambling illegally on sports, so why shouldn’t the state regulate the action and benefit from it?

The Times’ report mentioned that half the licensing fees would go toward programs dealing with gambling addictions. One of the biggest advantages to legalizing sports betting here would be to help horse racing survive.

A case for legal sports betting is that other countries have it. Like vacationing in London last summer, it was common to pass a legal sports book on the way to dinner.

There was a time when I would have snickered at allowing Christie’s measure to spread into Illinois. But times sure have changed, haven’t they?

Now there is off-track wagering on the ponies, there is the lottery, there are casinos … there is extensive gambling here already.

I’m still not so sure that legal sports betting is a good gamble for the state, but I’m also not so sure anymore it isn’t.

mimrem@dailyherald.com