Editorial: Second try on fantasy sports betting will need to be stronger

It's back to the drawing board for fantasy sports betting in Illinois as lawmakers this week dropped a bid to legalize - and therefore, legitimize - the booming business.

But just as expanding gaming at casinos and race tracks is an ongoing discussion in Illinois politics, this proposal, in some form, will come back.

And when it does, it needs appropriate attention from legislators, especially those who insist it's not an expansion of gambling.

"Fantasy (sports) are really not what I would call an expansion of gaming," said state Sen. Terry Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat who has been a key proponent of gaming expansion in the past. "I look at this as clarifying something that needs to be clarified."

That's a simplistic explanation for supporting the legalization of a relatively new industry that attracts according to some estimates 21 million people in the United States either with daily fantasy sports or daily and season-long fantasy sports. In Illinois, companies supporting the legislation say 2 million people participate, making this the third-largest market in the country.

In December, Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued her opinion that the games are illegal without legislative action allowing them. But to shut the gambling down, a complaint must be filed in court challenging the games' legality.

The Illinois Senate approved a measure that would set up rules such as a minimum age of 21 to play and levy a 5 to 30 percent tax based on annual revenue. But casino representatives say the regulations are weak compared to what their industry must comply with. And if this is approved, they also want expansion of other types of gambling.

The gambling appetite in Illinois continues to grow and as such we agree with legislators who want to be sure all gaming efforts are regulated equally.

"I would suggest that if we are going to expand gaming to this magnitude in the state, that we have a comprehensive bill, a bill that holds everyone accountable to the same standards," said state Sen. Laura Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat.

With more time and more oversight, accusations of improper lobbying should be dealt with as well. A state representative said an email was written by a lobbyist suggesting he could get support from members of the House Legislative Black Caucus in return for contributions to their foundations. In the end, the bill was rightly shelved because of what the bill's sponsor said was the distraction of the allegations.

While the companies said they had nothing to do with the email - and the email itself has yet to be publicly revealed - it raises questions that need answers.