The choice is clear: Illinois can preserve a stable, regulated marketplace by maintaining a tax structure that keeps operators and players in the legal market. Pushing players to bet more and shifting them to the black market are not desirable outcomes for anyone.

High taxes push consumers toward offshore and illegal markets. If bettors feel squeezed by bad odds, fees and disappearing perks they may return to the unregulated platforms that are not burdened by punitive regulations.

The industry warns higher taxes may reduce odds and promos, driving users to offshore sites. Lawmakers remain divided, with South Jersey representatives hesitant to support new gambling tax increases.

Former NJ State Senator Ray Lesniak writes, “Recently legislative proposals have been made to increase taxes on online gaming. Big mistake.”

“So, for the money that New York State collects in taxes from sports betting companies, where does the money go? A lot of the money goes to funding education.”