This made Illinois the second state in the US to legalize riverboat gambling. The Riverboat Gambling Act was enacted in Illinois in 1990, making it legal to operate casinos on riverboats. Illinois was also the first state to create a state lottery in 1974. While the industry boomed throughout the 20 th century, there are only two horse racing facilities left in Illinois after the recent closure of the Arlington International Racecourse in September. The legalization of horse race betting in the 1920s helped kickstart an entire industry of tourism and revenue for the state. The first type of gambling that was legal in Illinois was betting on horse races. Chicago is also concurrently debating an ordinance that would allow sports gambling within the city’s stadiums and arenas. Following the passage of the 2019 Gaming Expansion Law, Illinois expanded gambling across the state and Chicago is planning to open its first casino by 2025. Chicago, on the other hand, has resisted sanctioning formalized gambling locations until recently. Illinois has historically been at the forefront of gambling regulations in the United States.
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD/MPP 2022
