Episode 48: The (latest) Illinois sports betting tax raid

It’s a fiery one this week! World Series of Politics goes in hard on the Land of Lincoln, where another tax grab from the legislature puts further pressure on Illinois sports betting licensees. 

Is Illinois against tech innovation?

Does the Illinois sports betting tax grab essentially say the state is not a supporter of technological innovation? That’s Brandt Iden’s take and he warns it goes beyond gaming to target other technology innovators. How is that a sustainable strategy in the long-term?

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To Brendan Bussmann, the sports betting tax grab is just further evidence of Illinois as a problem state for the gaming industry, especially in the wake of the Chicago casino project. “Illinois is just not a friendly space to go do business, plain and simple,” he says. 

Ohio springs an icasino surprise

After the Illinois fire has died down, attention turns to igaming in Ohio. It’s been a session of surprises, considering Hawaii’s unexpected charge to third on sports betting but, in a state where the governor has been particularly unfriendly towards sports betting, could we actually see something cross the line?