SPRINGFIELD -- Six new casinos, along with legalized sports betting, are coming to Illinois after Senate lawmakers approved a massive gambling expansion bill Sunday.

Senate Bill 690, sponsored by Indian Creek Democratic Sen. Terry Link, passed that chamber on a 46-10 vote after being approved by House lawmakers the day before. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has already announced his intention to sign it into law.

'I've only been doing this for 20 years to get this done, and it's a little emotional,' said a teary-eyed Link during floor discussion of the bill.

The legislature sent Gov. Pritzker a bill he’s expected to sign that will dramatically expand legal gambling in Illinois. Existing gambling venues get more gaming positions that can be. SPRINGFIELD - Six new casinos, along with legalized sports betting, are coming to Illinois after Senate lawmakers approved a massive gambling expansion bill Sunday. Senate Bill 690, sponsored. Illinois is joining 14 other states, including Indiana and Iowa, in legalizing sports betting, allowing all casinos, racetracks, and sports venues that hold 17,000 people or more a brick and mortar license to have a sportsbook. Sports betting is estimated to generate at least $58 million annually, which will be dedicated to much-needed. Illinois legislature passes sports betting bill Jun 2, 2019 David Purdum ESPN Staff Writer The Illinois legislature on Sunday passed a broad funding bill that will authorize sports betting online.

Link estimated that gambling expansion along with other revenue-raising measures in the bill could net Illinois more than $12 billion in the next six years.

'This key piece of legislation really is going to make an economic difference of keeping our dollars home,' he said, adding he expects 'thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in construction across the state.'

That construction would go toward the six new casinos authorized by the bill in Waukegan, Rockford, Danville, South Suburbs, Williamson County and downtown Chicago.

Casinos, race tracks and sports facilities that seat more than 17,000 people -- such as Wrigley Field or United Center -- would also be eligible to buy sports betting licenses under the bill, making Illinois one of about a dozen states to legalize the practice after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year allowed it.

The legislation also includes allowing slots at O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago.

In a news release Saturday, Pritzker expressed his support for the measure and praised the lawmakers who have unsuccessfully tried to expand gambling in the state for years.

'Legalized sports betting and expanding gaming will create jobs up and down the state ... where communities hungry for employment will see 10,000 new jobs,' he said. 'Gaming expansions in this state have been attempted and failed for years. ... Today is a win for the whole state.'

Revenues raised from the new casinos, the selling of sports betting licenses, and a higher tax on video gambling machines would go toward funding the vertical components of a long-term capital infrastructure plan, such as state building renovations. Sports betting licenses would range from $3.2 million to $20 million and be offered to both brick-and-mortar facilities and to online operators, with taxes of 15 percent.

Under the bill, race tracks in the state would be able to install slot machines and table games, turning them into racinos. A pilot program will also assess sports betting through the Illinois Lottery, a plan that was considered but dropped by lawmakers earlier in the session.

The clock is now ticking on new gaming opportunities in the Land of Lincoln. On Friday, June 28, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkersigned an Illinois gambling expansion bill into law.

The new law means gaming operators in Illinois can get to work implementing legal sportsbooks and new casinos in the state. The law raises some new questions, as well.

Illinois gambling expansion timeline

Existing casinos in Illinois can expand their gaming positions to 2,000 immediately. The previous limit was 1,200.

Larger truck stops along with O’Hare and Midway airports will become host sites for new slot and video gambling machines.

No dates for breaking ground on new casinos, like the mega-casino in the Chicago, have been announced. That casino will be the state’s largest, with 4,000 gaming positions.

An estimated date for the groundbreaking at the new casino sites is in a year to 18 months. Those will be in the southern part of Cook County:

• Danville
• Rockford
• Waukegan

Williams County will also host a new casino.

The timeline for the rollout of sports betting is similarly unclear right now. The interested parties still need to determine many aspects of gambling expansion.

Illinois legal sportsbooks getting ready

Though the state will no longer prosecute anyone who bets on professional sports, it will be some time before legal sportsbooks in Illinois will begin accepting wagers.

The state’s gaming board still needs to determine its regulations for sportsbooks. These include determining which applicants will receive one of the limited number of licenses.

Even after licenses are issued, operators will still need time to actually roll out their products. This will include in-person and online sportsbooks.

License fees must be paid by July 1, 2020.

Il Sports Betting Bill

It’s unlikely anything will get going prior to that date. Sports betting in Illinois could be widespread after that date, however.

Lottery, betting, and stadiums

Il Sports Gambling Bill

The state’s casinos are the logical choice for most Illinois residents to bet on sports. There will be many more venues to place such wagers, however.

Off-track betting sites and racetracks can apply for licenses. Stadiums of at least 17,000 capacity are eligible as well.

The most widespread operator will be the Illinois Lottery. Thousands of lottery terminals will begin accepting fixed odds parlays and parlays within the first two years.

Even so, the most convenient betting option with be online sports betting apps. Those will be licensed by the state as well. There are some hoops they will have to jump through, however.

Illinois online sports betting

Land-based casinos will be able to offer mobile betting platforms once licensed. Bettors have to register in person before placing wagers, however.

Online-only sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel won’t be able to receive licenses from the state for 540 days, but they can contract with physical operators in the state prior to that date.

If such relationships do develop, bettors would technically be using the casino’s book via DraftKings’ and/or FanDuel’s software.

The legal hurdles preventing gambling expansion in Illinois has been removed with Pritzker’s signature. Now it’s time for the gaming operators to get the infrastructure in place so Illinois residents can place their bets.