Will latest changes make sports betting bill — and casinos — a winning wager?

SPRINGFIELD — A war between billionaire casino owner Neil Bluhm and two fantasy sports giants that threatens to halt a sports betting measure saw a temporary cease fire on Friday, as lawmakers digested new language that might soften the blow to the fantasy site operators.

Or maybe not.

The fight to expand gambling in the state has seen its fair share of struggles, mainly because the bill in years past had covered too many complex issues with too many competing interests.

This year the battle is between Bluhm — whose Rush Street Gaming owns Rivers Casino — and the two fantasy sites. The addition of other gaming aspects, such as casino expansion, in the final days of session could also complicate matters as the clock to May 31 adjournment ticks.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday he is still optimistic that casinos in Chicago and other parts of the state could be part of the winning hand. And one key Democrat said Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s push for a Chicago casino is helping drive the discussion.

But Friday’s focus was on sports betting, after the new language was distributed to lawmakers on Thursday night.

FanDuel and DraftKings were prepared to launch a $1 million ad attack on Bluhm — but then pulled the TV ads at the request of Pritzker, who is trying to gain a legislative win and much needed revenue in a gaming expansion bill this year.

The ad does not mention Bluhm by name but accuses him of trying to use his “political muscle to box out the competition so they can profit.”

Provided photo.

“At the governor’s request, the ad is being suspended for the time being while we engage in productive discussions to deliver smart sports betting legislation before the session ends,” Marc LaVorgna, spokesman for Betonillinois.org said in a statement.

Churchill Downs Inc. has a majority stake in Rivers Casino, which was founded by Bluhm.

Bluhm on Friday was described by a Springfield insider as “the biggest person in the fight with an army of lobbyists.”

One aspect of state Rep. Mike Zalewski’s measure would have put the two sites in a “penalty box” for three years — for still running fantasy sports in Illinois despite a 2015 order by former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan that called the sites’ gaming unconstitutional.

New language regarding the sports betting measure was distributed on Thursday, and Zalewski, D-Riverside, on Friday said he doesn’t believe the matter is dead.

The changes — which have not yet been filed in an amendment — would allow riverboats to operate a sportsbook immediately and would allow them to operate online betting 18 months after the bill is signed. It would do the same for horseracing tracks.

“It’s also not as much as prohibiting, but just simply again, we’re going to give Illinois casinos a leg up before we go to an online platform,” said Zalewski, who is also the chair of the House Revenue and Finance Committee.

Within that 18-month period, those wanting to make a bet on sports would have to physically enter a casino, instead of what they can currently do as FanDuel and DraftKings customers: take out their phone and make a bet.

It would also allow sports facilities with seating over 20,000 to be able to apply for a license to operate a sports book at the facility within a five-block radius.

Other changes include tweaks in license fees.

It’s unclear if the changes are enough to get fantasy sites onboard.

Zalewski said talks remain fluid, and legislators are trying to decide whether casino expansion should be part of the bill.

“It’s trending into that,” he said.

That’s, in part, thanks to Lightfoot, who is very much in support of adding a Chicago casino to help bring in revenue.

“The mayor’s desire for a casino is very much part of a conversation,” Zalewski said.

AP Photo/Seth Perlman

Also on Friday, state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, was among several legislators to send Pritzker and the legislative leaders a letter arguing the sports betting and gaming expansion bills don’t have “any meaningful provision or requirement for minority participation.”

“As our leaders, we look to you to see to it that everyone gets a seat at the table,” the letter says. “Unless the sports betting and gaming legislation includes provisions with some real teeth to ensure minority participation, we are not going to support it and cannot vote for it.”

Gaming expansion is one of Pritzker’s top legislative priorities, to try to bring in about $200 million in licensing revenue. On Friday at an event in Downstate Quincy, Pritzker said he’s “very much in favor of passing the gaming bill.”

“We’re working very hard to make sure that we have a gaming bill that gets passed over the next week, and there’s certainly a lot of interest in expanding gaming that would include a Chicago casino and casinos in other part of the state,” the governor said.