The Illinois Senate voted 46-10 on Sunday to approve SB 690, which will usher in a large gambling expansion in the state, including allowing for new casinos in the Chicago area and legalized sports wagering for the first time in Illinois. Sports books will be allowed in casinos, at race tracks and professional sports stadiums.
The Senate's vote came a day after the House voted 87-27 in favor of it. All that's left is for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to sign it, and he has been a leading supporter of it throughout the process.
The hope is that legalized sports gambling will be implemented by the start of the football season in the fall, though it could take longer.