CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago City Council members have a lot of questions and some disagreements about the possibility of sports wagering in and around the city’s big sports stadiums.
No votes were taken, but a joint City Council committee hearing examined an ordinance to allow sports betting operations at or near Chicago’s five biggest stadiums -- the United Center, Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, Soldier Field and Wintrust Arena. Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., whose ward includes the United Center, is the proposal’s sponsor.
He believes allowing sports betting at places like the United Center will help the stadiums and also the neighborhoods around them because more people will come even when games aren't being played there.
This all flowed from a 2-year-old state law clearing the way for sports betting in Illinois.
But Ald. Tony Beale said right now — when the city is trying to attract a casino development in Chicago — it's is a bad idea.
Beale said it's clear that sports betting at major venues will draw such customers away from casinos, which traditionally offer such wagering.
In fact, some casino operators said their businesses would be hurt.
Sports betting officials and those representing the stadiums disagreed.
Former city corporation counsel Mara Georges is a lawyer representing some of the stadiums. She said their studies show that sports gaming operations at a stadium wouldn't adversely affect casino gambling.
Developer Neil Bluhm, one of those vying for a Chicago casino license, disagreed strongly. Casinos have sports betting too. He cited studies showing that their operations would lose millions because of the competition.
But North Side Ald. Harry Osterman said he doubts that, echoing the sports betting companies that says most people who bet on sports do it from their phones and use neither casinos or other venues.
The joint committee didn't plan to vote at this hearing but plans additional meetings and hearings in the future.
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