Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect is identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect is identified.
StateIllinoisIntroduced
HB 5814: SPORTS WAGERING-FANTASY MKT
Travis Weaver
HB 5814 status: Introduced — Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Steven Reick (updated Sep 17, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
30OUT OF 100
Score:30/100 civic fit
Risk:High Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 50/100
Constitutionality60%
Bipartisan30%
Public opinion40%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill repeals all legal, licensing, and tax provisions related to fantasy contests in Illinois and removes the gambling exemption for participants.
Who is affected
Licensed fantasy contest operators, employees of these firms, and individual Illinois residents who participate in fantasy sports.
Requirements and enforcement
Fantasy contest operators will be prohibited from legally offering services in Illinois; participants risk being classified as committing gambling under the state Criminal Code.
Costs and funding
Operators lose licensure; the state loses tax revenue from fantasy contest privilege taxes.
When it takes effect
Effective immediately upon becoming law.
Potential benefits
Simplified regulatory framework for the Illinois Gaming Board and standardization of gambling definitions.
Risks and tradeoffs
Immediate criminalization of a previously legal recreational activity and loss of state control over consumer safeguards.
What is still unknown
The long-term impact on the volume of illegal/offshore gambling traffic.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Critical outlook
25%
Benefits
- Eliminates administrative state costs related to fantasy contest licensing
- Centralizes revenue collection efforts toward traditional sports wagering
- Simplifies state statutory structure regarding gambling activities
Risks
- Immediate shutdown of legal fantasy contest businesses
- Loss of tax revenue generated by fantasy contest privilege taxes
- Direct loss of jobs in the local fantasy sports technology sector
Society
Critical outlook
30%
Benefits
- Reduces potential for problem gambling associated with fantasy contests
- Creates uniform legal status for similar gaming-adjacent activities
- Aligns state law with stricter views on gambling accessibility
Risks
- Eliminates a popular form of digital recreation for thousands of residents
- Criminalizes participation in previously legal fantasy leagues
- Removes legal recourse for individuals to recover gambling losses
Technology Industry
Critical outlook
25%
Benefits
- Clarifies the regulatory status of digital gaming software
- Focuses technology investment into state-sanctioned sports wagering apps
- Reduces potential cybersecurity liability for state-overseen gaming databases
Risks
- Forced obsolescence of existing fantasy sports platform technology
- Direct restriction on innovation within the fantasy sports niche
- Disruption of API and data feed partnerships for localized contest data
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect is identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect is identified.
Public Health & Safety
Mixed / Neutral
40%
Benefits
- Potential reduction in harm from high-frequency fantasy contest habits
- Simplified oversight allows focused addiction-prevention resources
- Limits access to platforms that may facilitate compulsive behavior
Risks
- Shifts users toward potentially less-regulated offshore betting apps
- Loss of state-mandated voluntary self-exclusion safeguards for fantasy users
- Potential for increased underground gaming activity
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Changes to the Criminal Code may retroactively affect participation in existing leagues.
Analysis scope
The bill does not provide a transition period for businesses to wind down operations.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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