Illinois lawmaker files bills to repeal per-bet tax and regulate prediction markets

Illinois House Gaming Committee chairman Daniel Didech filed HB 5143 to repeal the state's $0.25 and $0.50 sports-wagering surcharges, and HB 5142 to classify specified prediction-market activity as sports wagering. The report says the surcharge raised $62.2 million in the first half of fiscal 2025-26, while the state recorded about 27.6 million fewer bets over four months.