Legal gambling — everything from the lottery and sports to video machines and horse racing — is a multibillion-dollar business in Illinois. But as the state embarks on a massive expansion, there are questions that can only be answered in the fullness of time.
Is there a viable market for thousands more gambling opportunities that will be available when new casinos are opened in smaller communities, like Danville, and the major city of Chicago?
If the market proves itself limited, which venues will come out on top or fall to the bottom of the cutthroat competition that’s been unleashed?
“After years of … speculating on these types of questions, the wagering data collected over the next several years should finally lead to an answer,” analysts wrote in a study titled “Wagering in Illinois” released late last year.
