<p>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — </p>
<p>A state law on sports gambling law is making it difficult — but not impossible — for Illinois residents to bet on the University of Illinois men’s basketball team when March Madness kicks off this week. </p>
<p>As the tournament is about to start, The <a href="https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/government/2021/03/17/illinois-law-prevents-betting-illini-basketball-ahead-ncaa-tournament/4721129001/"> State Journal-Register </a> in Springfield reports that when state lawmakers legalized betting on Division 1 college sports a couple years back, they included a provision that prohibits betting on any Illinois university that’s playing.</p>
<p>But the COVID-19 pandemic has cleared the way for determined bettors to put money down on games involving the two Illinois teams in the tournament: the Fighting Illini and the Ramblers of Loyola University in Chicago.</p>
<p>The newspaper reports that when the pandemic hit, Illinois waived the in-person requirement to register with sportsbooks. It meant that betters can turn to online sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings — both of which look for where the bettor is and not where the bettor lives. </p>
<p>That means, all the bettors have to do is drive across state lines to, say Indianapolis, to put money down on one of the Illinois teams’ games. </p>
