Messengers to the Nov. 4-5 Illinois Baptist State Association annual meeting approved a resolution tackling the dangers of sports gambling.
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The resolution on sports gambling came amid a recent flurry of related news coverage. In October, the FBI charged 34 NBA players, a Hall of Famer, with involvement in illegal high-stakes poker rings and bets on basketball games. Then, in November, two pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians were indicted by federal officials for sports betting and money laundering.
Addition to resolution
A messenger proposed adding “prediction market gambling” to the resolution, which was approved. That is betting on the outcome of future events including sports, elections, stock market, popular awards, and other events.
The Illinois Sports Wagering Act was signed into law in 2019. According to the Illinois Gaming Board, the first legal in-person sports bet was placed at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines followed by the first legal online sports bet, both in 2020. In 2024, Illinois bettors lost approximately $1.12 billion and an estimated $4.3 billion has been lost in gross gaming revenue since that first bet was placed in Des Plaines. However, the state has collected nearly $1 billion in taxes, the second most nationwide.
Other resolutions
The importance of engaging students on college and university campuses throughout the state with the gospel was called out by another resolution. It encouraged churches to reach out their local colleges and universities “as strategic mission fields rich with opportunities for the Gospel.”
The Committee also forwarded a resolution that encouraged Illinois Baptists to “enthusiastically encourage each congregation to renew their commitment” and sacrificial giving through the Cooperative Program on its 100th anniversary.
In addition to thanking the host city and organizers of the annual meeting, messengers approved a resolution that celebrated and thanked Nate Adams, outgoing IBSA executive director, for his many years of dedication to Illinois Baptists churches and their members. The resolution recognized “the great size of and diversity within our state” and said Adams “led Illinois Baptist pastors and churches through extremely challenging times for both our state and nation to partner together in obedience to the Great Commission.”
The resolutions are available online in the 2025 Book of Reports at IBSAannualmeeting.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lisa Misner and originally published by the Illinois Baptist.
