FanDuel's New Gamble: Are Illinois Bettors About to Face Their Own Hunger Games?

May the Odds Be Ever in Whose Favor?

Well folks if you thought the odds were already stacked against us think again. Seems like FanDuel that fancy betting empire is slapping a 50 cent surcharge on every wager in Illinois. Why? Because the Capitol decided they needed more coin—surprise surprise. I swear these politicians are worse than President Snow at a buffet. They just keep taking and taking! It’s all thanks to some new tax laws that hit the big sportsbooks harder than Peeta hit that force field back in the Quarter Quell.

The Price of Freedom...to Lose Money

Flutter FanDuel's big boss claims this surcharge is just a temporary fix. "Should the state reverse its decision at any point in the future FanDuel will immediately remove the $0.50 transaction fee," they said in some press release. Right. And I'm sure Snow would’ve given us back District 12 if we’d just asked nicely. DraftKings is probably going to follow suit because misery loves company. Or in this case a shrinking profit margin. “DraftKings anticipates taking action and expects to share more information soon,” said a spokesperson. Translation: “We’re figuring out how to screw you over next.”

75% Chance of Getting Played

Apparently FanDuel and DraftKings control about 75% of the sports betting market in Illinois. So basically they’re the Capitol of gambling. Some fancy analyst Jordan Bender estimates this new fee will rake in millions for DraftKings and FanDuel. Because of course it will. It's always the folks at the top who benefit. Just like those career tributes always had the fanciest weapons.

Remember When They Promised They Wouldn't?

Oh and let’s not forget that last year when they passed another tax increase DraftKings swore up and down they wouldn't pass the costs onto us the little people. But after some serious backlash they changed their tune faster than Gale changes his mind about…well everything. Now FanDuel's swooping in playing the hero by making the tax changes our problem.

The Gamemakers of Gambling

Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson (no relation to the hobbit director I assume) whined that this tax punishes the companies that “invested the most in growing the regulated market.” Boo hoo. He's worried people will go back to unregulated gambling dens. Maybe if they weren't treating us like walking ATMs we wouldn't have to! It's like he's saying we should be grateful for the chance to give them our money.

Is This the Start of a Revolution? (Probably Not)

And get this: other states are thinking about raising their tax rates too. New Jersey Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Pennsylvania…sounds like the early days of the rebellion all over again. Except this time instead of fighting for our freedom we’re just fighting to keep a few extra coins in our pockets. I'm telling you if they keep this up we'll all be living in District 13 again except instead of a bunker it'll be under a pile of losing tickets. But hey at least we'll have each other right? After all "If we burn you burn with us."