The state of Illinois has had a major issue with child support over the last few years and more specifically, people not paying their child support. It has been reported that the state has a massive $3 million in unpaid child support out there, and they are trying to figure out how to get some of that back. They may have something on their hands with a recent bill they came up with and it has been signed, sealed and delivered.

Governor Pat Quinn has stepped up to the plate to fight this battle, signing a bill that would give casinos and horse betting tracks the power to take winnings from their customers who owe back child support. This law goes into place right away and the winnings will be paid to the state’s department of healthcare and child services, who will then send the money to whomever it is owed to. These casinos and tracks will have access to a database of betting odds that tells them who owes what in child support, and they will have to warn their customers of this before they start to play; if their name comes up in said database, their winnings will immediately be taken.

This bill is aimed at the stereotype that deadbeat parents spend their money on NFL betting, at the race tracks and casinos (and online sportsbooks) instead of paying off their debt, and it isn’t exactly a wrong assumption to make. That being said, you can expect some sort of blowback to come from customers who will probably feel it should go through a court of law instead of giving employees that kind of power. It will be interesting to see how this goes, especially in the first year. Senator Darin LaHood figures this bill could net up to $1 million over the first 12 months. Let’s see how this plays out.