LAS VEGAS — I connected with Derek Stevens a few days after Memorial Day at LondonHouse on North Michigan Avenue. “Lookin’ out over this beautiful Chicago skyline right now,” he said.

The Circa owner had just tossed a ceremonial first pitch — a strike — at an Athletics game in West Sacramento, California, and he was visiting Chicago to conduct marketing business with the Cubs and Marquee Sports Network at Wrigley Field.

I aimed to discuss with Stevens the A’s maybe wearing the Circa Sports logo in -Vegas, BetBash V and guaranteeing $22.5 million in his three football contests — but constant Illinois tax hikes took priority.

In 2020, Illinois implemented legal sports wagering at a flat 15% operators’ tax rate. Last summer, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker boosted that to 20%, with increments up

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