Illinois is inching closer to letting people bet on a ballgame. The state yesterday started accepting applications from casinos, racetracks, and large stadiums that want to open their own sportsbooks. It is the first step toward legal sports gambling in the state. But the head of the Illinois Gaming Board is not saying when he expects sports betting to start. Some lawmakers in Springfield are frustrated that it’s taken so long to get to this point. Governor Pritzker signed the law legalizing sports gambling in the state back in June.