The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) held its monthly meeting, and the first meeting of 2025, on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. The meeting was hybrid with in-person accessibility at 160 N. LaSalle St., 5th Floor Auditorium and via livestream. Board members present at this meeting included Chairman Schmadeke, Member Brannon and newly appointed Member Ferrara filling the CPA slot. Member Ferrara’s biography information can be found on the IGB’s website under Board Members.
The meeting began with the approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting from Dec. 12, 2024 and continued with the Administrator’s Report.
Administrator’s Report
The Administrator began his comments with a short introduction of Member Ferrara who was appointed on Jan. 13, 2025. The Administrator also briefly acknowledged those who submitted comments during the public comment period for the proposed video gaming rules concerning 1) implementing a video gaming self-exclusion program and 2) implementing cashless technology into the video gaming market. While the IGB is still reviewing the submissions, the Administrator stated that all comments will be available on the IGB’s website.
Next, the Administrator provided a friendly reminder of Video Gaming Rule 250(p) which states that terminal operators need to immediately remove all video gaming terminals from the restricted area of play 1) upon order of the Board or an agent of the Board or 2) that have been out of service or otherwise inoperable for more than 72 hours.
The Administrator continued his comments with providing the industry revenue numbers. According to the Administrator, there are 16 casinos, 14 operational sports books, 58 terminal operators and 8,636 live video gaming locations offering approximately 48,628 video gaming terminals (VGTs). In December, these VGTs generated $89 million in taxes with the state’s share being approximately $76 million and the location municipalities receiving approximately $13 million. December also yielded roughly $50 million in tax revenue from casino activities with $40 million in taxes going to the state and $10 million to host communities. Lastly, the total sports wagering adjusted gross income generated a taxable amount of roughly $50 million with $48 million in taxes going to the state and approximately $1.5 million going to Cook County. The combined industries of video gaming, sports wagering, and casino activity that reported for 2024 has generated approximately $1.72 billion in taxes, with the state’s share being $1.4 billion and local communities receiving $269.9 million. This number will grow after December’s sports wagering has been fully reported.
The Administrator concluded his comments by addressing the upcoming Super Bowl and issuing a reminder to individuals to only conduct business with IGB-licensed sports wagering providers and to gamble responsible. He also provided available resources for those individuals who may be dealing with problem gambling such as the self-exclusion list and areyoureallywinning.org. There are also several other resources available on the IGB’s website: Problem Gambler Resources.
Administrative Matters
The meeting continued with the Board renewing the Delegation Order in which authority for certain tasks is delegated to the Administrator. After the approval, the Chairman spoke briefly to say that while the Board retains the authority to revoke the delegation at any time if needed, he is in favor of the Delegation Order and he believes it significantly improves the agency’s efficiency.
The next item discussed during this session was the Rule 1900.1130 Request of the National Football League (NFL). After the Administrator provided a brief overview of the request and outlined suggested changes of IGB staff, such as removing a “catch-all category” and specifying prohibitions concerning roster/personnel decisions, the Board granted the NFL’s request. The request and, eventually, the complete approval can be found: Rule 1130 & 1140 Requests/Approvals: Events.
Casino
The casino portion of this meeting began with the Request for Final Consideration of Owner’s License Renewal of Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises LLC d/b/a Harrah’s Metropolis Casino. The Board granted its renewal.
Next, the Board heard the Request for Waiver of Two-Meeting Rule and Request for Transfer of Ownership of Owner Licensees of 1) Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC, 2) Casino Queen, Inc. d/b/a DraftKings at Casino Queen, and 3) The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel. All requests were granted.
The meeting continued with the Board approving the following Key Persons and Level 1 Occupational Licenses:
- Eddie Leon Tullis as a Key Person for Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland.
- Clairvest Equity Partners V Holdings Limited Partnership as a Key Person for Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park.
- CEP V Co-Investment Holdings Limited Partnership as a Key Person for Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park.
- Becky Anne Johnson for her role as Internal Audit Manager for Alton Casino LLC d/b/a Argosy Casino Alton.
- Sarina Lynn Martinez for her role as Manager of Internal Audit for Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC.
- Sarina Lynn Martinez for her role as Senior Internal Auditor for The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel.
- Andrew James Oghenero Ebireri for his role as Senior Internal Auditor for The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel.
- Roger Yates Kuehn for his role as Executive VP & General Manager for Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland.
- Kevin Peter Helfgott for his role as Director of Slots for Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland.
The Board next approved the initial occupational licenses of 277 Level 2 and Level 3 applicants and issued six notices of denial.
The Administrator then issued renewals to all occupational licensees that were up for renewal and had provided updated information, timely paid their renewal fees and complied with all other requirements.
Sports Wagering
The sports wagering portion of the meeting also began with the Board granting 1) Request for Waiver of Two-Meeting Rule and 2) Request for Transfer of Ownership of Owner Licensees of Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC and Casino Queen, Inc. d/b/a DraftKings at Casino Queen.
Next, the Board granted the 1) Management Services Provider License and 2) Supplier License to American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook.
The Board approved the following Key Persons and Level 1 Occupational Licenses:
- Clairvest Equity Partners V Holdings Limited Partnership – Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park.
- CEP V Co-Investment Holdings Limited Partnership – Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park.
- William Hill US Holdco, Inc. as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Digital Holdco, LLC as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Caesars Entertainment, Inc. as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Anthony Louis Carano as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Gary Louis Carano as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Eric Alan Hession as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Stephanie Dana Lepori as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Edmund Lawrence Quatmann, Jr. as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Thomas Robert Reeg as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Bret Daniel Yunker as a Key Person for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook (both the Masters Sports Wagering and the Supplier Licensee).
- Craig William Joseph Mucklow for his role as Vice President of Trading of American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook.
The Board concluded this session with issuing 212 Level 2 occupational licenses and the Administrator granted renewals to the Level 1, 2 and 3 licensees that were up for renewal, provided updated information to the IGB, timely paid their renewal fees and complied with all other requirements.
Video Gaming
The video gaming portion of the meeting began with the Board granting initial terminal operator licenses to 1) Rise2Shine Gaming LLC and 2) Game Gurus, LLC.
The Board next granted 117 terminal technician and terminal handler licenses.
The Administrator then renewed the terminal handler, technician and location licensees that were up for renewal and had provided updated information to the IGB, timely paid their renewal fees and complied with all other requirements.
The meeting continued with the IGB approving 96 location applicants for licensure and issuing denials to The Shine Box Bar LLC d/b/a The Shine Box Bar. The Board next rescinded the previously issued denial of THE 143 HIDEOUT LLC d/b/a: THE 143 HIDEOUT LLC and granted it a location license.
The meeting concluded with the Board issuing notices to Gold Rush Amusements, Inc. d/b/a Gold Rush Gaming and Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC to disassociate from Bradly Grenoble, a previously disclosed sales agent.
That concludes the summary of this month’s meeting. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
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