The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The meeting was hybrid with in-person accessibility at 160 N. LaSalle St., 5th Floor Auditorium and availability via livestream. Board members present at this meeting included Chair Schmadeke, Member Hayden, Member Brannon and Member Ferrara.
The open meeting began with the approval of the minutes of the regular Board meeting from Thursday, April 24, 2025, and continued with the Administrator’s report.
Board Chair Comment
Chair Schmadeke announced that he had spoken with the governor and that this would be his final Board meeting.
Administrator’s Report
The Administrator began his report by thanking Chair Schmadeke for his service and reminding the Chair that his term does not actually expire until July 1.
He also announced that the next meeting will be July 31, rather than July 24 as previously indicated.
The Administrator then turned to the recently concluded legislative session, noting that two measures – one pertaining to occupation licensing for nongaming casino employees (HB2947) and the other to video gaming location outside advertising (HB1505) – had been passed by the General Assembly. He stated that these were not Board initiatives and that staff were now reviewing them. He said when they become law he would issue further communications about them and be available as a resource. The Administrator added that while the General Assembly had adjourned without passing the Board-supported legislation banning sweepstakes, hopefully the Legislature would address the issue when it met again. And he added the reminder that unauthorized, unregulated operators should be avoided and that igaming and online casinos and online slot machines were illegal in Illinois.
Lastly, the Administrator provided the industry revenue numbers. According to the Administrator, there are 17 operating casinos including one racino, 13 operating sports books, 59 terminal operators and 8,697 live video gaming locations offering 49,133 live video gaming terminals (VGTs).
In April, VGTs generated $96,358,906 in tax with the state share being $82,192,500 and host municipalities getting $14,166,406. Casinos yielded $28,132,228 in taxes to the state while the local share was $9,855,037. The March sports wagering AGR generated $95,479,077, with $33,596,602 going to the state and $1,055,337 going to Cook County. Casino, VG and sports wagering from January 1, 2025 thru April 30, 2025, combined, has generated over $626M in taxes, comprised of $531,777,736 in state taxes and $95,092,227 in local taxes.
Public Commentary
Activist Kathy Gilroy appeared before the board to put on record a release by Stop Predatory Gambling Illinois about daily fantasy and fantasy sports online parlay betting, and requested Board attention to these issues. In particular, she mentioned that she believed that Underdog, PrizePicks and Draft Kings Pick 6 were operating illegally. The Administrator stated that, depending on the specifics of the game, Gilroy’s understanding may be incorrect. He invited her to submit her specific concerns for review by staff.
Administrative Matters
The Administrator next discussed and recommended for the Board’s approval a proposed new rule amending Video Gaming Rule 1800.550 to set up a streamlined licensing process to allow existing terminal handlers and technicians to become sales agent licensees. The proposed rule was approved by the Board to be submitted to the Index Department of the Secretary of State for publication, public comment, and eventual presentment to the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules (JCAR) for 1st Notice review and consideration.
If you have any questions regarding this proposal, or would like to discuss submitting comments, feel free to reach out to us. At the time of this publication, the proposal was not yet added to the IGB’s site but those interested should periodically check the respective sections of the IGB’s page as they will be posted under Laws & Regulations.
Casino
The casino portion of this meeting began with the Administrator announcing with respect to the only Owner/Organization Gaming Licensee item (the request for initial consideration of Casino Queen, Inc. dba DraftKings at Casino Queen owner’s license renewal) that there was no Board action required at this time.
Next, with respect to supplier licensee items, the Board approved the following Key Person:
- Robert Cresson Ritterhoff – American Gaming & Electronics, Inc.
The Board then approved the following Level 1 Occupational Licenses:
- Jennifer Lynn Hogue – The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel – Controller
- Amy Jo Applegate – Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland – Executive Director of Table Games
The Board next granted initial occupational licenses to on 177 Level 2 and 58 Level 3 applicants and issued notices of denial to three individuals.
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 began with the Board granting an initial supplier license to Circa Hospitality Group I LLC and finding suitable the following business entities and key persons:
- Derek John Stevens
- Gregory John Stevens
- Susan Alice Hitch
- Circa Hospitality Group LLC
- The Derek J. Stevens Trust
- The Gregory J. Stevens Trust
The Board next granted an initial supplier license to SportRadar Solutions LLC, finding suitable the following business entities and key persons:
- Eduard Hendrik Blonk
- John Andrew Doran
- Carsten Marcus Koerl
- Sportradar Americas Inc.
- Sportradar AG
- Sportradar Management Ltd.
- Sportradar Jersey Holding Ltd
- Sportradar Group AG
- TCV IX Sports Corp.
- TCV IX, L.P.
- Technology Crossover Management IX, L.P.
- Technology Crossover Management IX, LTD.
- CPP Investment Board Europe, Inc
The Board finally granted an initial supplier license to Stadium Technology Group, LLC, finding suitable the following business entities and key persons:
- Rakesh Kumar Batchu
- Robert Matthew Wood
- Simon Gregorevich Zinger
- Entain plc
- Entain Holdings (UK) Limited
- Ladbrokes Coral Group Limited
- Ladbrokes Holdco, Inc.
- Ladbrokes Subco, LLC
Turning to occupational licenses, the Board granted an initial Level 1 occupational licenses to Susan Alice Hitch, for her role as VP of Finance and Accounting and Controller for Circa Sports Illinois LLC.
The session concluded with issuance of 173 Level 2 and three occupational licenses, renewal of Rock Island’s Bally’s Quad Cities master license and the Administrator granting renewals to the Level 1, 2, and 3 licensees that were up for renewal, had 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 a terminal operator license to Cash Flow Express, LLC and Champion Gaming LLC but denying the terminal operator license to TJ IL Investments LLC. The Board granted licensure for 108 location applicants and issued location application denials to 52 Brink Street dba Cantina 52 and Dynamite Brewing dba Short Fuse Brewing.
The Board also approved one technician license and 37 terminal handler licenses and the
Administrator renewed the terminal handler, technician, and location licensees which were up for renewal and had provided updated information to the IGB, timely paid their renewal fees, and complied with all other requirements.
Litigation
The meeting concluded with the Board issuing a Final Board Order in the matter of 24-GB-08 In re: Denial of 24DKS0034002 Anthony Edwards, whereby they adopted the Administrative Law Judge’s decision to grant Mr. Edwards a sports wagering level II occupational license.
That meeting was then adjourned. The next meeting will be held on July 31, 2025.
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