The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. 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 Hayden and Member Brannon.
Before we begin our summary of the meeting, we wanted to briefly point out that the IGB has changed its website a bit. If you have any issues or difficulties finding information on the website given its new design, let us know. We have provided links to specific portions of the IGB’s website throughout this newsletter for your added convenience.
The meeting began with the approval of the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting from Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Immediately thereafter, the Board turned to the dissemination of certain closed session meeting minutes from 2021, 2023, and 2024. While most of the minutes for consideration were approved for dissemination, the minutes from June 2021, March 2024, and April 2024 were found to be unsuitable for dissemination and therefore remain confidential. The disseminated minutes will be available on the IGB’s website Past Meetings.
Administrator’s Report
The Administrator began his comments with the 2025 meeting schedule. It is provided below for your convenience and is also available on the IGB’s website Upcoming Meetings.
2025 calendar dates:
Thursday, Feb. 06, 2025
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Thursday, June 05, 2025
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025
Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025
Next the Administrator reviewed the modernization and reevaluation of certain IGB rules. With that consideration, the Administrator has requested public comments from the industry regarding two potential new video gaming (VG) rules pertaining to 1) implementing a VG self-exclusion program and 2) implementing cashless technology into the VG market. Comments may include issues/concerns/suggestions for developing and implementing the exclusion program and/or cashless technology. Comments can be submitted using the IGB’s online inquiry form, found here: Online Inquiry Form and choosing “Public Comments on IGB Rules” from drop-down options. Comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2025. Alternatively, feel free to reach out to us if you would like to coordinate your comments.
The Administrator continued his comments with reminding individuals to only patronize legal and licensed gambling/sports wagering providers and avoid unlicensed, unregulated gray- or black-market operators.
The Administrator concluded his comments with the industry revenue numbers. According to the Administrator, there are 8,683 live video gaming locations offering approximately 48,751 video gaming terminals (VGTs). In September, these VGTs generated $84 million in taxes with the state’s share being approximately $71 million and the location municipalities receiving approximately $12 million. September also yielded $43 million in tax revenue with $34 million in taxes going to the state and $9 million to host communities. Lastly, the total sports wagering AGR generated a taxable amount of $14 million with $13 million in taxes going to the state and approximately $625,000 going to Cook County. To date for 2024, the combined industries of video gaming, sports wagering and casino activity has generated over $1.2 billion in taxes.
Administrative Matters
The meeting continued with the Administrator providing an overview of a proposed new rule and an amendment to an existing rule. A brief overview of these proposals follows. The Board approved the submittal of the proposed rule/amendment to the Index Department of the Secretary of State and they will go through the standard rule making procedure, including first notice (public comment) and then second notice with the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules’ (JCAR) review and consideration.
The first proposal discussed was Rule 3000.175 regarding proposed human trafficking recognition, reporting and signage requirements. Although most owners’ licensees already implement training and documenting policies regarding potential human trafficking recognition, the IGB is proposing this new rule to make such policies mandatory. Specifically, Rule 175 will mandate that:
- Casinos will provide training within three months of an employee’s hiring date as well as annual training.
- Casinos will have protocols to document potential human trafficking situations and/or individuals.
- Casinos will post human trafficking notices on property for individuals that may need assistance.
The second proposal discussed was amending Rule 1900.1130 to prohibit certain wagers and included a brief presentation from a representative of the National Football League (NFL). The NFL’s comments can be found under the additional news section of the IGB’s website: igb-sw-1130-nfl.pdf. The Administrator, within the authority delegated to him through Rule 1130(i), issued a temporary suspension of the wagering on injuries, officiating related player conduct and pre-determined events in any NFL game until the December Board meeting when the Board can appropriately vote on whether or not to permanently prohibit the proposed wager events.
Casino
The casino portion of this meeting began with the Board granting the Request for Final Consideration of Owners License Renewal of Elgin Riverboat Resort d/b/a Grand Victoria Casino.
Next, the Board tabled the request for waiver of the two-meeting rules and request for transfer of ownership for Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a FanDuel Sports Book and Horseracing and its key persons approvals as this matter would be discussed in length in the sports wagering section of the meeting.
The Board next approved the initial occupational licenses of 38 Level 2 and 70 Level 3 applicants and issued one notice of denial. The Board also denied two requests for hearings from occupational applicants as the requests allegedly did not meeting the minimum requirements under Rule 405.
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
As mentioned in the casino portion, the Board heard the presentation of Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fan Duel Sports Book and Horseracing regarding its 1) request for waiver of the two-meeting rule, 2) the request for transfer of ownership in the organizational gaming license applicant to Accel Entertainment, Inc., 3) the request for the transfer of ownership in the master sports wagering license and 4) renewal of its master sports wagering license renewal of Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a FanDuel Sports Book and Horseracing. All of the requests were granted and the identified key persons were approved.
The Board then issued 106 Level 2 occupational licenses and the Administrator granted 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 the initial terminal operator license application of Traayo Gaming LLC.
The Board next granted 48 terminal handler licenses and four terminal technician 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. Next, the Administrator issued a notice of non-renewal to Primo’s Tacos Inc d/b/a Primo’s Tacos.
The meeting continued with the IGB approving 98 location applicants for licensure and issuing denials to following three establishments:
- BCG Restaurant Group Inc. d/b/a Thorabella’s
- Jam Bug LLC d/b/a The Chinchbug
- Knox Investments, Inc. d/b/a The Pony
The Board also rescinded previously issued nonrenewals or denials to the following four locations:
- DGC 132012, Inc. d/b/a El Progeso Latino
- Bryan’s Boondocks, Inc. d/b/a Bryan’s Boondocks, Inc.
- SHRI GASOLINE INC., d/b/a BP SHOP
- Arbuda Oaklawn Inc., d/b/a Oaklawn Wine and Spirits
The Board next denied the hearing requests of two applicants for allegedly failing to prove a prima facie case: Gammon Coach House LLC d/b/a Gammon Coach House and Rudraya Corp. d/b/a Bravo Pizza and Italian Restaurant.
To close out the meeting, the Board issued two final board orders for Rule 320 Petitions 24-UP-004 and 24-UP-008 between Lucky Lincoln Gaming, LLC (petitioner) and the subject locations (respondents) in which the IGB adopted the administrative law judge’s recommendations and granted in part and denied in part the petitions in question. As always, Final Board orders are available on the IGB’s website Rule 320 Petitions.
That concludes the summary of this month’s meeting. The next meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.
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