Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4178

LRB104 15891 LNS 29117 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4178

Introduced 10/28/2025, by Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 10/7

from Ch. 120, par. 2407

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that each licensee shall make a reconciliation payment 3 years after the date the licensee begins operating in an amount equal to 75% of the adjusted gross receipts for the most lucrative consecutive 12-month period of operations, minus an amount equal to (i) the initial payment per gaming position paid by the specific licensee and (ii) the $15,000,000 reconciliation fee.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning gaming.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Gambling Act is amended by changing Section 7 as follows:

(230 ILCS 10/7) (from Ch. 120, par. 2407)

Sec. 7. Owners licenses.

(a) The Board shall issue owners licenses to persons or entities that apply for such licenses upon payment to the Board of the non-refundable license fee as provided in subsection (e) or (e-5) and upon a determination by the Board that the applicant is eligible for an owners license pursuant to this Act and the rules of the Board. From December 15, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-1008) until (i) 3 years after December 15, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-1008), (ii) the date any organization licensee begins to operate a slot machine or video game of chance under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or this Act, (iii) the date that payments begin under subsection (c-5) of Section 13 of this Act, (iv) the wagering tax imposed under Section 13 of this Act is increased by law to reflect a tax rate that is at least as stringent or more stringent than the tax rate contained in subsection (a-3) of Section 13, or (v) when an owners licensee holding a license issued pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Act begins conducting gaming, whichever occurs first, as a condition of licensure and as an alternative source of payment for those funds payable under subsection (c-5) of Section 13 of this Act, any owners licensee that holds or receives its owners license on or after May 26, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-804), other than an owners licensee operating a riverboat with adjusted gross receipts in calendar year 2004 of less than $200,000,000, must pay into the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund, in addition to any other payments required under this Act, an amount equal to 3% of the adjusted gross receipts received by the owners licensee. The payments required under this Section shall be made by the owners licensee to the State Treasurer no later than 3:00 o'clock p.m. of the day after the day when the adjusted gross receipts were received by the owners licensee. A person or entity is ineligible to receive an owners license if:

(1) the person has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this State, any other state, or the United States;

(2) the person has been convicted of any violation of Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or substantially similar laws of any other jurisdiction;

(3) the person has submitted an application for a license under this Act which contains false information;

(4) the person is a member of the Board;

(5) a person defined in (1), (2), (3), or (4) is an officer, director, or managerial employee of the entity;

(6) the entity employs a person defined in (1), (2), (3), or (4) who participates in the management or operation of gambling operations authorized under this Act;

(7) (blank); or

(8) a license of the person or entity issued under this Act, or a license to own or operate gambling facilities in any other jurisdiction, has been revoked.

The Board is expressly prohibited from making changes to the requirement that licensees make payment into the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund without the express authority of the Illinois General Assembly and making any other rule to implement or interpret Public Act 95-1008. For the purposes of this paragraph, "rules" is given the meaning given to that term in Section 1-70 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(b) In determining whether to grant an owners license to an applicant, the Board shall consider:

(1) the character, reputation, experience, and financial integrity of the applicants and of any other or separate person that either:

(A) controls, directly or indirectly, such applicant; or

(B) is controlled, directly or indirectly, by such applicant or by a person which controls, directly or indirectly, such applicant;

(2) the facilities or proposed facilities for the conduct of gambling;

(3) the highest prospective total revenue to be derived by the State from the conduct of gambling;

(4) the extent to which the ownership of the applicant reflects the diversity of the State by including minority persons, women, and persons with a disability and the good faith affirmative action plan of each applicant to recruit, train, and upgrade minority persons, women, and persons with a disability in all employment classifications; the Board shall further consider granting an owners license and giving preference to an applicant under this Section to applicants in which minority persons and women hold ownership interest of at least 16% and 4%, respectively;

(4.5) the extent to which the ownership of the applicant includes veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States, and the good faith affirmative action plan of each applicant to recruit, train, and upgrade veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States in all employment classifications;

(5) the financial ability of the applicant to purchase and maintain adequate liability and casualty insurance;

(6) whether the applicant has adequate capitalization to provide and maintain, for the duration of a license, a riverboat or casino;

(7) the extent to which the applicant exceeds or meets other standards for the issuance of an owners license which the Board may adopt by rule;

(8) the amount of the applicant's license bid;

(9) the extent to which the applicant or the proposed host municipality plans to enter into revenue sharing agreements with communities other than the host municipality;

(10) the extent to which the ownership of an applicant includes the most qualified number of minority persons, women, and persons with a disability; and

(11) whether the applicant has entered into a fully executed construction project labor agreement with the applicable local building trades council.

(c) Each owners license shall specify the place where the casino shall operate or the riverboat shall operate and dock.

(d) Each applicant shall submit with his or her application, on forms provided by the Board, 2 sets of his or her fingerprints.

(e) In addition to any licenses authorized under subsection (e-5) of this Section, the Board may issue up to 10 licenses authorizing the holders of such licenses to own riverboats. In the application for an owners license, the applicant shall state the dock at which the riverboat is based and the water on which the riverboat will be located. The Board shall issue 5 licenses to become effective not earlier than January 1, 1991. Three of such licenses shall authorize riverboat gambling on the Mississippi River, or, with approval by the municipality in which the riverboat was docked on August 7, 2003 and with Board approval, be authorized to relocate to a new location, in a municipality that (1) borders on the Mississippi River or is within 5 miles of the city limits of a municipality that borders on the Mississippi River and (2) on August 7, 2003, had a riverboat conducting riverboat gambling operations pursuant to a license issued under this Act; one of which shall authorize riverboat gambling from a home dock in the city of East St. Louis; and one of which shall authorize riverboat gambling from a home dock in the City of Alton. One other license shall authorize riverboat gambling on the Illinois River in the City of East Peoria or, with Board approval, shall authorize land-based gambling operations anywhere within the corporate limits of the City of Peoria. The Board shall issue one additional license to become effective not earlier than March 1, 1992, which shall authorize riverboat gambling on the Des Plaines River in Will County. The Board may issue 4 additional licenses to become effective not earlier than March 1, 1992. In determining the water upon which riverboats will operate, the Board shall consider the economic benefit which riverboat gambling confers on the State, and shall seek to ensure assure that all regions of the State share in the economic benefits of riverboat gambling.

In granting all licenses, the Board may give favorable consideration to economically depressed areas of the State, to applicants presenting plans which provide for significant economic development over a large geographic area, and to applicants who currently operate non-gambling riverboats in Illinois. The Board shall review all applications for owners licenses, and shall inform each applicant of the Board's decision. The Board may grant an owners license to an applicant that has not submitted the highest license bid, but if it does not select the highest bidder, the Board shall issue a written decision explaining why another applicant was selected and identifying the factors set forth in this Section that favored the winning bidder. The fee for issuance or renewal of a license pursuant to this subsection (e) shall be $250,000.

(e-5) In addition to licenses authorized under subsection (e) of this Section:

(1) the Board may issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of casino gambling in the City of Chicago;

(2) the Board may issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat gambling in the City of Danville;

(3) the Board may issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat gambling in the City of Waukegan;

(4) the Board may issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat gambling in the City of Rockford;

(5) the Board may issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat gambling in a municipality that is wholly or partially located in one of the following townships of Cook County: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton, or Worth Township; and

(6) the Board may issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat gambling in the unincorporated area of Williamson County adjacent to the Big Muddy River.

Except for the license authorized under paragraph (1), each application for a license pursuant to this subsection (e-5) shall be submitted to the Board no later than 120 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31). All applications for a license under this subsection (e-5) shall include the nonrefundable application fee and the nonrefundable background investigation fee as provided in subsection (d) of Section 6 of this Act. In the event that an applicant submits an application for a license pursuant to this subsection (e-5) prior to June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31), such applicant shall submit the nonrefundable application fee and background investigation fee as provided in subsection (d) of Section 6 of this Act no later than 6 months after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31).

The Board shall consider issuing a license pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection only after the corporate authority of the municipality or the county board of the county in which the riverboat or casino shall be located has certified to the Board the following:

(i) that the applicant has negotiated with the corporate authority or county board in good faith;

(ii) that the applicant and the corporate authority or county board have mutually agreed on the permanent location of the riverboat or casino;

(iii) that the applicant and the corporate authority or county board have mutually agreed on the temporary location of the riverboat or casino;

(iv) that the applicant and the corporate authority or the county board have mutually agreed on the percentage of revenues that will be shared with the municipality or county, if any;

(v) that the applicant and the corporate authority or county board have mutually agreed on any zoning, licensing, public health, or other issues that are within the jurisdiction of the municipality or county;

(vi) that the corporate authority or county board has passed a resolution or ordinance in support of the riverboat or casino in the municipality or county;

(vii) that the applicant for a license under paragraph (1) has made a public presentation concerning its casino proposal; and

(viii) that the applicant for a license under paragraph (1) has prepared a summary of its casino proposal and such summary has been posted on a public website of the municipality or the county.

At least 7 days before the corporate authority of a municipality or county board of the county submits a certification to the Board concerning items (i) through (viii) of this subsection, it shall hold a public hearing to discuss items (i) through (viii), as well as any other details concerning the proposed riverboat or casino in the municipality or county. The corporate authority or county board must subsequently memorialize the details concerning the proposed riverboat or casino in a resolution that must be adopted by a majority of the corporate authority or county board before any certification is sent to the Board. The Board shall not alter, amend, change, or otherwise interfere with any agreement between the applicant and the corporate authority of the municipality or county board of the county regarding the location of any temporary or permanent facility.

In addition, within 10 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31), the Board, with consent and at the expense of the City of Chicago, shall select and retain the services of a nationally recognized casino gaming feasibility consultant. Within 45 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31), the consultant shall prepare and deliver to the Board a study concerning the feasibility of, and the ability to finance, a casino in the City of Chicago. The feasibility study shall be delivered to the Mayor of the City of Chicago, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ninety days after receipt of the feasibility study, the Board shall make a determination, based on the results of the feasibility study, whether to recommend to the General Assembly that the terms of the license under paragraph (1) of this subsection (e-5) should be modified. The Board may begin accepting applications for the owners license under paragraph (1) of this subsection (e-5) upon the determination to issue such an owners license.

In addition, prior to the Board issuing the owners license authorized under paragraph (4) of this subsection (e-5), an impact study shall be completed to determine what location in the city will provide the greater impact to the region, including the creation of jobs and the generation of tax revenue.

(e-10) The licenses authorized under subsection (e-5) of this Section shall be issued within 12 months after the date the license application is submitted. If the Board does not issue the licenses within that time period, then the Board shall give a written explanation to the applicant as to why it has not reached a determination and when it reasonably expects to make a determination. The fee for the issuance or renewal of a license issued pursuant to this subsection (e-10) shall be $250,000. Additionally, a licensee located outside of Cook County shall pay a minimum initial fee of $17,500 per gaming position, and a licensee located in Cook County shall pay a minimum initial fee of $30,000 per gaming position. The initial fees payable under this subsection (e-10) shall be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund. If at any point after June 1, 2020 there are no pending applications for a license under subsection (e-5) and not all licenses authorized under subsection (e-5) have been issued, then the Board shall reopen the license application process for those licenses authorized under subsection (e-5) that have not been issued. The Board shall follow the licensing process provided in subsection (e-5) with all time frames tied to the last date of a final order issued by the Board under subsection (e-5) rather than the effective date of the amendatory Act.

(e-15) Each licensee of a license authorized under subsection (e-5) of this Section shall pay a $15,000,000 reconciliation fee upon issuance of an owners license. Each licensee authorized under subsection (e-5) shall make a reconciliation payment 3 years after the date the licensee begins operating in an amount equal to 75% of the adjusted gross receipts for the most lucrative consecutive 12-month period of operations, minus an amount equal to (i) the initial payment per gaming position paid by the specific licensee and (ii) the $15,000,000 reconciliation fee. Each licensee shall pay a $15,000,000 reconciliation fee upon issuance of an owners license. If this calculation results in a negative amount, then the licensee is not entitled to any reimbursement of fees previously paid. This reconciliation payment may be made in installments over a period of no more than 6 years.

All payments by licensees under this subsection (e-15) shall be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund.

(e-20) In addition to any other revocation powers granted to the Board under this Act, the Board may revoke the owners license of a licensee which fails to begin conducting gambling within 15 months of receipt of the Board's approval of the application if the Board determines that license revocation is in the best interests of the State.

(f) The first 10 owners licenses issued under this Act shall permit the holder to own up to 2 riverboats and equipment thereon for a period of 3 years after the effective date of the license. Holders of the first 10 owners licenses must pay the annual license fee for each of the 3 years during which they are authorized to own riverboats.

(g) Upon the termination, expiration, or revocation of each of the first 10 licenses, which shall be issued for a 3-year period, all licenses are renewable annually upon payment of the fee and a determination by the Board that the licensee continues to meet all of the requirements of this Act and the Board's rules. However, for licenses renewed on or after June 10, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-13) this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, renewal shall be for a period of 4 years.

(h) An owners license, except for an owners license issued under subsection (e-5) of this Section, shall entitle the licensee to own up to 2 riverboats.

An owners licensee of a casino or riverboat that is located in the City of Chicago pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (e-5) of this Section shall limit the number of gaming positions to 4,000 for such owner. An owners licensee authorized under subsection (e) or paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (e-5) of this Section shall limit the number of gaming positions to 2,000 for any such owners license. An owners licensee authorized under paragraph (6) of subsection (e-5) of this Section shall limit the number of gaming positions to 1,200 for such owner. The initial fee for each gaming position obtained on or after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31) shall be a minimum of $17,500 for licensees not located in Cook County and a minimum of $30,000 for licensees located in Cook County, in addition to the reconciliation payment, as set forth in subsection (e-15) of this Section. The fees under this subsection (h) shall be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund. The fees under this subsection (h) that are paid by an owners licensee authorized under subsection (e) shall be paid by July 1, 2021.

Each owners licensee under subsection (e) of this Section shall reserve its gaming positions within 30 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31). The Board may grant an extension to this 30-day period, provided that the owners licensee submits a written request and explanation as to why it is unable to reserve its positions within the 30-day period.

Each owners licensee under subsection (e-5) of this Section shall reserve its gaming positions within 30 days after issuance of its owners license. The Board may grant an extension to this 30-day period, provided that the owners licensee submits a written request and explanation as to why it is unable to reserve its positions within the 30-day period.

A licensee may operate both of its riverboats concurrently, provided that the total number of gaming positions on both riverboats does not exceed the limit established pursuant to this subsection. Riverboats licensed to operate on the Mississippi River and the Illinois River south of Marshall County shall have an authorized capacity of at least 500 persons. Any other riverboat licensed under this Act shall have an authorized capacity of at least 400 persons.

(h-5) An owners licensee who conducted gambling operations prior to January 1, 2012 and obtains positions pursuant to Public Act 101-31 shall make a reconciliation payment 3 years after any additional gaming positions begin operating in an amount equal to 75% of the owners licensee's average gross receipts for the most lucrative 12-month period of operations minus an amount equal to the initial fee that the owners licensee paid per additional gaming position. For purposes of this subsection (h-5), "average gross receipts" means (i) the increase in adjusted gross receipts for the most lucrative 12-month period of operations over the adjusted gross receipts for 2019, multiplied by (ii) the percentage derived by dividing the number of additional gaming positions that an owners licensee had obtained by the total number of gaming positions operated by the owners licensee. If this calculation results in a negative amount, then the owners licensee is not entitled to any reimbursement of fees previously paid. This reconciliation payment may be made in installments over a period of no more than 6 years. These reconciliation payments shall be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund.

(i) A licensed owner is authorized to apply to the Board for and, if approved therefor, to receive all licenses from the Board necessary for the operation of a riverboat or casino, including a liquor license, a license to prepare and serve food for human consumption, and other necessary licenses. All use, occupation, and excise taxes which apply to the sale of food and beverages in this State and all taxes imposed on the sale or use of tangible personal property apply to such sales aboard the riverboat or in the casino.

(j) The Board may issue or re-issue a license authorizing a riverboat to dock in a municipality or approve a relocation under Section 11.2 only if, prior to the issuance or re-issuance of the license or approval, the governing body of the municipality in which the riverboat will dock has by a majority vote approved the docking of riverboats in the municipality. The Board may issue or re-issue a license authorizing a riverboat to dock in areas of a county outside any municipality or approve a relocation under Section 11.2 only if, prior to the issuance or re-issuance of the license or approval, the governing body of the county has by a majority vote approved of the docking of riverboats within such areas.

(k) An owners licensee may conduct land-based gambling operations upon approval by the Board and payment of a fee of $250,000, which shall be deposited into the State Gaming Fund.

(l) An owners licensee may conduct gaming at a temporary facility pending the construction of a permanent facility or the remodeling or relocation of an existing facility to accommodate gaming participants for up to 24 months after the temporary facility begins to conduct gaming. Upon request by an owners licensee and upon a showing of good cause by the owners licensee: (i) for a licensee authorized under paragraph (3) of subsection (e-5), the Board shall extend the period during which the licensee may conduct gaming at a temporary facility by up to 30 months; and (ii) for all other licensees, the Board shall extend the period during which the licensee may conduct gaming at a temporary facility by up to 12 months. The Board shall make rules concerning the conduct of gaming from temporary facilities.

(Source: P.A. 102-13, eff. 6-10-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 103-574, eff. 12-8-23; revised 6-26-25.)