HB2724sam001 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Patrick J. Joyce

Filed: 10/30/2025

10400HB2724sam001 LRB104 12064 JDS 29513 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2724

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2724 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 10. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by adding Section 253 as follows:

(35 ILCS 5/253 new)

Sec. 253. Backstretch assistance tax credit.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Backstretch worker" means any individual employed or contracted to perform duties within the stabling and training areas of a licensed horse racing facility, commonly referred to as the "backstretch", including, but not limited to:

(1) grooms responsible for the daily care, feeding, grooming, and monitoring of racehorses;

(2) hotwalkers who cool down horses following exercise or competition;

(3) exercise riders who ride horses during training sessions to maintain fitness and readiness;

(4) stable hands who clean stalls, manage feed, and assist with general maintenance;

(5) trainers overseeing the conditioning, preparation, and racing strategy of horses;

(6) farriers providing hoof care and shoeing services; and

(7) veterinary personnel administering medical treatment and preventive care.

"Organization licensee" means any person or entity with an organization license issued under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975.

"Placed in service" means the date when the property is placed in a condition or state of readiness and availability for a specifically assigned function.

"Qualified project capital infrastructure improvements" means any permanent, nonrecurring investment in physical assets located within or directly serving the backstretch area of a licensed horse racing venue, undertaken to enhance the safety, functionality, habitability, or operational efficiency of the facility. "Qualified project capital infrastructure improvements" must be capital in nature, with a useful life of at least 5 years, and may include, but are not limited to:

(1) structural upgrades, such as the renovation, repair, or replacement of dormitories, stables, barns, tack rooms, wash racks, and other horse care or worker housing facilities;

(2) utility systems, such as the installation or modernization of water, sewer, electrical, HVAC, and fire suppression systems serving the backstretch;

(3) sanitation and health facilities, such as the construction or enhancement of restrooms, showers, laundry areas, medical or veterinary stations, and food preparation areas;

(4) safety and accessibility improvements, such as upgrades to lighting, walkways, fencing, emergency access routes, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant infrastructure;

(5) technology and communications infrastructure, such as the deployment of broadband, security systems, and digital infrastructure supporting worker welfare and operational oversight; and

(6) environmental enhancements, such as stormwater management systems, energy-efficient retrofits, and sustainable design features that reduce environmental impact.

(b) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and ending on or before December 31, 2030, each taxpayer that is an organization licensee under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 is entitled to a credit against the taxes imposed by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of eligible expenditures up to $9,000,000 for qualified project capital infrastructure improvements for housing and other facilities that benefit backstretch workers at an organization licensee facility operating on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. For each taxable year, the amount of the tax credit for each taxpayer with eligible expenditures shall be determined by the Illinois Racing Board. The Illinois Racing Board shall not award to any taxpayer credits under this Section in an amount that is greater than $9,000,000 in the aggregate for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 and ending on or before December 31, 2030.

(c) To obtain a tax credit certificate pursuant to this Section, the taxpayer must apply with the Illinois Racing Board. The Illinois Racing Board shall determine whether an expenditure qualifies for the credit under this Section based on whether it includes improvements for backstretch workers and facilities that benefit the backstretch workers. The Illinois Racing Board shall determine the amount of eligible expenditures within 45 days after receipt of a complete application. The taxpayer must provide to the Illinois Racing Board a third-party cost certification conducted by a certified public accountant verifying the eligible and noneligible expenditures. The accountant shall provide appropriate review and testing of invoices. The Illinois Racing Board is authorized, but not required, to accept the third-party cost certification to determine the amount of eligible expenditures and all required permits with final sign-offs from the jurisdiction where the improvements were made. Project costs shall not include the organization licensee's organization gaming facility or other property not related to housing and other facilities that benefit backstretch workers.

(d) Upon satisfactory review of the application, the Illinois Racing Board shall issue a tax credit certificate to the taxpayer stating the amount of the tax credit to which the taxpayer is entitled for that tax year. The credit shall be claimed in the taxable year in which the tax credit certificate is issued. A person claiming the credit allowed under this Section shall attach to the person's Illinois income tax return a copy of the tax credit certificate issued by the Illinois Racing Board.

(e) If the taxpayer is a partnership or Subchapter S corporation, the credit shall be allowed to the partners or shareholders in accordance with the provisions of Section 251.

(f) The credit may not reduce the taxpayer's liability to less than zero. If the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability for the year, whether it exceeds the original liability or the liability as later amended, such excess may be carried forward and applied to the tax liability of the 5 taxable years following the excess credit year. The credit shall be applied to the earliest year for which there is a tax liability. If there are credits from more than one tax year that are available to offset a liability, the earlier credit shall be applied first.

(g) A taxpayer claiming the credit provided by this Section must maintain and record any information that the Department may require regarding the project for which the credit is claimed.

(h) The Department may adopt rules to implement and administer this Section.

(i) The Illinois Racing Board may adopt rules to implement and administer this tax credit program, including rules concerning applications for the tax credit.

Section 15. The Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 is amended by changing Sections 3.075, 19, 19.5, 20, and 26 and by adding Section 19.10 as follows:

(230 ILCS 5/3.075)

Sec. 3.075. (a) "Host track" means the organization licensee (i) conducting live thoroughbred racing between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. from the first day to the last day of its horse racing meet as awarded by the Board (including all days within that period when no live racing occurs), except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (e) of this Section, or (ii) conducting live standardbred racing between the hours of 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. of the following day from the first day to the last day of its horse racing meet as awarded by the Board (including all days within that period when no live racing occurs, except as otherwise provided in subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this Section); provided that the organization licensee conducts live racing no fewer than 5 days per week with no fewer than 9 races per day, unless a lesser schedule of live racing is the result of (1) weather, unsafe track conditions, or other acts of God; (2) an agreement between the organization licensee and the associations representing the largest number of owners, trainers, and standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's race meeting, with the Board's consent; or (3) a decision by the Board after a public hearing (in which the associations representing the owners, trainers, jockeys, or standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's race meeting shall participate) either at the time racing dates are awarded or after those dates are awarded due to changed financial circumstances, upon a written petition from the organization licensee, accompanied by supporting financial data as requested by the Board, stating that the organization licensee has and will continue to incur significant financial losses. No organization licensee conducting its race meeting in a county bordering the Mississippi River and having a population greater than 230,000 or Macon County may be a host track for its race meeting.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section and except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of this Section, in the event that 2 organization licensees conduct their standardbred race meetings concurrently on any date after January 1, 1996, between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., the organization licensee awarded the most racing dates between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. during the calendar year in which that concurrent racing occurs will be deemed the host track, provided that the 2 organization licensees collectively conduct live standardbred racing between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. during the week in which concurrent race meetings occur no less than 5 days per week with no less than 9 races per day. During each week of the calendar year in which 2 organization licensees are conducting live standardbred race meetings between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., if there is any day in that week on which only one organization licensee is conducting a standardbred race meeting between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., that organization licensee shall be the host track provided that the 2 organization licensees collectively conduct live standardbred racing between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. during the week in which concurrent race meetings occur no less than 5 days per week with no less than 9 races per day. During each week of the calendar year in which 2 organization licensees are concurrently conducting live standardbred race meetings on one or more days between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., if there is any day in that week on which no organization licensee is conducting a standardbred race meeting between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., the organization licensee conducting a standardbred race meeting during that week and time period that has been awarded the most racing dates during the calendar year between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. shall be the host track, provided that the 2 organization licensees collectively conduct live standardbred racing between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. during the week in which concurrent race meetings occur no less than 5 days per week with no less than 9 races per day. The requirement in this subsection (d) that live racing be conducted no less than 5 days per week with no less than 9 races per day shall be subject to exceptions set forth in items (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a) of Section 3.075.

(e) During any calendar period in which no organization licensee has been awarded a thoroughbred race meeting, the host track, between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. of such period, shall be an organization licensee determined by the Board, provided the organization licensee has been awarded a thoroughbred race meeting in the current year and is eligible to be a host track.

(Source: P.A. 91-40, eff. 6-25-99.)

(230 ILCS 5/19) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-19)

Sec. 19. (a) No organization license may be granted to conduct a horse race meeting:

(1) except as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21 of this Act, to any person at any place within 35 miles of any other place licensed by the Board to hold a race meeting on the same date during the same hours, the mileage measurement used in this paragraph (1) subsection (a) shall be certified to the Board by the Bureau of Systems and Services in the Illinois Department of Transportation as the most commonly used public way of vehicular travel;

(1.5) except as provided in Section 19.10 of this Act, to any person at any place within 100 miles of a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River; the mileage measurement used in this paragraph (1.5) shall be certified to the Board by the Bureau of Systems and Services at the Illinois Department of Transportation as the most commonly used public way of vehicular travel; this paragraph (1.5) shall not apply to a race meeting conducted by an organization licensee at the Springfield State fairgrounds or at the DuQuoin State fairgrounds;

(2) to any person in default in the payment of any obligation or debt due the State under this Act, provided no applicant shall be deemed in default in the payment of any obligation or debt due to the State under this Act as long as there is pending a hearing of any kind relevant to such matter;

(3) to any person who has been convicted of the violation of any law of the United States or any State law which provided as all or part of its penalty imprisonment in any penal institution; to any person against whom there is pending a Federal or State criminal charge; to any person who is or has been connected with or engaged in the operation of any illegal business; to any person who does not enjoy a general reputation in his community of being an honest, upright, law-abiding person; provided that none of the matters set forth in this subparagraph (3) shall make any person ineligible to be granted an organization license if the Board determines, based on circumstances of any such case, that the granting of a license would not be detrimental to the interests of horse racing and of the public;

(4) to any person who does not at the time of application for the organization license own or have a contract or lease for the possession of a finished race track suitable for the type of racing intended to be held by the applicant and for the accommodation of the public.

(b) (Blank).

(c) If any person is ineligible to receive an organization license because of any of the matters set forth in subsection (a) (2) or subsection (a) (3) of this Section, any other or separate person that either (i) controls, directly or indirectly, such ineligible person or (ii) is controlled, directly or indirectly, by such ineligible person or by a person which controls, directly or indirectly, such ineligible person shall also be ineligible.

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)

(230 ILCS 5/19.5)

Sec. 19.5. Standardbred racetrack in Cook County. Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, in addition to organization licenses issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Board shall issue an organization license limited to standardbred racing to a racetrack located in a municipality that has a poverty rate that is greater than or equal to 6%, according to the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, in one of the following townships of Cook County: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Orland, Rich, Thornton, or Worth. This additional organization license shall not be issued within a 35-mile radius of another organization license issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, unless the person having operating control of such racetrack has given written consent to the organization licensee applicant, which consent must be filed with the Board at or prior to the time application is made. However, the consent required by this Section from the person having operating control of such racetrack shall not be required after July 1, 2026. The organization license application shall be submitted to the Board and the Board may grant the organization license at any meeting of the Board. The Board shall examine the application within 21 days after receipt of the application with respect to its conformity with this Act and the rules adopted by the Board. If the application does not comply with this Act or the rules adopted by the Board, the application may be rejected and an organization license refused to the applicant, or the Board may, within 21 days after receipt of the application, advise the applicant of the deficiencies of the application under the Act or the rules of the Board and require the submittal of an amended application within a reasonable time determined by the Board; upon submittal of the amended application by the applicant, the Board may consider the application consistent with the process described in subsection (e-5) of Section 20. If the application is found to be in compliance with this Act and the rules of the Board, the Board shall then issue an organization license to the applicant. Once the organization license is granted, the licensee shall have all of the current and future rights of existing Illinois racetracks, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain an inter-track wagering license, the ability to obtain inter-track wagering location licenses, the ability to obtain an organization gaming license pursuant to the Illinois Gambling Act with 1,200 gaming positions, and the ability to offer Internet wagering on horse racing. If, at any time after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Board approves a standardbred racetrack under this Section and Section 19.10, beginning with the calendar year after the organization licensee of the second such standardbred racetrack begins to conduct wagering under Section 7.7 of the Illinois Gambling Act, if approved by the Board, the racetrack located in Stickney Township in Cook County shall be limited to thoroughbred racing under this Act so that both horse racing breeds shall have dedicated facilities in the Chicagoland area and, thereby, enhance the overall economic benefit for the State.

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19; 102-689, eff. 12-17-21.)

(230 ILCS 5/19.10 new)

Sec. 19.10. Standardbred racetrack in Macon County. Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, in addition to organization licenses issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Board shall issue an organization license limited to standardbred racing to a racetrack located in Macon County. Any physical gaming positions issued to an organization licensee under this Section that also receives an organization gaming license under Section 56 shall be located in Macon County. The organization license application shall be submitted to the Board, and the Board may grant the organization license at any meeting of the Board. The Board shall examine the application within 21 days after receipt of the application with respect to its conformity with this Act and the rules adopted by the Board. If the application does not comply with this Act or the rules adopted by the Board, the application may be rejected and an organization license refused to the applicant, or the Board may, within 21 days after receipt of the application, advise the applicant of the deficiencies of the application under this Act or the rules of the Board and require the submittal of an amended application within a reasonable time determined by the Board. Upon submittal of the amended application by the applicant, the Board may consider the application consistent with the process described in subsection (e-5) of Section 20. If the application is found to be in compliance with this Act and the rules of the Board, the Board shall then issue an organization license to the applicant. Once the organization license is granted, the licensee shall have all of the current and future rights of existing Illinois racetracks, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain an inter-track wagering license, the ability to obtain inter-track wagering location licenses, the ability to obtain an organization gaming license pursuant to the Illinois Gambling Act with 900 gaming positions, and the ability to offer Internet wagering on horse racing. However, the organization licensee in this Section may not be a host track for its race meeting. If, at any time after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Board approves a standardbred racetrack under this Section and Section 19.5, beginning with the calendar year after the organization licensee of the second such standardbred racetrack begins to conduct wagering under Section 7.7 of the Illinois Gambling Act, if approved by the Board, the racetrack located in Stickney Township in Cook County shall be limited to thoroughbred racing under this Act so that both horse racing breeds shall have dedicated facilities in the Chicagoland area and, thereby, enhance the overall economic benefit for the State.

(230 ILCS 5/20) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-20)

Sec. 20. (a) Any person desiring to conduct a horse race meeting may apply to the Board for an organization license. The application shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the Board. The application shall specify:

(1) the dates on which it intends to conduct the horse race meeting, which dates shall be provided under Section 21;

(2) the hours of each racing day between which it intends to hold or conduct horse racing at such meeting;

(3) the location where it proposes to conduct the meeting; and

(4) any other information the Board may reasonably require.

It is the public policy of the State to provide racing opportunities for both horse breeds, thoroughbred and standardbred, and to ensure that the organization licensees in the State collectively do so in a manner that makes the racing of both breeds viable. Therefore, if and only if the Board approves an organization license to conduct standardbred racing under Sections 19.5 and 19.10 and if the involved organization licensee of the second such standardbred track begins to conduct wagering under Section 7.7 of the Illinois Gambling Act, if approved by the Board, the racetrack located in Stickney Township in Cook County shall be limited to thoroughbred racing under this Act.

(b) A separate application for an organization license shall be filed for each horse race meeting which such person proposes to hold. Any such application, if made by an individual, or by any individual as trustee, shall be signed and verified under oath by such individual. If the application is made by individuals, then it shall be signed and verified under oath by at least 2 of the individuals; if the application is made by a partnership, an association, a corporation, a corporate trustee, a limited liability company, or any other entity, it shall be signed by an authorized officer, a partner, a member, or a manager, as the case may be, of the entity.

(c) The application shall specify:

(1) the name of the persons, association, trust, or corporation making such application;

(2) the principal address of the applicant;

(3) if the applicant is a trustee, the names and addresses of the beneficiaries; if the applicant is a corporation, the names and addresses of all officers, stockholders and directors; or if such stockholders hold stock as a nominee or fiduciary, the names and addresses of the parties who are the beneficial owners thereof or who are beneficially interested therein; if the applicant is a partnership, the names and addresses of all partners, general or limited; if the applicant is a limited liability company, the names and addresses of the manager and members; and if the applicant is any other entity, the names and addresses of all officers or other authorized persons of the entity.

(d) The applicant shall execute and file with the Board a good faith affirmative action plan to recruit, train, and upgrade minorities in all classifications within the association.

(e) With such application there shall be delivered to the Board a certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Board for an amount equal to $1,000. All applications for the issuance of an organization license shall be filed with the Board before August 1 of the year prior to the year for which application is made and shall be acted upon by the Board at a meeting to be held on such date as shall be fixed by the Board during the last 15 days of September of such prior year. At such meeting, the Board shall announce the award of the racing meets, live racing schedule, and designation of host track to the applicants and its approval or disapproval of each application. No announcement shall be considered binding until a formal order is executed by the Board, which shall be executed no later than October 15 of that prior year. Absent the agreement of the affected organization licensees, the Board shall not grant overlapping race meetings to 2 or more tracks that are within 100 miles of each other to conduct the thoroughbred racing.

(e-1) The Board shall award standardbred racing dates to organization licensees with an organization gaming license pursuant to the following schedule:

(1) For the first calendar year of operation of gambling games by an organization gaming licensee under this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, when a single entity requests standardbred racing dates, the Board shall award no fewer than 100 days of racing. The 100-day requirement may be reduced to no fewer than 80 days if no dates are requested for the first 3 months of a calendar year. If more than one entity requests standardbred racing dates, the Board shall award no fewer than 140 days of racing between the applicants.

(2) For the second calendar year of operation of gambling games by an organization gaming licensee under this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, when a single entity requests standardbred racing dates, the Board shall award no fewer than 100 days of racing. The 100-day requirement may be reduced to no fewer than 80 days if no dates are requested for the first 3 months of a calendar year. If more than one entity requests standardbred racing dates, the Board shall award no fewer than 160 days of racing between the applicants.

(3) For the third calendar year of operation of gambling games by an organization gaming licensee under this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, and each calendar year thereafter, when a single entity requests standardbred racing dates, the Board shall award no fewer than 120 days of racing. The 120-day requirement may be reduced to no fewer than 100 days if no dates are requested for the first 3 months of a calendar year. If more than one entity requests standardbred racing dates, the Board shall award no fewer than 200 days of racing between the applicants.

(4) Notwithstanding any other requirement of this subsection, if the Board approves an organization license pursuant to Section 19.10, the Board may award fewer than the minimum number of racing days, but no fewer than 60 days of racing, if there is consent for fewer days of racing as agreed to by the organization licensee and the horsemen association representing the largest number of owners, trainers, jockeys, or standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's racing meeting.

(5) Notwithstanding any other requirement of this subsection, if the Board approves an organization license pursuant to Section 19.10 before July 1, 2026, and the organization licensee applies for racing days in the remainder of 2026, the Board may award racing days to the organization licensee in the remainder of 2026 and may award fewer than 60 days of racing in 2026 after the Board has considered the application consistent with subsection (e-5).

An organization licensee shall apply for racing dates pursuant to this subsection (e-1). In awarding racing dates under this subsection (e-1), the Board shall have the discretion to allocate those standardbred racing dates among these organization licensees.

(e-2) The Board shall award thoroughbred racing days to Cook County organization licensees pursuant to the following schedule:

(1) During the first year in which only one organization licensee is awarded an organization gaming license, the Board shall award no fewer than 110 days of racing.

During the second year in which only one organization licensee is awarded an organization gaming license, the Board shall award no fewer than 115 racing days.

During the third year and every year thereafter, in which only one organization licensee is awarded an organization gaming license, the Board shall award no fewer than 120 racing days.

(2) During the first year in which 2 organization licensees are awarded an organization gaming license, the Board shall award no fewer than 139 total racing days.

During the second year in which 2 organization licensees are awarded an organization gaming license, the Board shall award no fewer than 160 total racing days.

During the third year and every year thereafter in which 2 organization licensees are awarded an organization gaming license, the Board shall award no fewer than 174 total racing days.

A Cook County organization licensee shall apply for racing dates pursuant to this subsection (e-2). In awarding racing dates under this subsection (e-2), the Board shall have the discretion to allocate those thoroughbred racing dates among these Cook County organization licensees.

(e-3) In awarding racing dates for calendar year 2020 and thereafter in connection with a racetrack in Madison County, the Board shall award racing dates and such organization licensee shall run at least 700 thoroughbred races at the racetrack in Madison County each year.

Notwithstanding Section 7.7 of the Illinois Gambling Act or any provision of this Act other than subsection (e-4.5), for each calendar year for which an organization gaming licensee located in Madison County requests racing dates resulting in less than 700 live thoroughbred races at its racetrack facility, the organization gaming licensee may not conduct gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under the Illinois Gambling Act for the calendar year of such requested live races.

(e-4) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.7 of the Illinois Gambling Act or any provision of this Act other than subsections (e-3) and (e-4.5), for each calendar year for which an organization gaming licensee requests thoroughbred racing dates which results in a number of live races under its organization license that is less than the total number of live races which it conducted in 2017 at its racetrack facility, the organization gaming licensee may not conduct gaming pursuant to its organization gaming license for the calendar year of such requested live races.

(e-4.1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.7 of the Illinois Gambling Act or any provision of this Act other than subsections (e-3) and (e-4.5), for each calendar year for which an organization licensee requests racing dates for standardbred racing which results in a number of live races that is less than the total number of live races required in subsection (e-1), the organization gaming licensee may not conduct gaming pursuant to its organization gaming license for the calendar year of such requested live races.

(e-4.5) The Board shall award the minimum live racing guarantees contained in subsections (e-1), (e-2), and (e-3) to ensure that each organization licensee shall individually run a sufficient number of races per year to qualify for an organization gaming license under this Act. The General Assembly finds that the minimum live racing guarantees contained in subsections (e-1), (e-2), and (e-3) are in the best interest of the sport of horse racing, and that such guarantees may only be reduced in the calendar year in which they will be conducted in the limited circumstances described in this subsection. The Board may decrease the number of racing days without affecting an organization licensee's ability to conduct gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under the Illinois Gambling Act only if the Board determines, after notice and hearing, that:

(i) a decrease is necessary to maintain a sufficient number of betting interests per race to ensure the integrity of racing;

(ii) there are unsafe track conditions due to weather or acts of God;

(iii) there is an agreement between an organization licensee and the breed association that is applicable to the involved live racing guarantee, such association representing either the largest number of thoroughbred owners and trainers or the largest number of standardbred owners, trainers and drivers who race horses at the involved organization licensee's racing meeting, so long as the agreement does not compromise the integrity of the sport of horse racing; or

(iv) the horse population or purse levels are insufficient to provide the number of racing opportunities otherwise required in this Act.

In decreasing the number of racing dates in accordance with this subsection, the Board shall hold a hearing and shall provide the public and all interested parties notice and an opportunity to be heard. The Board shall accept testimony from all interested parties, including any association representing owners, trainers, jockeys, or drivers who will be affected by the decrease in racing dates. The Board shall provide a written explanation of the reasons for the decrease and the Board's findings. The written explanation shall include a listing and content of all communication between any party and any Illinois Racing Board member or staff that does not take place at a public meeting of the Board.

(e-5) In reviewing an application for the purpose of granting an organization license consistent with the best interests of the public and the sport of horse racing, the Board shall consider:

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

(i) controls the applicant, directly or indirectly, or

(ii) is controlled, directly or indirectly, by that applicant or by a person who controls, directly or indirectly, that applicant;

(2) the applicant's facilities or proposed facilities for conducting horse racing;

(3) the total revenue without regard to Section 32.1 to be derived by the State and horsemen from the applicant's conducting a race meeting;

(4) the applicant's good faith affirmative action plan to recruit, train, and upgrade minorities in all employment classifications;

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

(6) the applicant's proposed and prior year's promotional and marketing activities and expenditures of the applicant associated with those activities;

(7) an agreement, if any, among organization licensees as provided in subsection (b) of Section 21 of this Act; and

(8) the extent to which the applicant exceeds or meets other standards for the issuance of an organization license that the Board shall adopt by rule.

In granting organization licenses and allocating dates for horse race meetings, the Board shall have discretion to determine an overall schedule, including required simulcasts of Illinois races by host tracks that will, in its judgment, be conducive to the best interests of the public and the sport of horse racing.

(e-10) The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall apply to administrative procedures of the Board under this Act for the granting of an organization license, except that (1) notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 10-40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act regarding cross-examination, the Board may prescribe rules limiting the right of an applicant or participant in any proceeding to award an organization license to conduct cross-examination of witnesses at that proceeding where that cross-examination would unduly obstruct the timely award of an organization license under subsection (e) of Section 20 of this Act; (2) the provisions of Section 10-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act regarding proposals for decision are excluded under this Act; (3) notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 10-60 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act regarding ex parte communications, the Board may prescribe rules allowing ex parte communications with applicants or participants in a proceeding to award an organization license where conducting those communications would be in the best interest of racing, provided all those communications are made part of the record of that proceeding pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 10-60 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act; (4) the provisions of Section 14a of this Act and the rules of the Board promulgated under that Section shall apply instead of the provisions of Article 10 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act regarding administrative law judges; and (5) the provisions of subsection (d) of Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act that prevent summary suspension of a license pending revocation or other action shall not apply.

(f) The Board may allot racing dates to an organization licensee for more than one calendar year but for no more than 3 successive calendar years in advance, provided that the Board shall review such allotment for more than one calendar year prior to each year for which such allotment has been made. The granting of an organization license to a person constitutes a privilege to conduct a horse race meeting under the provisions of this Act, and no person granted an organization license shall be deemed to have a vested interest, property right, or future expectation to receive an organization license in any subsequent year as a result of the granting of an organization license. Organization licenses shall be subject to revocation if the organization licensee has violated any provision of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated under this Act or has been convicted of a crime or has failed to disclose or has stated falsely any information called for in the application for an organization license. Any organization license revocation proceeding shall be in accordance with Section 16 regarding suspension and revocation of occupation licenses.

(f-5) If, (i) an applicant does not file an acceptance of the racing dates awarded by the Board as required under part (1) of subsection (h) of this Section 20, or (ii) an organization licensee has its license suspended or revoked under this Act, the Board, upon conducting an emergency hearing as provided for in this Act, may reaward on an emergency basis pursuant to rules established by the Board, racing dates not accepted or the racing dates associated with any suspension or revocation period to one or more organization licensees, new applicants, or any combination thereof, upon terms and conditions that the Board determines are in the best interest of racing, provided, the organization licensees or new applicants receiving the awarded racing dates file an acceptance of those reawarded racing dates as required under paragraph (1) of subsection (h) of this Section 20 and comply with the other provisions of this Act. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply to the administrative procedures of the Board in conducting the emergency hearing and the reallocation of racing dates on an emergency basis.

(g) (Blank).

(h) The Board shall send the applicant a copy of its formally executed order by certified mail addressed to the applicant at the address stated in his application, which notice shall be mailed within 5 days of the date the formal order is executed.

Each applicant notified shall, within 10 days after receipt of the final executed order of the Board awarding racing dates:

(1) file with the Board an acceptance of such award in the form prescribed by the Board;

(2) pay to the Board an additional amount equal to $110 for each racing date awarded; and

(3) file with the Board the bonds required in Sections 21 and 25 at least 20 days prior to the first day of each race meeting. Upon compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection (h), the applicant shall be issued an organization license.

If any applicant fails to comply with this Section or fails to pay the organization license fees herein provided, no organization license shall be issued to such applicant.

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)

(230 ILCS 5/26) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26)

Sec. 26. Wagering.

(a) Any licensee may conduct and supervise the pari-mutuel system of wagering, as defined in Section 3.12 of this Act, on horse races conducted by an Illinois organization licensee or conducted at a racetrack located in another state or country in accordance with subsection (g) of Section 26 of this Act. Subject to the prior consent of the Board, licensees may supplement any pari-mutuel pool in order to guarantee a minimum distribution. Such pari-mutuel method of wagering shall not, under any circumstances if conducted under the provisions of this Act, be held or construed to be unlawful, other statutes of this State to the contrary notwithstanding. Subject to rules for advance wagering promulgated by the Board, any licensee may accept wagers in advance of the day the race wagered upon occurs.

(b) Except for those gaming activities for which a license is obtained and authorized under the Illinois Lottery Law, the Charitable Games Act, the Raffles and Poker Runs Act, or the Illinois Gambling Act, no other method of betting, pool making, wagering or gambling shall be used or permitted by the licensee. Each licensee may retain, subject to the payment of all applicable taxes and purses, an amount not to exceed 17% of all money wagered under subsection (a) of this Section, except as may otherwise be permitted under this Act.

(b-5) An individual may place a wager under the pari-mutuel system from any licensed location authorized under this Act provided that wager is electronically recorded in the manner described in Section 3.12 of this Act. Any wager made electronically by an individual while physically on the premises of a licensee shall be deemed to have been made at the premises of that licensee.

(c) (Blank).

(c-5) The sum held by any licensee for payment of outstanding pari-mutuel tickets, if unclaimed prior to December 31 of the next year, shall be retained by the licensee for payment of such tickets until that date. Within 10 days thereafter, the balance of such sum remaining unclaimed, less any uncashed supplements contributed by such licensee for the purpose of guaranteeing minimum distributions of any pari-mutuel pool, shall be evenly distributed to the purse account of the organization licensee and the organization licensee, except that the balance of the sum of all outstanding pari-mutuel tickets generated from simulcast wagering and inter-track wagering by an organization licensee located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and borders the Mississippi River or any licensee that derives its license from that organization licensee shall be evenly distributed to the purse account of the organization licensee and the organization licensee.

(d) A pari-mutuel ticket shall be honored until December 31 of the next calendar year, and the licensee shall pay the same and may charge the amount thereof against unpaid money similarly accumulated on account of pari-mutuel tickets not presented for payment.

(e) No licensee shall knowingly permit any minor, other than an employee of such licensee or an owner, trainer, jockey, driver, or employee thereof, to be admitted during a racing program unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, or any minor to be a patron of the pari-mutuel system of wagering conducted or supervised by it. The admission of any unaccompanied minor, other than an employee of the licensee or an owner, trainer, jockey, driver, or employee thereof at a race track is a Class C misdemeanor.

(f) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act, an organization licensee may contract with an entity in another state or country to permit any legal wagering entity in another state or country to accept wagers solely within such other state or country on races conducted by the organization licensee in this State. Beginning January 1, 2000, these wagers shall not be subject to State taxation. Until January 1, 2000, when the out-of-State entity conducts a pari-mutuel pool separate from the organization licensee, a privilege tax equal to 7 1/2% of all monies received by the organization licensee from entities in other states or countries pursuant to such contracts is imposed on the organization licensee, and such privilege tax shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue within 48 hours of receipt of the moneys from the simulcast. When the out-of-State entity conducts a combined pari-mutuel pool with the organization licensee, the tax shall be 10% of all monies received by the organization licensee with 25% of the receipts from this 10% tax to be distributed to the county in which the race was conducted.

An organization licensee may permit one or more of its races to be utilized for pari-mutuel wagering at one or more locations in other states and may transmit audio and visual signals of races the organization licensee conducts to one or more locations outside the State or country and may also permit pari-mutuel pools in other states or countries to be combined with its gross or net wagering pools or with wagering pools established by other states.

(g) A host track may accept interstate simulcast wagers on horse races conducted in other states or countries and shall control the number of signals and types of breeds of racing in its simulcast program, subject to the disapproval of the Board. The Board may prohibit a simulcast program only if it finds that the simulcast program is clearly adverse to the integrity of racing. The host track simulcast program shall include the signal of live racing of all organization licensees. All non-host licensees and advance deposit wagering licensees shall carry the signal of and accept wagers on live racing of all organization licensees. Advance deposit wagering licensees shall not be permitted to accept out-of-state wagers on any Illinois signal provided pursuant to this Section without the approval and consent of the organization licensee providing the signal. For one year after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-968), non-host licensees may carry the host track simulcast program and shall accept wagers on all races included as part of the simulcast program of horse races conducted at race tracks located within North America upon which wagering is permitted. For a period of one year after August 15, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-968), on horse races conducted at race tracks located outside of North America, non-host licensees may accept wagers on all races included as part of the simulcast program upon which wagering is permitted. Beginning August 15, 2015 (one year after the effective date of Public Act 98-968), non-host licensees may carry the host track simulcast program and shall accept wagers on all races included as part of the simulcast program upon which wagering is permitted. All organization licensees shall provide their live signal to all advance deposit wagering licensees for a simulcast commission fee not to exceed 6% of the advance deposit wagering licensee's Illinois handle on the organization licensee's signal without prior approval by the Board. The Board may adopt rules under which it may permit simulcast commission fees in excess of 6%. The Board shall adopt rules limiting the interstate commission fees charged to an advance deposit wagering licensee. The Board shall adopt rules regarding advance deposit wagering on interstate simulcast races that shall reflect, among other things, the General Assembly's desire to maximize revenues to the State, horsemen purses, and organization licensees. However, organization licensees providing live signals pursuant to the requirements of this subsection (g) may petition the Board to withhold their live signals from an advance deposit wagering licensee if the organization licensee discovers and the Board finds reputable or credible information that the advance deposit wagering licensee is under investigation by another state or federal governmental agency, the advance deposit wagering licensee's license has been suspended in another state, or the advance deposit wagering licensee's license is in revocation proceedings in another state. The organization licensee's provision of their live signal to an advance deposit wagering licensee under this subsection (g) pertains to wagers placed from within Illinois. Advance deposit wagering licensees may place advance deposit wagering terminals at wagering facilities as a convenience to customers. The advance deposit wagering licensee shall not charge or collect any fee from purses for the placement of the advance deposit wagering terminals. The costs and expenses of the host track and non-host licensees associated with interstate simulcast wagering, other than the interstate commission fee, shall be borne by the host track and all non-host licensees incurring these costs. The interstate commission fee shall not exceed 5% of Illinois handle on the interstate simulcast race or races without prior approval of the Board. The Board shall promulgate rules under which it may permit interstate commission fees in excess of 5%. The interstate commission fee and other fees charged by the sending racetrack, including, but not limited to, satellite decoder fees, shall be uniformly applied to the host track and all non-host licensees.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an organization licensee, with the consent of the horsemen association representing the largest number of owners, trainers, jockeys, or standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's racing meeting, may maintain a system whereby advance deposit wagering may take place or an organization licensee, with the consent of the horsemen association representing the largest number of owners, trainers, jockeys, or standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's racing meeting, may contract with another person to carry out a system of advance deposit wagering. Such consent may not be unreasonably withheld. Only with respect to an appeal to the Board that consent for an organization licensee that maintains its own advance deposit wagering system is being unreasonably withheld, the Board shall issue a final order within 30 days after initiation of the appeal, and the organization licensee's advance deposit wagering system may remain operational during that 30-day period. The actions of any organization licensee who conducts advance deposit wagering or any person who has a contract with an organization licensee to conduct advance deposit wagering who conducts advance deposit wagering on or after January 1, 2013 and prior to June 7, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-18) taken in reliance on the changes made to this subsection (g) by Public Act 98-18 are hereby validated, provided payment of all applicable pari-mutuel taxes are remitted to the Board. All advance deposit wagers placed from within Illinois must be placed through a Board-approved advance deposit wagering licensee; no other entity may accept an advance deposit wager from a person within Illinois. All advance deposit wagering is subject to any rules adopted by the Board. The Board may adopt rules necessary to regulate advance deposit wagering through the use of emergency rulemaking in accordance with Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The General Assembly finds that the adoption of rules to regulate advance deposit wagering is deemed an emergency and necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare. An advance deposit wagering licensee may retain all moneys as agreed to by contract with an organization licensee. Any moneys retained by the organization licensee from advance deposit wagering, not including moneys retained by the advance deposit wagering licensee, shall be paid 50% to the organization licensee's purse account and 50% to the organization licensee. With the exception of any organization licensee that is owned by a publicly traded company that is incorporated in a state other than Illinois and advance deposit wagering licensees under contract with such organization licensees, organization licensees that maintain advance deposit wagering systems and advance deposit wagering licensees that contract with organization licensees shall provide sufficiently detailed monthly accountings to the horsemen association representing the largest number of owners, trainers, jockeys, or standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's racing meeting so that the horsemen association, as an interested party, can confirm the accuracy of the amounts paid to the purse account at the horsemen association's affiliated organization licensee from advance deposit wagering. If more than one breed races at the same race track facility, then the 50% of the moneys to be paid to an organization licensee's purse account shall be allocated among all organization licensees' purse accounts operating at that race track facility proportionately based on the actual number of host days that the Board grants to that breed at that race track facility in the current calendar year. To the extent any fees from advance deposit wagering conducted in Illinois for wagers in Illinois or other states have been placed in escrow or otherwise withheld from wagers pending a determination of the legality of advance deposit wagering, no action shall be brought to declare such wagers or the disbursement of any fees previously escrowed illegal.

(1) Between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. an inter-track wagering licensee other than the host track may supplement the host track simulcast program with additional simulcast races or race programs, provided that between January 1 and the third Friday in February of any year, inclusive, if no live thoroughbred racing is occurring in Illinois during this period, only thoroughbred races may be used for supplemental interstate simulcast purposes. The Board shall withhold approval for a supplemental interstate simulcast only if it finds that the simulcast is clearly adverse to the integrity of racing. A supplemental interstate simulcast may be transmitted from an inter-track wagering licensee to its affiliated non-host licensees. The interstate commission fee for a supplemental interstate simulcast shall be paid by the non-host licensee and its affiliated non-host licensees receiving the simulcast.

(2) Between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. an inter-track wagering licensee other than the host track may receive supplemental interstate simulcasts only with the consent of the host track, except when the Board finds that the simulcast is clearly adverse to the integrity of racing. Consent granted under this paragraph (2) to any inter-track wagering licensee shall be deemed consent to all non-host licensees. The interstate commission fee for the supplemental interstate simulcast shall be paid by all participating non-host licensees.

(3) Each licensee conducting interstate simulcast wagering may retain, subject to the payment of all applicable taxes and the purses, an amount not to exceed 17% of all money wagered. If any licensee conducts the pari-mutuel system wagering on races conducted at racetracks in another state or country, each such race or race program shall be considered a separate racing day for the purpose of determining the daily handle and computing the privilege tax of that daily handle as provided in subsection (a) of Section 27. Until January 1, 2000, from the sums permitted to be retained pursuant to this subsection, each inter-track wagering location licensee shall pay 1% of the pari-mutuel handle wagered on simulcast wagering to the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund, subject to the provisions of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (11) of subsection (h) of Section 26 of this Act.

(4) A licensee who receives an interstate simulcast may combine its gross or net pools with pools at the sending racetracks pursuant to rules established by the Board. All licensees combining their gross pools at a sending racetrack shall adopt the takeout percentages of the sending racetrack. A licensee may also establish a separate pool and takeout structure for wagering purposes on races conducted at race tracks outside of the State of Illinois. The licensee may permit pari-mutuel wagers placed in other states or countries to be combined with its gross or net wagering pools or other wagering pools.

(5) After the payment of the interstate commission fee (except for the interstate commission fee on a supplemental interstate simulcast, which shall be paid by the host track and by each non-host licensee through the host track) and all applicable State and local taxes, except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 27 of this Act, the remainder of moneys retained from simulcast wagering pursuant to this subsection (g), and Section 26.2 shall be divided as follows:

(A) For interstate simulcast wagers made at a host track, 50% to the host track and 50% to purses at the host track.

(B) For wagers placed on interstate simulcast races, supplemental simulcasts as defined in subparagraphs (1) and (2), and separately pooled races conducted outside of the State of Illinois made at a non-host licensee, 25% to the host track, 25% to the non-host licensee, and 50% to the purses at the host track.

(6) Notwithstanding any provision in this Act to the contrary, non-host licensees who derive their licenses from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River or Macon County may receive supplemental interstate simulcast races at all times subject to Board approval, which shall be withheld only upon a finding that a supplemental interstate simulcast is clearly adverse to the integrity of racing.

(7) Effective January 1, 2017, notwithstanding any provision of this Act to the contrary, after payment of all applicable State and local taxes and interstate commission fees, non-host licensees who derive their licenses from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River or Macon County shall retain 50% of the retention from interstate simulcast wagers and shall pay 50% to purses at the track from which the non-host licensee derives its license.

(7.1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary, if no standardbred racing is conducted at a racetrack located in Madison County during any calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2002, and the licensee that conducts horse racing at that racetrack requests from the Board at least as many racing dates as were conducted in calendar year 2000, all moneys derived by that racetrack from simulcast wagering and inter-track wagering that (1) are to be used for purses and (2) are generated between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. during that calendar year shall be paid as follows:

(A) Eighty percent shall be paid to its thoroughbred purse account; and

(B) Twenty percent shall be deposited into the Illinois Colt Stakes Purse Distribution Fund and shall be paid to purses for standardbred races for Illinois conceived and foaled horses conducted at any county fairgrounds. The moneys deposited into the Fund pursuant to this subparagraph (B) shall be deposited within 2 weeks after the day they were generated, shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other moneys paid to standardbred purses under this Act, and shall not be commingled with other moneys paid into that Fund. The moneys deposited pursuant to this subparagraph (B) shall be allocated as provided by the Department of Agriculture, with the advice and assistance of the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund Advisory Board.

(7.2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act to the contrary, if no thoroughbred racing is conducted at a racetrack located in Madison County during any calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2002, and the licensee that conducts horse racing at that racetrack requests from the Board at least as many racing dates as were conducted in calendar year 2000, all moneys derived by that racetrack from simulcast wagering and inter-track wagering that (1) are to be used for purses and (2) are generated between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. during that calendar year shall be deposited as follows:

(A) Eighty percent shall be deposited into its standardbred purse account; and

(B) Twenty percent shall be deposited into the Illinois Colt Stakes Purse Distribution Fund. Moneys deposited into the Illinois Colt Stakes Purse Distribution Fund pursuant to this subparagraph (B) shall be paid to Illinois conceived and foaled thoroughbred breeders' programs and to thoroughbred purses for races conducted at any county fairgrounds for Illinois conceived and foaled horses at the discretion of the Department of Agriculture, with the advice and assistance of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders Fund Advisory Board. The moneys deposited into the Illinois Colt Stakes Purse Distribution Fund pursuant to this subparagraph (B) shall be deposited within 2 weeks after the day they were generated, shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other moneys paid to thoroughbred purses under this Act, and shall not be commingled with other moneys deposited into that Fund.

(8) Notwithstanding any provision in this Act to the contrary, an organization licensee from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River or Macon County and its affiliated non-host licensees shall not be entitled to share in any retention generated on racing, inter-track wagering, or simulcast wagering at any other Illinois wagering facility.

(8.1) Notwithstanding any provisions in this Act to the contrary, if 2 organization licensees are conducting standardbred race meetings concurrently between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., after payment of all applicable State and local taxes and interstate commission fees, the remainder of the amount retained from simulcast wagering otherwise attributable to the host track and to host track purses shall be split daily between the 2 organization licensees and the purses at the tracks of the 2 organization licensees, respectively, based on each organization licensee's share of the total live handle for that day, provided that this provision shall not apply to any non-host licensee that derives its license from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River.

(9) (Blank).

(10) (Blank).

(11) (Blank).

(12) The Board shall have authority to compel all host tracks to receive the simulcast of any or all races conducted at the Springfield or DuQuoin State fairgrounds and include all such races as part of their simulcast programs.

(13) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in the event that the total Illinois pari-mutuel handle on Illinois horse races at all wagering facilities in any calendar year is less than 75% of the total Illinois pari-mutuel handle on Illinois horse races at all such wagering facilities for calendar year 1994, then each wagering facility that has an annual total Illinois pari-mutuel handle on Illinois horse races that is less than 75% of the total Illinois pari-mutuel handle on Illinois horse races at such wagering facility for calendar year 1994, shall be permitted to receive, from any amount otherwise payable to the purse account at the race track with which the wagering facility is affiliated in the succeeding calendar year, an amount equal to 2% of the differential in total Illinois pari-mutuel handle on Illinois horse races at the wagering facility between that calendar year in question and 1994 provided, however, that a wagering facility shall not be entitled to any such payment until the Board certifies in writing to the wagering facility the amount to which the wagering facility is entitled and a schedule for payment of the amount to the wagering facility, based on: (i) the racing dates awarded to the race track affiliated with the wagering facility during the succeeding year; (ii) the sums available or anticipated to be available in the purse account of the race track affiliated with the wagering facility for purses during the succeeding year; and (iii) the need to ensure reasonable purse levels during the payment period. The Board's certification shall be provided no later than January 31 of the succeeding year. In the event a wagering facility entitled to a payment under this paragraph (13) is affiliated with a race track that maintains purse accounts for both standardbred and thoroughbred racing, the amount to be paid to the wagering facility shall be divided between each purse account pro rata, based on the amount of Illinois handle on Illinois standardbred and thoroughbred racing respectively at the wagering facility during the previous calendar year. Annually, the General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for payment into the thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing purse accounts at Illinois pari-mutuel tracks. The amount paid to each purse account shall be the amount certified by the Illinois Racing Board in January to be transferred from each account to each eligible racing facility in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Beginning in the calendar year in which an organization licensee that is eligible to receive payment under this paragraph (13) begins to receive funds from gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under the Illinois Gambling Act, the amount of the payment due to all wagering facilities licensed under that organization licensee under this paragraph (13) shall be the amount certified by the Board in January of that year. An organization licensee and its related wagering facilities shall no longer be able to receive payments under this paragraph (13) beginning in the year subsequent to the first year in which the organization licensee begins to receive funds from gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under the Illinois Gambling Act. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section, in the calendar year after an organization licensee first receiving funds from gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license or Temporary Operating Permit issued under the Illinois Gambling Act and its implementing rules, or any time beginning after January 1, 2028, no certification by the Board or payments to an organization licensee and its related wagering facilities shall take place under this paragraph (13).

(h) The Board may approve and license the conduct of inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering by inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees subject to the following terms and conditions:

(1) Any person licensed to conduct a race meeting (i) at a track where 60 or more days of racing were conducted during the immediately preceding calendar year or where over the 5 immediately preceding calendar years an average of 30 or more days of racing were conducted annually may be issued an inter-track wagering license; (ii) at a track located in a county that is bounded by the Mississippi River, which has a population of less than 150,000 according to the 1990 decennial census, and an average of at least 60 days of racing per year between 1985 and 1993 may be issued an inter-track wagering license; (iii) at a track awarded standardbred racing dates; or (iv) at a track located in Madison County that conducted at least 100 days of live racing during the immediately preceding calendar year may be issued an inter-track wagering license, unless a lesser schedule of live racing is the result of (A) weather, unsafe track conditions, or other acts of God; (B) an agreement between the organization licensee and the associations representing the largest number of owners, trainers, jockeys, or standardbred drivers who race horses at that organization licensee's racing meeting; or (C) a finding by the Board of extraordinary circumstances and that it was in the best interest of the public and the sport to conduct fewer than 100 days of live racing. Any such person having operating control of the racing facility may receive inter-track wagering location licenses. An eligible race track located in a county that has a population of more than 230,000 and that is bounded by the Mississippi River may establish up to 18 9 inter-track wagering locations, an eligible race track located in Stickney Township in Cook County may establish up to 16 inter-track wagering locations, and an eligible race track located in Palatine Township in Cook County may establish up to 18 inter-track wagering locations. An eligible racetrack conducting standardbred racing may have up to 16 inter-track wagering locations. An application for said license shall be filed with the Board prior to such dates as may be fixed by the Board. With an application for an inter-track wagering location license there shall be delivered to the Board a certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Board for an amount equal to $500. The application shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the Board. The application shall comply with all other rules, regulations and conditions imposed by the Board in connection therewith.

(2) The Board shall examine the applications with respect to their conformity with this Act and the rules and regulations imposed by the Board. If found to be in compliance with the Act and rules and regulations of the Board, the Board may then issue a license to conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering to such applicant. All such applications shall be acted upon by the Board at a meeting to be held on such date as may be fixed by the Board.

(3) In granting licenses to conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering, the Board shall give due consideration to the best interests of the public, of horse racing, and of maximizing revenue to the State.

(4) Prior to the issuance of a license to conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering, the applicant shall file with the Board a bond payable to the State of Illinois in the sum of $50,000, executed by the applicant and a surety company or companies authorized to do business in this State, and conditioned upon (i) the payment by the licensee of all taxes due under Section 27 or 27.1 and any other monies due and payable under this Act, and (ii) distribution by the licensee, upon presentation of the winning ticket or tickets, of all sums payable to the patrons of pari-mutuel pools.

(5) Each license to conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering shall specify the person to whom it is issued, the dates on which such wagering is permitted, and the track or location where the wagering is to be conducted.

(6) All wagering under such license is subject to this Act and to the rules and regulations from time to time prescribed by the Board, and every such license issued by the Board shall contain a recital to that effect.

(7) An inter-track wagering licensee or inter-track wagering location licensee may accept wagers at the track or location where it is licensed, or as otherwise provided under this Act.

(8) Inter-track wagering or simulcast wagering shall not be conducted at any track less than 4 miles from a track at which a racing meeting is in progress.

(8.1) Inter-track wagering location licensees who derive their licenses from a particular organization licensee shall conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering only at locations that are within 160 miles of that race track where the particular organization licensee is licensed to conduct racing unless all persons or entities having operating control of a race track within 160 miles at the time of initial application have given written consent to an organization licensee and filed a copy of that written consent with the Board on or before the time of application. A flat pari-mutuel tax at the rate of 1.5% of the daily pari-mutuel handle is imposed on any licensee of an inter-track wagering location license issued outside of 160 miles of the race track where the particular organization licensee is licensed to conduct racing. Inter-track . However, inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering shall not be conducted by those licensees at any location within 5 miles of any race track at which a horse race meeting has been licensed in the current year, unless the person having operating control of such race track has given its written consent to such inter-track wagering location licensees, which consent must be filed with the Board at or prior to the time application is made. In the case of any inter-track wagering location licensee initially licensed after December 31, 2013, inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering shall not be conducted by those inter-track wagering location licensees that are located outside the City of Chicago at any location within 8 miles of any race track at which a horse race meeting has been licensed in the current year, unless the person having operating control of such race track has given its written consent to such inter-track wagering location licensees, which consent must be filed with the Board at or prior to the time application is made.

(8.2) Inter-track wagering or simulcast wagering shall not be conducted by an inter-track wagering location licensee at any location within 100 feet of an existing church, an existing elementary or secondary public school, or an existing elementary or secondary private school registered with or recognized by the State Board of Education. The distance of 100 feet shall be measured to the nearest part of any building used for worship services, education programs, or conducting inter-track wagering by an inter-track wagering location licensee, and not to property boundaries. However, inter-track wagering or simulcast wagering may be conducted at a site within 100 feet of a church or school if such church or school has been erected or established after the Board issues the original inter-track wagering location license at the site in question. Inter-track wagering location licensees may conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering only in areas that are zoned for commercial or manufacturing purposes or in areas for which a special use has been approved by the local zoning authority. However, no license to conduct inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering shall be granted by the Board with respect to any inter-track wagering location within the jurisdiction of any local zoning authority which has, by ordinance or by resolution, prohibited the establishment of an inter-track wagering location within its jurisdiction. However, inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering may be conducted at a site if such ordinance or resolution is enacted after the Board licenses the original inter-track wagering location licensee for the site in question.

(8.3) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, no inter-track wagering location shall be issued within a 25-mile radius of an organizational licensee unless the organization licensee gives written consent and the organizational licensee files such consent with the Board.

(9) (Blank).

(10) An inter-track wagering licensee or an inter-track wagering location licensee may retain, subject to the payment of the privilege taxes and the purses, an amount not to exceed 17% of all money wagered. Each program of racing conducted by each inter-track wagering licensee or inter-track wagering location licensee shall be considered a separate racing day for the purpose of determining the daily handle and computing the privilege tax or pari-mutuel tax on such daily handle as provided in Section 27.

(10.1) Except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 27 of this Act, inter-track wagering location licensees shall pay 1% of the pari-mutuel handle at each location to the municipality in which such location is situated and 1% of the pari-mutuel handle at each location to the county in which such location is situated. In the event that an inter-track wagering location licensee is situated in an unincorporated area of a county, such licensee shall pay 2% of the pari-mutuel handle from such location to such county. Inter-track wagering location licensees must pay the handle percentage required under this paragraph to the municipality and county no later than the 20th of the month following the month such handle was generated.

(10.2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, with respect to inter-track wagering at a race track located in a county that has a population of more than 230,000 and that is bounded by the Mississippi River ("the first race track"), or at a facility operated by an inter-track wagering licensee or inter-track wagering location licensee that derives its license from the organization licensee that operates the first race track, on races conducted at the first race track or on races conducted at another Illinois race track and simultaneously televised to the first race track or to a facility operated by an inter-track wagering licensee or inter-track wagering location licensee that derives its license from the organization licensee that operates the first race track, those moneys shall be allocated as follows:

(A) That portion of all moneys wagered on standardbred racing that is required under this Act to be paid to purses shall be paid to purses for standardbred races.

(B) That portion of all moneys wagered on thoroughbred racing that is required under this Act to be paid to purses shall be paid to purses for thoroughbred races.

(11) (A) After payment of the privilege or pari-mutuel tax, any other applicable taxes, and the costs and expenses in connection with the gathering, transmission, and dissemination of all data necessary to the conduct of inter-track wagering, the remainder of the monies retained under either Section 26 or Section 26.2 of this Act by the inter-track wagering licensee on inter-track wagering shall be allocated with 50% to be split between the 2 participating licensees and 50% to purses, except that an inter-track wagering licensee that derives its license from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall not divide any remaining retention with the Illinois organization licensee that provides the race or races, and an inter-track wagering licensee that accepts wagers on races conducted by an organization licensee that conducts a race meet in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall not divide any remaining retention with that organization licensee.

(B) From the sums permitted to be retained pursuant to this Act each inter-track wagering location licensee shall pay (i) the privilege or pari-mutuel tax to the State; (ii) 4.75% of the pari-mutuel handle on inter-track wagering at such location on races as purses, except that an inter-track wagering location licensee that derives its license from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall retain all purse moneys for its own purse account consistent with distribution set forth in this subsection (h), and inter-track wagering location licensees that accept wagers on races conducted by an organization licensee located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall distribute all purse moneys to purses at the operating host track; (iii) until January 1, 2000, except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 27 of this Act, 1% of the pari-mutuel handle wagered on inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering at each inter-track wagering location licensee facility to the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund, provided that, to the extent the total amount collected and distributed to the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund under this subsection (h) during any calendar year exceeds the amount collected and distributed to the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund during calendar year 1994, that excess amount shall be redistributed (I) to all inter-track wagering location licensees, based on each licensee's pro rata share of the total handle from inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering for all inter-track wagering location licensees during the calendar year in which this provision is applicable; then (II) the amounts redistributed to each inter-track wagering location licensee as described in subpart (I) shall be further redistributed as provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subsection (g) of this Section 26 provided first, that the shares of those amounts, which are to be redistributed to the host track or to purses at the host track under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subsection (g) of this Section 26 shall be redistributed based on each host track's pro rata share of the total inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering handle at all host tracks during the calendar year in question, and second, that any amounts redistributed as described in part (I) to an inter-track wagering location licensee that accepts wagers on races conducted by an organization licensee that conducts a race meet in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall be further redistributed, effective January 1, 2017, as provided in paragraph (7) of subsection (g) of this Section 26, with the portion of that further redistribution allocated to purses at that organization licensee to be divided between standardbred purses and thoroughbred purses based on the amounts otherwise allocated to purses at that organization licensee during the calendar year in question; and (iv) 8% of the pari-mutuel handle on inter-track wagering wagered at such location to satisfy all costs and expenses of conducting its wagering. The remainder of the monies retained by the inter-track wagering location licensee shall be allocated 40% to the location licensee and 60% to the organization licensee which provides the Illinois races to the location, except that an inter-track wagering location licensee that derives its license from a track located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall not divide any remaining retention with the organization licensee that provides the race or races and an inter-track wagering location licensee that accepts wagers on races conducted by an organization licensee that conducts a race meet in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and that borders the Mississippi River shall not divide any remaining retention with the organization licensee. Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses (ii) and (iv) of this paragraph, in the case of the additional inter-track wagering location licenses authorized under paragraph (1) of this subsection (h) by Public Act 87-110, those licensees shall pay the following amounts as purses: during the first 12 months the licensee is in operation, 5.25% of the pari-mutuel handle wagered at the location on races; during the second 12 months, 5.25%; during the third 12 months, 5.75%; during the fourth 12 months, 6.25%; and during the fifth 12 months and thereafter, 6.75%. The following amounts shall be retained by the licensee to satisfy all costs and expenses of conducting its wagering: during the first 12 months the licensee is in operation, 8.25% of the pari-mutuel handle wagered at the location; during the second 12 months, 8.25%; during the third 12 months, 7.75%; during the fourth 12 months, 7.25%; and during the fifth 12 months and thereafter, 6.75%. For additional inter-track wagering location licensees authorized under Public Act 89-16, purses for the first 12 months the licensee is in operation shall be 5.75% of the pari-mutuel wagered at the location, purses for the second 12 months the licensee is in operation shall be 6.25%, and purses thereafter shall be 6.75%. For additional inter-track location licensees authorized under Public Act 89-16, the licensee shall be allowed to retain to satisfy all costs and expenses: 7.75% of the pari-mutuel handle wagered at the location during its first 12 months of operation, 7.25% during its second 12 months of operation, and 6.75% thereafter.

(C) There is hereby created the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund which shall remain in existence until December 31, 1999. Moneys remaining in the Fund after December 31, 1999 shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund. Until January 1, 2000, all monies paid into the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund pursuant to this paragraph (11) by inter-track wagering location licensees located in park districts of 500,000 population or less, or in a municipality that is not included within any park district but is included within a conservation district and is the county seat of a county that (i) is contiguous to the state of Indiana and (ii) has a 1990 population of 88,257 according to the United States Bureau of the Census, and operating on May 1, 1994 shall be allocated by appropriation as follows:

Two-sevenths to the Department of Agriculture. Fifty percent of this two-sevenths shall be used to promote the Illinois horse racing and breeding industry, and shall be distributed by the Department of Agriculture upon the advice of a 9-member committee appointed by the Governor consisting of the following members: the Director of Agriculture, who shall serve as chairman; 2 representatives of organization licensees conducting thoroughbred race meetings in this State, recommended by those licensees; 2 representatives of organization licensees conducting standardbred race meetings in this State, recommended by those licensees; a representative of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation, recommended by that Foundation; a representative of the Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association, recommended by that Association; a representative of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association or any successor organization thereto established in Illinois comprised of the largest number of owners and trainers, recommended by that Association or that successor organization; and a representative of the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, recommended by that Association. Committee members shall serve for terms of 2 years, commencing January 1 of each even-numbered year. If a representative of any of the above-named entities has not been recommended by January 1 of any even-numbered year, the Governor shall appoint a committee member to fill that position. Committee members shall receive no compensation for their services as members but shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses and disbursements incurred in the performance of their official duties. The remaining 50% of this two-sevenths shall be distributed to county fairs for premiums and rehabilitation as set forth in the Agricultural Fair Act;

Four-sevenths to park districts or municipalities that do not have a park district of 500,000 population or less for museum purposes (if an inter-track wagering location licensee is located in such a park district) or to conservation districts for museum purposes (if an inter-track wagering location licensee is located in a municipality that is not included within any park district but is included within a conservation district and is the county seat of a county that (i) is contiguous to the state of Indiana and (ii) has a 1990 population of 88,257 according to the United States Bureau of the Census, except that if the conservation district does not maintain a museum, the monies shall be allocated equally between the county and the municipality in which the inter-track wagering location licensee is located for general purposes) or to a municipal recreation board for park purposes (if an inter-track wagering location licensee is located in a municipality that is not included within any park district and park maintenance is the function of the municipal recreation board and the municipality has a 1990 population of 9,302 according to the United States Bureau of the Census); provided that the monies are distributed to each park district or conservation district or municipality that does not have a park district in an amount equal to four-sevenths of the amount collected by each inter-track wagering location licensee within the park district or conservation district or municipality for the Fund. Monies that were paid into the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund before August 9, 1991 (the effective date of Public Act 87-110) by an inter-track wagering location licensee located in a municipality that is not included within any park district but is included within a conservation district as provided in this paragraph shall, as soon as practicable after August 9, 1991 (the effective date of Public Act 87-110), be allocated and paid to that conservation district as provided in this paragraph. Any park district or municipality not maintaining a museum may deposit the monies in the corporate fund of the park district or municipality where the inter-track wagering location is located, to be used for general purposes; and

One-seventh to the Agricultural Premium Fund to be used for distribution to agricultural home economics extension councils in accordance with "An Act in relation to additional support and finances for the Agricultural and Home Economic Extension Councils in the several counties of this State and making an appropriation therefor", approved July 24, 1967.

Until January 1, 2000, all other monies paid into the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund pursuant to this paragraph (11) shall be allocated by appropriation as follows:

Two-sevenths to the Department of Agriculture. Fifty percent of this two-sevenths shall be used to promote the Illinois horse racing and breeding industry, and shall be distributed by the Department of Agriculture upon the advice of a 9-member committee appointed by the Governor consisting of the following members: the Director of Agriculture, who shall serve as chairman; 2 representatives of organization licensees conducting thoroughbred race meetings in this State, recommended by those licensees; 2 representatives of organization licensees conducting standardbred race meetings in this State, recommended by those licensees; a representative of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation, recommended by that Foundation; a representative of the Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders Association, recommended by that Association; a representative of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association or any successor organization thereto established in Illinois comprised of the largest number of owners and trainers, recommended by that Association or that successor organization; and a representative of the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, recommended by that Association. Committee members shall serve for terms of 2 years, commencing January 1 of each even-numbered year. If a representative of any of the above-named entities has not been recommended by January 1 of any even-numbered year, the Governor shall appoint a committee member to fill that position. Committee members shall receive no compensation for their services as members but shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses and disbursements incurred in the performance of their official duties. The remaining 50% of this two-sevenths shall be distributed to county fairs for premiums and rehabilitation as set forth in the Agricultural Fair Act;

Four-sevenths to museums and aquariums located in park districts of over 500,000 population; provided that the monies are distributed in accordance with the previous year's distribution of the maintenance tax for such museums and aquariums as provided in Section 2 of the Park District Aquarium and Museum Act; and

One-seventh to the Agricultural Premium Fund to be used for distribution to agricultural home economics extension councils in accordance with "An Act in relation to additional support and finances for the Agricultural and Home Economic Extension Councils in the several counties of this State and making an appropriation therefor", approved July 24, 1967. This subparagraph (C) shall be inoperative and of no force and effect on and after January 1, 2000.

(D) Except as provided in paragraph (11) of this subsection (h), with respect to purse allocation from inter-track wagering, the monies so retained shall be divided as follows:

(i) If the inter-track wagering licensee, except an inter-track wagering licensee that derives its license from an organization licensee located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and bounded by the Mississippi River, is not conducting its own race meeting during the same dates, then the entire purse allocation shall be to purses at the track where the races wagered on are being conducted.

(ii) If the inter-track wagering licensee, except an inter-track wagering licensee that derives its license from an organization licensee located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and bounded by the Mississippi River, is also conducting its own race meeting during the same dates, then the purse allocation shall be as follows: 50% to purses at the track where the races wagered on are being conducted; 50% to purses at the track where the inter-track wagering licensee is accepting such wagers.

(iii) If the inter-track wagering is being conducted by an inter-track wagering location licensee, except an inter-track wagering location licensee that derives its license from an organization licensee located in a county with a population in excess of 230,000 and bounded by the Mississippi River, the entire purse allocation for Illinois races shall be to purses at the track where the race meeting being wagered on is being held.

(12) The Board shall have all powers necessary and proper to fully supervise and control the conduct of inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering by inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees, including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) The Board is vested with power to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations for the purpose of administering the conduct of this wagering and to prescribe reasonable rules, regulations and conditions under which such wagering shall be held and conducted. Such rules and regulations are to provide for the prevention of practices detrimental to the public interest and for the best interests of said wagering and to impose penalties for violations thereof.

(B) The Board, and any person or persons to whom it delegates this power, is vested with the power to enter the facilities of any licensee to determine whether there has been compliance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations relating to the conduct of such wagering.

(C) The Board, and any person or persons to whom it delegates this power, may eject or exclude from any licensee's facilities, any person whose conduct or reputation is such that his presence on such premises may, in the opinion of the Board, call into the question the honesty and integrity of, or interfere with the orderly conduct of such wagering; provided, however, that no person shall be excluded or ejected from such premises solely on the grounds of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, or sex.

(D) (Blank).

(E) The Board is vested with the power to appoint delegates to execute any of the powers granted to it under this Section for the purpose of administering this wagering and any rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with this Act.

(F) The Board shall name and appoint a State director of this wagering who shall be a representative of the Board and whose duty it shall be to supervise the conduct of inter-track wagering as may be provided for by the rules and regulations of the Board; such rules and regulation shall specify the method of appointment and the Director's powers, authority and duties. The Board may appoint the Director of Mutuels to also serve as the State director of this wagering.

(G) The Board is vested with the power to impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 against individuals and up to $10,000 against licensees for each violation of any provision of this Act relating to the conduct of this wagering, any rules adopted by the Board, any order of the Board or any other action which in the Board's discretion, is a detriment or impediment to such wagering.

(13) The Department of Agriculture may enter into agreements with licensees authorizing such licensees to conduct inter-track wagering on races to be held at the licensed race meetings conducted by the Department of Agriculture. Such agreement shall specify the races of the Department of Agriculture's licensed race meeting upon which the licensees will conduct wagering. In the event that a licensee conducts inter-track pari-mutuel wagering on races from the Illinois State Fair or DuQuoin State Fair which are in addition to the licensee's previously approved racing program, those races shall be considered a separate racing day for the purpose of determining the daily handle and computing the privilege or pari-mutuel tax on that daily handle as provided in Sections 27 and 27.1. Such agreements shall be approved by the Board before such wagering may be conducted. In determining whether to grant approval, the Board shall give due consideration to the best interests of the public and of horse racing. The provisions of paragraphs (1), (8), (8.1), and (8.2) of subsection (h) of this Section which are not specified in this paragraph (13) shall not apply to licensed race meetings conducted by the Department of Agriculture at the Illinois State Fair in Sangamon County or the DuQuoin State Fair in Perry County, or to any wagering conducted on those race meetings.

(14) An inter-track wagering location license authorized by the Board in 2016 that is owned and operated by a race track in Rock Island County shall be transferred to a commonly owned race track in Cook County on August 12, 2016 (the effective date of Public Act 99-757). The licensee shall retain its status in relation to purse distribution under paragraph (11) of this subsection (h) following the transfer to the new entity. The pari-mutuel tax credit under Section 32.1 shall not be applied toward any pari-mutuel tax obligation of the inter-track wagering location licensee of the license that is transferred under this paragraph (14).

(i) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Act, the conduct of wagering at wagering facilities is authorized on all days, except as limited by subsection (b) of Section 19 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 104-185, eff. 8-15-25.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".