HB4551 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18479 LNS 31921 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4551

Introduced 1/30/2026, by Rep. Michael Crawford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 30/4	from Ch. 120, par. 1124
230 ILCS 30/5	from Ch. 120, par. 1125
230 ILCS 30/5.1	from Ch. 120, par. 1125.1
230 ILCS 30/6	from Ch. 120, par. 1126

Amends the Charitable Games Act. Provides that an organization's records shall include a sworn statement that its bona fide members, volunteers, or employees have not participated in the management or operation of more than 48 (rather than 12) charitable games events conducted by any licensee in the calendar year. Prohibits the Department of Revenue from issuing a license permitting a person, firm, or corporation to sponsor a charitable games night if the premises for the conduct of the charitable games has been previously used for 48 (rather than 12) charitable games nights during the previous 12 months. Allows a provider to provide the same premises for conducting 48 charitable games nights during a 12-month period. Allows a licensee to obtain a providers' license to allow the licensee to rent or otherwise provide its premises to another licensee for the conducting of an additional 8 (rather than 4) charitable game events. Increases the number of charitable game events that may be held at any one premises to 48 (instead of 12) per calendar year. Allows a provider or supplier to promote or solicit a charitable games event on behalf of a charitable games licensee or qualified organization. Provides that an employee of a supplier may assist the charity in a charitable games event. Makes other and conforming changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning gaming.

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

Section 5. The Charitable Games Act is amended by changing Sections 4, 5, 5.1, and 6 as follows:

(230 ILCS 30/4) (from Ch. 120, par. 1124)

Sec. 4. Licensing Restrictions. Licensing for the conducting of charitable games is subject to the following restrictions:

(1) The license application, when submitted to the Department of Revenue, must contain a sworn statement attesting to the not-for-profit character of the prospective licensee organization, signed by a person listed on the application as an owner, officer, or other person in charge of the necessary day-to-day operations. The application shall contain the name of the person in charge of and primarily responsible for the conduct of the charitable games. The person so designated shall be present on the premises continuously during charitable games.

(2) The license application shall be prepared by the prospective licensee organization or its duly authorized representative in accordance with the rules of the Department of Revenue.

(2.1) The organization shall maintain among its books and records a list of the names, addresses, social security numbers, and dates of birth of all persons who will participate in the management or operation of the games, along with a sworn statement made under penalties of perjury, signed by a person listed on the application as an owner, officer, or other person in charge of the necessary day-to-day operations, that the persons listed as participating in the management or operation of the games are bona fide members, volunteers as defined in Section 2, or employees of the applicant or suppliers licensee, that these persons have not participated in the management or operation of more than 48 12 charitable games events conducted by any licensee in the calendar year, and that these persons will receive no remuneration or compensation, directly or indirectly from any source, for participating in the management or operation of the games. Any amendments to this listing must contain an identical sworn statement.

(2.2) (Blank).

(3) Each license shall state the date, hours and at what locations the licensee is permitted to conduct charitable games.

(4) Each licensee shall file a copy of the license with each police department or, if in unincorporated areas, each sheriff's office whose jurisdiction includes the premises on which the charitable games are authorized under the license.

(5) The licensee shall prominently display the license in the area where the licensee is to conduct charitable games. The licensee shall likewise display, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department, the provisions of Section 9 of this Act.

(6) (Blank).

(7) (Blank).

(8) A license is not assignable or transferable.

(9) The Unless the premises for conducting charitable games are provided by a municipality, the Department shall not issue a license permitting a person, firm or corporation to sponsor a charitable games night if the premises for the conduct of the charitable games has been previously used for 48 12 charitable games nights during the previous 12 months.

(10) Auxiliary organizations of a licensee shall not be eligible for a license to conduct charitable games, except for auxiliary organizations of veterans organizations as authorized in Section 2.

(11) Charitable games must be conducted in accordance with local building and fire code requirements.

(12) The licensee shall consent to allowing the Department's employees to be present on the premises wherein the charitable games are conducted and to inspect or test equipment, devices and supplies used in the conduct of the game.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a licensee that conducts charitable games on its own premises from also obtaining a providers' license in accordance with Section 5.1. The maximum number of charitable games events that may be held in any one premises is limited to no more than 12 charitable games events per calendar year.

(Source: P.A. 98-377, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1071, eff. 8-26-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/5) (from Ch. 120, par. 1125)

Sec. 5. Providers' License. The Department shall issue a providers' license permitting a person, firm or corporation to provide premises for the conduct of charitable games. No person, firm or corporation may rent or otherwise provide premises without having first obtained a license. Applications for providers' licenses shall be made in writing in accordance with Department rules. The Department shall license providers of charitable games at a nonrefundable annual fee of $50, or nonrefundable triennial license fee of $150. Each providers' license is valid for one year from the date of issuance, or 3 years from date of issuance for a triennial license, unless extended, suspended, or revoked by Department action before that date. Any extension of a providers' license shall not exceed one year. A provider may receive reasonable compensation for the provision of the premises. Reasonable expenses shall include only those expenses defined as reasonable by rules adopted by the Department. A provider, other than a municipality, may not provide the same premises for conducting more than 12 charitable games nights per year. A provider shall not have any interest in any suppliers' business, either direct or indirect. A municipality may provide the same premises for conducting 48 charitable games nights during a 12-month period. No employee, officer, or owner of a provider may participate in the management or operation of a charitable games event, even if the employee, officer, or owner is also a member, volunteer, or employee of the charitable games licensee. A provider may not promote or solicit a charitable games event on behalf of a charitable games licensee or qualified organization. Any qualified organization licensed to conduct a charitable game need not obtain a providers' license if such games are to be conducted on the organization's premises.

(Source: P.A. 98-377, eff. 1-1-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/5.1) (from Ch. 120, par. 1125.1)

Sec. 5.1. If a licensee conducts charitable games on its own premises, the licensee may also obtain a providers' license in accordance with Section 5 to allow the licensee to rent or otherwise provide its premises to another licensee for the conducting of an additional 8 4 charitable games events. The maximum number of charitable games events that may be held at any one premises is limited to 48 12 charitable games events per calendar year.

(Source: P.A. 98-1071, eff. 8-26-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/6) (from Ch. 120, par. 1126)

Sec. 6. Supplier's license. The Department shall issue a supplier's license permitting a person, firm, or corporation to sell, lease, lend or distribute to any organization licensed to conduct charitable games, supplies, devices, and other equipment designed for use in the playing of charitable games. No person, firm, or corporation shall sell, lease, lend, or distribute charitable games supplies or equipment without having first obtained a license. Applications for suppliers' licenses shall be made in writing in accordance with Department rules. The Department shall license suppliers of charitable games subject to a nonrefundable annual fee of $500, or a nonrefundable triennial fee of $1,500. Each supplier's license is valid for one year from the date of issuance, or 3 years from date of issuance for a triennial license, unless extended, suspended, or revoked by Department action before that date. Any extension of a supplier's license shall not exceed one year. No licensed supplier under this Act shall lease, lend, or distribute charitable gaming equipment, supplies, or other devices to persons not otherwise licensed to conduct charitable games under this Act. The Department may require by rule for the provision of surety bonds by suppliers. A supplier shall keep among its books and records and make available for inspection by the Department a list of all products and equipment offered for sale or lease to any organization licensed to conduct charitable games, and all such products and equipment shall be sold or leased at the prices shown on the books and records. A supplier shall keep all such products and equipment segregated and separate from any other products, materials or equipment that it might own, sell, or lease. A supplier must include in its application for a license the exact location of the storage of the products, materials, or equipment. A supplier, as a condition of licensure, must consent to permitting the Department's employees to enter supplier's premises to inspect and test all equipment and devices. A supplier shall keep books and records for the furnishing of products and equipment to charitable games separate and distinct from any other business the supplier might operate. All products and equipment supplied must be in accord with the Department's rules and regulations. A supplier shall not alter or modify any equipment or supplies, or possess any equipment or supplies so altered or modified, so as to allow the possessor or operator of the equipment to obtain a greater chance of winning a game other than as under normal rules of play of such games. The supplier shall not require an organization to pay a percentage of the proceeds from the charitable games for the use of the products or equipment. The supplier shall file a quarterly return with the Department listing all sales or leases for such quarter and the gross proceeds from such sales or leases. A supplier shall permanently affix his name to all charitable games equipment, supplies and pull tabs. A supplier shall not have any interest in any providers' business, either direct or indirect. If the supplier leases his equipment for use at an unlicensed charitable games or to an unlicensed sponsoring group, all equipment so leased is forfeited to the State.

Organizations licensed to conduct charitable games may own their own equipment. Such organizations must apply to the Department for an ownership permit. Any such application must be accompanied by a one-time, nonrefundable fee of $50. Such organizations shall file an annual report listing their inventory of charitable games equipment. Such organizations may lend such equipment without compensation to other licensed organizations without applying for a suppliers license.

No employee, owner, or officer of a supplier may participate in the management or operation of a charitable games event, even if the employee, owner, or officer is also a member, volunteer, or employee of the charitable games licensee. A supplier may not promote or solicit a charitable games event on behalf of a charitable games licensee or qualified organization. An employee of a supplier may assist the charity in a charitable games event.

(Source: P.A. 94-986, eff. 6-30-06; 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)