SB3270 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18649 LNS 32092 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3270

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Sen. Bill Cunningham

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 40/5
230 ILCS 40/20

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Makes changes to defined terms. Provides that each licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, and licensed veterans establishment at which video gaming terminals are available shall have a payout device approved by the Board. Removes provisions requiring a player to turn in the player's ticket to the appropriate person at those establishments. Provides that no cash award for the maximum wager on any individual hand shall exceed the W-2G reporting requirements set by the Internal Revenue Service (instead of $1,199). Requires credits to be awarded to players as authorized by the Act. Removes provisions prohibiting the cash award for the maximum wager on a jackpot from exceeding $10,000. Removes provisions concerning in-location bonus jackpot games.

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 Video Gaming Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 20 as follows:

(230 ILCS 40/5)

Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Board" means the Illinois Gaming Board.

"Credit" means one, 5, 10, or 25 cents either won or purchased by a player for wagering purposes or awarded to a player as winnings, with such winnings payable in dollar-denominated credits in either cash currency, an electronic voucher, or a Board-authorized digital wallet.

"Distributor" means an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company licensed under this Act to buy, sell, lease, or distribute video gaming terminals or major components or parts of video gaming terminals to or from terminal operators.

"Electronic card" means a card purchased from a licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop establishment for use in that establishment as a substitute for cash in the conduct of gaming on a video gaming terminal.

"Electronic voucher" means a voucher printed by an electronic video game machine that is redeemable in the licensed establishment for which it was issued.

"In-location bonus jackpot" means one or more video gaming terminals at a single licensed establishment that allows for wagers placed on such video gaming terminals to contribute to a cumulative maximum jackpot of up to $10,000.

"Terminal operator" means an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company that is licensed under this Act and that owns, services, and maintains video gaming terminals for placement in licensed establishments, licensed truck stop establishments, licensed large truck stop establishments, licensed fraternal establishments, or licensed veterans establishments.

"Licensed technician" means an individual who is licensed under this Act to repair, service, and maintain video gaming terminals.

"Licensed terminal handler" means a person, including but not limited to an employee or independent contractor working for a manufacturer, distributor, supplier, technician, or terminal operator, who is licensed under this Act to possess or control a video gaming terminal or to have access to the inner workings of a video gaming terminal. A licensed terminal handler does not include an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company defined as a manufacturer, distributor, supplier, technician, or terminal operator under this Act.

"Manufacturer" means an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company that is licensed under this Act and that manufactures or assembles video gaming terminals.

"Supplier" means an individual, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company that is licensed under this Act to supply major components or parts to video gaming terminals to licensed terminal operators.

"Net terminal income" means money put into a video gaming terminal minus credits paid out to players.

"Video gaming terminal" means any electronic video game machine that, upon insertion of cash, electronic cards or vouchers, or any combination thereof, is available to play or simulate the play of a video game, including but not limited to video poker, line up, and blackjack, as authorized by the Board utilizing a video display and microprocessors in which the player may receive free games or credits that can be redeemed for cash. The term does not include a machine that directly dispenses coins, cash, or tokens or is for amusement purposes only.

"Licensed establishment" means any licensed retail establishment where alcoholic liquor is drawn, poured, mixed, or otherwise served for consumption on the premises, whether the establishment operates on a nonprofit or for-profit basis. "Licensed establishment" includes any such establishment that has a contractual relationship with an inter-track wagering location licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, provided any contractual relationship shall not include any transfer or offer of revenue from the operation of video gaming under this Act to any licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provided, however, that the licensed establishment that has such a contractual relationship with an inter-track wagering location licensee may not, itself, be (i) an inter-track wagering location licensee, (ii) the corporate parent or subsidiary of any licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, or (iii) the corporate subsidiary of a corporation that is also the corporate parent or subsidiary of any licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. "Licensed establishment" does not include a facility operated by an organization licensee, an inter-track wagering licensee, or an inter-track wagering location licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or a riverboat licensed under the Illinois Gambling Act, except as provided in this paragraph. The changes made to this definition by Public Act 98-587 are declarative of existing law.

"Licensed fraternal establishment" means the location where a qualified fraternal organization that derives its charter from a national fraternal organization regularly meets.

"Licensed veterans establishment" means the location where a qualified veterans organization that derives its charter from a national veterans organization regularly meets.

"Licensed truck stop establishment" means a facility (i) that is at least a 3-acre facility with a convenience store, (ii) with separate diesel islands for fueling commercial motor vehicles, (iii) that sells at retail more than 10,000 gallons of diesel or biodiesel fuel per month, and (iv) with parking spaces for commercial motor vehicles. "Commercial motor vehicles" has the same meaning as defined in Section 18b-101 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The requirement of item (iii) of this paragraph may be met by showing that estimated future sales or past sales average at least 10,000 gallons per month.

"Licensed large truck stop establishment" means a facility located within 3 road miles from a freeway interchange, as measured in accordance with the Department of Transportation's rules regarding the criteria for the installation of business signs: (i) that is at least a 3-acre facility with a convenience store, (ii) with separate diesel islands for fueling commercial motor vehicles, (iii) that sells at retail more than 50,000 gallons of diesel or biodiesel fuel per month, and (iv) with parking spaces for commercial motor vehicles. "Commercial motor vehicles" has the same meaning as defined in Section 18b-101 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The requirement of item (iii) of this paragraph may be met by showing that estimated future sales or past sales average at least 50,000 gallons per month.

"Sales agent and broker" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other business entity engaged in the solicitation or receipt of business from current or potential licensed establishments, licensed fraternal establishments, licensed veterans establishments, licensed truck stop establishments, or licensed large truck stop establishments either on an employment or contractual basis.

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

(230 ILCS 40/20)

Sec. 20. Video gaming terminal payouts.

(a) A video gaming terminal may not directly dispense coins, cash, tokens, or any other article of exchange or value except for receipt tickets. Tickets shall be dispensed by pressing the ticket dispensing button on the video gaming terminal at the end of one's turn or play. The ticket shall indicate the total amount of credits and the cash award, the time of day in a 24-hour format showing hours and minutes, the date, the terminal serial number, the sequential number of the ticket, and an encrypted validation number from which the validity of the prize may be determined. Each licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, and licensed veterans establishment at which video gaming terminals are available shall have a payout device approved by the Board The player shall turn in this ticket to the appropriate person at the licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment to receive the cash award.

(b) The cost of the credit shall be one cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, or $1, and the maximum wager played per hand shall not exceed $4. No cash award for the maximum wager on any individual hand shall exceed the W-2G reporting requirements set by the Internal Revenue Service. Credits must be awarded to players as authorized by this Act $1,199. No cash award for the maximum wager on a jackpot, progressive or otherwise, shall exceed $10,000.

(c) (Blank). In-location bonus jackpot games are hereby authorized. The Board shall adopt emergency rules pursuant to Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement this subsection (c) within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly. Jackpot winnings from in-location progressive games shall be paid by the terminal operator to the player not later than 3 days after winning such a jackpot.

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