HB4645 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 14962 AMC 29861 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB4645

Introduced , by Rep. Jack D. Franks

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 40/15
230 ILCS 40/35
720 ILCS 5/28-2	from Ch. 38, par. 28-2

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes language that exempts video gaming terminals that are operated for amusement only from the licensure requirement under the Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Includes within the definition of "gambling device" a coin-in-the-slot operated mechanical device played for amusement that plays, emulates, or simulates a casino game, slot machine, bingo, or keno. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 15 and 35 as follows:

(230 ILCS 40/15)

Sec. 15. Minimum requirements for licensing and registration. Every video gaming terminal offered for play shall first be tested and approved pursuant to the rules of the Board, and each video gaming terminal offered in this State for play shall conform to an approved model. The Board may utilize the services of an independent outside testing laboratory for the examination of video gaming machines and associated equipment as required by this Section. Every video gaming terminal offered in this State for play must meet minimum standards set by an independent outside testing laboratory approved by the Board. Each approved model shall, at a minimum, meet the following criteria:

(1) It must conform to all requirements of federal law and regulations, including FCC Class A Emissions Standards.

(2) It must theoretically pay out a mathematically demonstrable percentage during the expected lifetime of the machine of all amounts played, which must not be less than 80%. Video gaming terminals that may be affected by skill must meet this standard when using a method of play that will provide the greatest return to the player over a period of continuous play.

(3) It must use a random selection process to determine the outcome of each play of a game. The random selection process must meet 99% confidence limits using a standard chi-squared test for (randomness) goodness of fit.

(4) It must display an accurate representation of the game outcome.

(5) It must not automatically alter pay tables or any function of the video gaming terminal based on internal computation of hold percentage or have any means of manipulation that affects the random selection process or probabilities of winning a game.

(6) It must not be adversely affected by static discharge or other electromagnetic interference.

(7) It must be capable of detecting and displaying the following conditions during idle states or on demand: power reset; door open; and door just closed.

(8) It must have the capacity to display complete play history (outcome, intermediate play steps, credits available, bets placed, credits paid, and credits cashed out) for the most recent game played and 10 games prior thereto.

(9) The theoretical payback percentage of a video gaming terminal must not be capable of being changed without making a hardware or software change in the video gaming terminal.

(10) Video gaming terminals must be designed so that replacement of parts or modules required for normal maintenance does not necessitate replacement of the electromechanical meters.

(11) It must have nonresettable meters housed in a locked area of the terminal that keep a permanent record of all cash inserted into the machine, all winnings made by the terminal printer, credits played in for video gaming terminals, and credits won by video gaming players. The video gaming terminal must provide the means for on-demand display of stored information as determined by the Board.

(12) Electronically stored meter information required by this Section must be preserved for a minimum of 180 days after a power loss to the service.

(13) It must have one or more mechanisms that accept cash in the form of bills. The mechanisms shall be designed to prevent obtaining credits without paying by stringing, slamming, drilling, or other means. If such attempts at physical tampering are made, the video gaming terminal shall suspend itself from operating until reset.

(14) It shall have accounting software that keeps an electronic record which includes, but is not limited to, the following: total cash inserted into the video gaming terminal; the value of winning tickets claimed by players; the total credits played; the total credits awarded by a video gaming terminal; and pay back percentage credited to players of each video game.

(15) It shall be linked by a central communications system to provide auditing program information as approved by the Board. The central communications system shall use a standard industry protocol, as defined by the Gaming Standards Association, and shall have the functionality to enable the Board or its designee to activate or deactivate individual gaming devices from the central communications system. In no event may the communications system approved by the Board limit participation to only one manufacturer of video gaming terminals by either the cost in implementing the necessary program modifications to communicate or the inability to communicate with the central communications system.

(16) The Board, in its discretion, may require video gaming terminals to display Amber Alert messages if the Board makes a finding that it would be economically and technically feasible and pose no risk to the integrity and security of the central communications system and video gaming terminals.

A video gaming terminal operated for amusement only may not be licensed under this Act.

The Board may adopt rules to establish additional criteria to preserve the integrity and security of video gaming in this State.

(Source: P.A. 96-34, eff. 7-13-09; 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)

(230 ILCS 40/35)

Sec. 35. Display of license; confiscation; violation as felony.

(a) Each video gaming terminal shall be licensed by the Board before placement or operation on the premises of a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment. The license of each video gaming terminal shall be maintained at the location where the video gaming terminal is operated. Failure to do so is a petty offense with a fine not to exceed $100. Any licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment used for the conduct of gambling games in violation of this Act shall be considered a gambling place in violation of Section 28-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961. Every gambling device found in a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment operating gambling games in violation of this Act shall be subject to seizure, confiscation, and destruction as provided in Section 28-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961. Any license issued under the Liquor Control Act of 1934 to any owner or operator of a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment that operates or permits the operation of a video gaming terminal within its establishment in violation of this Act shall be immediately revoked. No person may own, operate, have in his or her possession or custody or under his or her control, or permit to be kept in any place under his or her possession or control, any device that awards credits and contains a circuit, meter, or switch capable of removing and recording the removal of credits when the award of credits is dependent upon chance. A violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony. All devices that are owned, operated, or possessed in violation of this Section are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be subject to seizure, confiscation, and destruction as provided in Section 28-5 of the Criminal Code of 1961. The provisions of this Section do not apply to devices or electronic video game terminals licensed pursuant to this Act. A video gaming terminal operated for amusement only and bearing a valid amusement tax sticker issued prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall not be subject to this Section until the sooner of (i) the expiration of the amusement tax sticker or (ii) 30 days after the Board establishes that the central communications system is functional.

(b) (1) The odds of winning each video game shall be posted on or near each video gaming terminal. The manner in which the odds are calculated and how they are posted shall be determined by the Board by rule.

(2) No video gaming terminal licensed under this Act may be played except during the legal hours of operation allowed for the consumption of alcoholic beverages at the licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment. A licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment that violates this subsection is subject to termination of its license by the Board.

(Source: P.A. 96-34, eff. 7-13-09; 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)

Section 10. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by changing Sections 28-2 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/28-2) (from Ch. 38, par. 28-2)

Sec. 28-2. Definitions.

(a) A "gambling device" is any clock, tape machine, slot machine or other machines or device for the reception of money or other thing of value on chance or skill or upon the action of which money or other thing of value is staked, hazarded, bet, won or lost; or any mechanism, furniture, fixture, equipment or other device designed primarily for use in a gambling place. A "gambling device" does not include:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (a), a A coin-in-the-slot operated mechanical device played for amusement which rewards the player with the right to replay such mechanical device, which device is so constructed or devised as to make such result of the operation thereof depend in part upon the skill of the player and which returns to the player thereof no money, property or right to receive money or property.

(2) Vending machines by which full and adequate return is made for the money invested and in which there is no element of chance or hazard.

(3) A crane game. For the purposes of this paragraph (3), a "crane game" is an amusement device involving skill, if it rewards the player exclusively with merchandise contained within the amusement device proper and limited to toys, novelties and prizes other than currency, each having a wholesale value which is not more than $25.

(4) A redemption machine. For the purposes of this paragraph (4), a "redemption machine" is a single-player or multi-player amusement device involving a game, the object of which is throwing, rolling, bowling, shooting, placing, or propelling a ball or other object into, upon, or against a hole or other target, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The outcome of the game is predominantly determined by the skill of the player.

(B) The award of the prize is based solely upon the player's achieving the object of the game or otherwise upon the player's score.

(C) Only merchandise prizes are awarded.

(D) The wholesale value of prizes awarded in lieu of tickets or tokens for single play of the device does not exceed $25.

(E) The redemption value of tickets, tokens, and other representations of value, which may be accumulated by players to redeem prizes of greater value, does not exceed the amount charged for a single play of the device.

"Gambling device" includes a coin-in-the-slot operated mechanical device played for amusement that plays, emulates, or simulates a casino game, slot machine, bingo, or keno.

(a-5) "Internet" means an interactive computer service or system or an information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, and includes, but is not limited to, an information service, system, or access software provider that provides access to a network system commonly known as the Internet, or any comparable system or service and also includes, but is not limited to, a World Wide Web page, newsgroup, message board, mailing list, or chat area on any interactive computer service or system or other online service.

(a-6) "Access" and "computer" have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 16D-2 of this Code.

(b) A "lottery" is any scheme or procedure whereby one or more prizes are distributed by chance among persons who have paid or promised consideration for a chance to win such prizes, whether such scheme or procedure is called a lottery, raffle, gift, sale or some other name.

(c) A "policy game" is any scheme or procedure whereby a person promises or guarantees by any instrument, bill, certificate, writing, token or other device that any particular number, character, ticket or certificate shall in the event of any contingency in the nature of a lottery entitle the purchaser or holder to receive money, property or evidence of debt.

(Source: P.A. 95-676, eff. 6-1-08.)

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