Illinois Gaming Board met July 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Illinois Gaming Board convened for a Regular Meeting on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 9:01 A.M. in the Fifth Floor Auditorium of the of the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL, and through electronic means pursuant to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq. The meeting was accessible on the morning of July 27, 2023, via livestream at: https://multimedia.illinois.gov/igb/igb-live.html.
A roll call was taken. The following Board members were present: Chairman Charles Schmadeke, Member Dionne Hayden and Member James Kolar. Three members of the Board being present, a quorum was satisfied.
At approximately 9:02 A.M., Member Hayden moved to go into closed session pursuant to Section 2(c), paragraphs (1), (4), (11), (21) and (36) of the Open Meetings Act and Section 6(d) of the Illinois Gambling Act to discuss items on the closed session agenda relating to the employment and performance of a specific employee, pending litigation, the review of closed session minutes of the Regular Board Meetings, and to deliberate on decisions of the Illinois Gaming Board in which there is discussed personal, commercial, financial, or other information obtained from any source that is privileged, proprietary, confidential, or a trade secret; or information specifically exempted from the disclosure by federal or State law. Member Kolar seconded the motion. The Board approved the motion unanimously by voice vote. Thereafter, the Board held its closed session meeting in person and through electronic means, the minutes of which are separately recorded. The Board’s closed session meeting was not accessible via livestream at https://multimedia.illinois.gov/igb/igb-live.html.
At approximately 10:05 A.M., the Board reconvened its Regular Meeting of Thursday, July 27, 2023, pursuant to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq. The meeting was held in person and through electronic means. The meeting was accessible on the morning of July 27, 2023, via livestream at: https://multimedia.illinois.gov/igb/igb-live.html.
Another roll call was taken. The following Board members were present: Chairman Charles Schmadeke, Member Dionne Hayden and Member James Kolar. Four members of the Board being present, a quorum was satisfied.
APPROVAL OF OPEN SESSION MINUTES
The Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes from its Regular Meeting held on June 15, 2023.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Fruchter began his report by noting that Illinois’ gaming industry now includes 13 operating casinos, nine sportsbooks and 8,348 Establishments operating an aggregate of 46,130 video gaming terminals (“VGTs”). Six or more VGTs are currently operating in 5,748 Establishments. Moreover, the $4 maximum bet software has been installed in the vast majority, approximately 45,577 of Illinois’ active VGTs.
In June, Illinois’ VGTs generated Net Terminal Income (“NTI”) of $232,030,893, which generated a total tax of $78,889,743. The State received $67,289,686, while local municipalities and counties collected $11,600,056. In addition, Illinois’ casinos produced Adjusted Gross Receipts (“AGR”) of $122,246,791, generating total tax revenue of $33,805,134. The State received $26,814,591, while host communities received $6,990,543. Sports wagering’s May AGR was $89,047,614, which generated a total tax of $14,348,947. The State received $13,357,143, while Cook County received $991,805. On a cumulative basis, from January through June (May for sports wagering), Illinois has received $728,046,013 of tax revenue. The State received $609,094,415 while local municipalities and counties received $118,951,597.
PUBLIC COMMENTARY
None.
CASINO
OWNERS LICENSEE ITEM
The Administrator noted that Des Plaines Development Limited Partnership d/b/a Harrah’s Joliet Casino asked the Board for initial consideration of its Owners license renewal.
SUPPLIER LICENSEE ITEMS
Initial Casino Supplier License Application
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Kehl Management-Williamson County, LLC a Casino Supplier license for a period of four years, expiring July 2027, and furthermore found the following individuals suitable as key persons:
1. Daniel Joseph Kehl
2. Robert Alan Kehl
3. Karlyn Ann Ollendick
4. Mo Taqi Hyder
OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS
Level 1 Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve John Carl Berendt as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Elgin Riverboat Resort d/b/a Grand Victoria Casino in his position as Manager of Information Technology.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve David Keith Eckstein as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Par-A-Dice Gaming Corporation d/b/a Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in his position as Director of Slots Operations.
Level 2 and 3 License Applications – Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 44 Level 2 and 49 Level 3 occupational license applicants and to issue Notices of Denial to:
1. Tad Scott Donahue
2. Lonnie Lyneil McDonald
3. Jeffrey William Vaughn
Occupational License Renewals by the Administrator
Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 9, 2023, the Administrator renewed the Level 1, 2, and 3 licenses of individuals who were licensed or renewed in July 2022 and who have properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Illinois Gambling Act and the Board’s Rules.
SPORTS WAGERING
MASTER SPORTS WAGERING LICENSEE ITEM
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant 815 Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Casino Rockford a Master Sports Wagering license for a period of four years, retroactive to January 2023, expiring in January 2027.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDER LICENSEE ITEM
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC a Master Sports Wagering license for a period of four years, expiring in July 2027, and further found the following individuals and business entities suitable as key persons:
1. James Francis Allen
2. Agnes Billie-Motlow
3. Brad Buchanan
4. Matthew Lawrence Gerard
5. Marlon David Goldstein
6. Alexander Patterson Johns
7. Austin Thomas Jones
8. Jon Stephen Lucas
9. Matthew Allen Primeaux
10. Michael Andrew Primeaux
11. Jim Shore
12. Green Oaks Investments, LP
13. Green Oaks Preserve, LLC
14. HR Digital Owner, LLC
15. Original Interactive Partners, LLC
16. Playtech plc
17. PT Holdings (Delaware) Inc
18. SHRE/SHRI, LLC
19. Seminole HR Holdings, LLC
20. Rafael Ashkenazi
ONLINE ONLY MASTER SPORTS WAGERING LICENSEE ITEM – SUPPLEMENTARY SELECTION
The Administrator announced DGC IL LLC as the single winning bidder for an online only Master Sports Wagering License.
SPORTS WAGERING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS
SWA Level 2 Applications
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 26 Level 2 sports wagering occupational licenses.
Statutory Denial
Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 9, 2023, the Administrator denied the Level 2 license application of Aaron Jamal Humphrey as ineligible under the IGA and Rules.
Level 1, 2, and 3 License Renewals – Administrator Delegation
Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 9, 2023, the Administrator renewed the Level 1, 2, and 3 Sports Wagering licenses of the individuals who were licensed or renewed in July 2022 who have properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Sports Wagering Act and the Board’s Rules.
VIDEO GAMING
TERMINAL OPERATOR LICENSEE ITEMS
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny Ramba Entertainment LLC a terminal operator license.
TECHNICIANS & TERMINAL HANDLERS
Initial Licenses – Approvals and Denials
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 48 Terminal Handler licenses and 1 Technician license for a period of two years, expiring in July 2025, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before August 31, 2023.
VIDEO GAMING ESTABLISHMENT APPLICANT ITEMS
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 109 Video Gaming Establishment license applications for a period of two years, expiring in July 2025, subject to the licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before August 31, 2023, and issue Notices of Denial to:
1. Corral's Tavern LLC d/b/a Corral's Tavern LLC (220703458)
2. VELA ENTERPRISES, INC. d/b/a PIZZA STONE EXPRESS (220702728)
LITIGATION/DISASSOCIATION
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to formally order Accel to disassociate from Sergio Anthony Flores.
RULE 320 FINAL BOARD ORDERS
▪ 20-UP-007 - AAA Gaming, LLC and Illinois Gaming Investments, LLC,
Petitioners, v. Midwest Electronics Gaming, LLC d/b/a ME Gaming, Respondent, RE: Mutual Release Agreement
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to adopt the Administrator’s Recommended Decision in its entirety as a Final Board Order.
ADJOURN
The Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
https://www.igb.illinois.gov/FilesBoardMeeting/20230727OpenMeetingMinutes.pdf
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