Illinois Gaming Board met Sept. 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Illinois Gaming Board convened for a Regular Meeting on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 9:00 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, Member Anthony Garcia and Member James Kolar. Four members of the Board being present, a quorum was satisfied.
At approximately 9:01 A.M., Member Garcia 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 Hayden 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 10:06 A.M., the Board reconvened its Regular Meeting of Thursday, September 14, 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 September 14, 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, Member Anthony Garcia 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 July 27, 2023.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Fruchter began his report by noting that the IGB has been quite busy in recent months. The IGB oversaw the opening of new casinos in Danville, Williamson County and Chicago, as well as an additional sportsbook in Metropolis. At present, Illinois has 15 casinos and 10 sportsbooks in operation, with one additional casino still in process. The majority of gaming expansion authorized by the 2019 legislation has now been implemented. The Administrator acknowledged and thanked IGB staff for their effort and commitment to upholding the integrity of gaming in Illinois.
Administrator Fruchter also recognized the recent passing of Tom Swoik. Mr. Swoik was the Executive Director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association from 2001-2021, after retiring from service at the Illinois Gaming Board and other state agencies. The Administrator offered his sincere condolences to Tom’s family and friends.
The Administrator also made a point of reminding the VGT industry about the joint marketing and advertising portion of IGB Rule 350 (i.e., the Inducement Rule). This activity cannot occur unless the costs are split equally between the Terminal Operator and Establishment. The IGB has received several questions, inquiries and complaints about parties not following this guidance. Administrator Fruchter asked the industry to make compliance with the Act and the IGB’s Rules a top priority so that disciplinary complaints are not needed as an enforcement mechanism.
Administrator Fruchter noted that as of today, there are 8,404 licensed establishments operating an aggregate of 46,529 Video Gaming Terminal (“VGTs”). The upgraded max bet software has been implemented in 45,997 of those VGTs, while 5,828 Establishments are operating more than 6 VGTs. From a revenue standpoint, VGTs generated $234,248,011 in Net Terminal Income (“NTI”) in July which produced $79,643,892 in tax revenue. The State received $67,934,262, while local municipalities and counties collected $11,709,630. In August, Illinois casinos produced Adjusted Gross Receipt (“AGR”) of $124,438,614 generating a total tax of $37,849,749. The State received $30,706,877, while host communities received $7,142,872. The sports wagering industry produced AGR of $89,047,614, generating State tax revenue of $8,200,481 and Cook County tax revenue of $661,559.
Administrator Fruchter remarked that September is Responsible Gaming Education Month, which is a topic that is important to both the IGB and Illinois’ various gaming industries. The Administrator mentioned that proposed Rule 1750, which addresses responsible gaming signage being placed in video gaming location establishments, is pending before the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (“JCAR”) and hopes the rule passes soon.
Finally, Administrator Fruchter concluded his comments by expressing his hope that the legislature will use the upcoming veto session to pass the IGB’s bill that addresses illegal gambling devices. These devices are unregulated, untaxed, offer no consumer protections or independent testing, and are operated by people who have not been vetted or approved by the IGB or any other regulatory body. The Administrator noted that the IGB is interested in working with all stakeholders and is open to suggestions that will improve the bill and make it more successful in stamping out these illegal devices that compete with Illinois’ regulated gaming industries.
PUBLIC COMMENTARY
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Board Resolution to Allow the Administrator to Issue Temporary Badges to Applicants Eligible for Licensure Per P.A. 103-550
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to adopt the proposed resolution to allow the Administrator to issue temporary badges to applicants eligible for licensure under P.A. 103-0550.
CASINO
OWNERS LICENSEE ITEMS
Request for Final Consideration – Owners License Renewal
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to renew Des Plaines Development Limited Partnership d/b/a Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel’s Owners license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027. Further, the staff found the following business entities and individuals still suitable as key persons:
1. Harrah’s Illinois, LLC
2. CEOC, LLC
3. Des Plaines Development Holdings, LLC
4. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
5. Caesars Growth Partners, LLC
6. Caesars Resort Collections LLC
7. Herman Campuzano
8. Anthony Louis Carano
9. Gary Louis Carano
10. Jonathan David Eilian
11. Eric Lee Golebiewski
12. Edmund Lawrence Quatmann Jr.
13. Thomas Robert Reeg
14. William Michael Reeg
15. Nicole Lee Solaita
16. Cydnel Delarosa Trias
17. James Edward Venuti
18. Bret Daniel Yunker
Key Person Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Maya Camille Broussard as a key person of FHR-Illinois, LLC d/b/a American Place.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Stephanie Dana Lepori as a key person of Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises, LLC d/b/a Harrah’s Metropolis, Des Plaines Development Limited Partnership d/b/a Harrah’s Joliet Casino, and Elgin Riverboat Resort d/b/a Grand Victoria Casino.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Michelle Stickney Rasmussen as a key person of Par-A-Dice Gaming Corporation d/b/a Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino.
SUPPLIER LICENSEE ITEMS
Initial Casino Supplier License Applications
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Seminole Hard Rock Support Services, LLC a Casino Supplier license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027 and furthermore, found the following individuals and business entities suitable as key persons:
1. Tracy Leanne Bradford
2. James Francis Allen
3. Jon Lucas
4. Seminole HR Holdings, LLC
5. Shre/Shri, LLC
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant TCS John Huxley America, Inc. a Casino Supplier license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027 and furthermore. found the following individuals and business entities suitable as key persons:
1. Tristan Nenne Sjoeberg
2. Phillip Lee
3. TCS John Huxley Europe Limited
4. Victoria Holdings Limited (VHL)
5. Belgravia Invest AB (Belgravia)
OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS
Level 1 Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Wendy Lynn Alsteen, Roy Harald Bethge, and Anthony James Fabre as Level 1 Occupational licensees at 815 Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Jeffrey Alan Babinski, Chelsey Lynn Hughes, and Michael Dillion as Level 1 Occupational licensees at FHR-Illinois, LLC d/b/a American Place.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Robert Sean DeWitt Barber and Timothy Joseph Drehkoff as Level 1 Occupational licensees at Midwest Gaming & Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Rivers Casino-Des Plaines.
Level 2 and 3 License Applications – Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 80 Level 2 and 90 Level 3 occupational license applicants. The Board further issued Notices of Denial to:
1. Alvin Stewart
2. Georgette Maria Cahill
3. Randolph Owen Brown
4. Kandace Ann Hochede
5. Nicole Lashun Jefferson
6. Thomas Kenyotta Johnson
7. Don David Potts
8. Steven Mark Beno
9. Michael Craig Brown
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 August or September 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
MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDER LICENSEE ITEM
Key Person Approval
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Hecham Issam Ghazal as a key person of Penn Sports Interactive, LLC.
SUPPLIER LICENSEE ITEM
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Joseph Max Asher as a key person of IGT.
SPORTS WAGERING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS
Level 1 Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve William Bryan Maloney as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park.
Level 2 and Level 3 License Applications – Approvals
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 163 Level 2 sports wagering occupational licenses.
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 August or September 2022 who have properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Sports Wagering Act and the Board’s Rule.
VIDEO GAMING
TERMINAL OPERATOR LICENSEE ITEMS
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant 4K Diamond Enterprises LLC a terminal operator license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny Amazing Video Slots, LLC’s terminal operator license application.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny Chapman Music Company, Inc.’s terminal operator license application.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Double Star Amusement, LLC a terminal operator license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Gluck LLC a terminal operator license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny GU ILCO LLC’s terminal operator license application.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny King Gaming, Inc.’s terminal operator license application.
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Pass Time, LLC a terminal operator license for a period of four years, expiring September 2027.
TECHNICIANS & TERMINAL HANDLERS
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 40 Terminal Handler licenses for a period of two years, expiring in September 2025, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before October 31, 2023.
VIDEO GAMING ESTABLISHMENT APPLICANT ITEMS
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 99 Video Gaming
Establishment license applications for a period of two years, expiring in September 2025, subject to the licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before October 31, 2023, and issue Notices of Denial to:
1. Cairo Cutmart, Inc. d/b/a Drive Thru 51
2. HAMPSHIRE SOCIAL LLC d/b/a HAMPSHIRE SOCIAL
VG Location Establishment Denials – Statutory
Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 9, 2023, the Administrator denied the following Video Gaming Establishment license applications:
1. Dremoes Bar & Grill LLC d/b/a Dremoes Bar & Grill LLC
2. GRANNYS DINER OF JOHNSBURG, INC. d/b/a GRANNYS DINER OF JOHNSBURG INC
LITIGATION
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny the Request for Hearing submitted by Sams Ristoriante & Pizzeria LLC d/b/a Sam’s Ristorante & Pizzeria.
ADJOURN
The Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.
https://www.igb.illinois.gov/FilesBoardMeeting/20230914OpenMeetingMinutes.pdf
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