Prairie State Wire

Illinois Gaming Board met Feb. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Illinois Gaming Board convened for a Regular Meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. in the 5th 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 February 6, 2025, via livestream at: https://multimedia.illinois.gov/igb/igb-live.html.

A roll call was taken. The following Board members were physically present: Chairman Charles Schmadeke, Member Sean Brannon and Member Stephen Ferrara. Three members of the Board being present, a quorum was satisfied.

At approximately 9:01 A.M., Member Brannon 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 Ferrara 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 10:00 A.M., the Board reconvened its Regular Meeting of Thursday, February 6, 2025, 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 February 6, 2025 via livestream at: https://multimedia.illinois.gov/igb/igb-live.html.

Another roll call was taken. The following Board members were physically present: Chairman Charles Schmadeke, Member Sean Brannon and Member Stephen Ferrara. Three members of the Board being present, a quorum was satisfied.

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

None.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Administrator Marcus Fruchter began the meeting by welcoming the Board’s newest member, Stephen Ferrara. The Administrator noted that Member Ferrara is a licensed, certified public accountant and accomplished consultant with over 40 years of experience in the accounting profession and staff is pleased that Member Ferrara has joined the team.

The Administrator informed listeners that the IGB’s most recent Video Gaming public comment period ended on January 13, 2025. He noted that the process was established to seek comments and proposals on two significant potential future Video Gaming rules. The Administrator explained that the IGB was seeking comments for a rule that would bring video gaming into the IGB’s Self-Exclusion Program (the “SEP”) for problem gamblers. The SEP is currently available to patrons of casinos and sports wagering operators, but not video gaming. He also explained that the IGB was seeking public comments and proposals on future rulemaking for implementation and regulation of cashless technology in video gaming. The Administrator thanked everyone who provided written comments to the IGB on the topics of self exclusion programs and cashless gaming and told listeners the comments received by the IGB are now available for the public’s review on the IGB’s website. He noted staff is reviewing them as it continues to assess the feasibility of each proposal.

Administrator Fruchter then reminded Video Gaming Terminal Operators about IGB Rule 250(p), which requires Terminal Operators to remove VGTs if they are out of service or otherwise not operational for more than 72 hours. The Administrator stated that he understands that on occasion it may be difficult to comply with this Rule because of specific facts and circumstances, but Terminal Operators should be communicative with the IGB about situations like that.

Administrator Fruchter noted that Illinois has 16 operating casinos, 16 sportsbooks (14 of which are operational), 58 licensed Terminal Operators, 8,636 licensed Video Gaming Establishments, and 48,628 Video Gaming Terminals (“VGTs”) with all but 267 operating with the $4 max bet software.

The Administrator then provided listeners the monthly revenue numbers for video gaming, casino and sports wagering. In December, VGTs generated Net Terminal Income (“NTI”) of $256,695,884, which yielded a total tax of $89,843,359. The State retained $76,634,744, while municipalities and counties received $13,208,614. Also in December, Illinois casinos produced Adjusted Gross Receipts (“AGR”) of $157,053,351 which generated a total tax of $50,930,339. The State received tax in the amount of $40,864,524, while host communities kept $10,065,815. In November, sports wagering AGR was $154,606,065, which resulted in the State receiving tax in the amount of $48,170,406 and Cook County receiving $1,502,337. In summary, from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 (excluding December 2024 results for sports wagering), the gaming industry generated total tax of $1,728,056,352. The State received $1,458,074,226 and locals kept $269,982,126.

Finally, the Administrator noted that the Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, February 9th. Administrator Fruchter took the opportunity to remind all listeners that they should only patronize legal, regulated IGB approved casino, video gaming and sport wagering operators and to avoid wagering with unlicensed and unregulated operators.

PUBLIC COMMENTARY

None.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

• Administrator Delegation – Board Resolution to Extend Existing Resolution and to Amend

The Board voted unanimously to renew the existing February 8, 2024 Board Resolution to Delegate Certain Authority to the Administrator and have it remain in effect until the first regular Board meeting of the 2026 calendar year, unless modified by Board. Furthermore, the Board approved the amendments to the Board Resolution to Delegate Certain Authority to the Administrator that removes the authority to settle Board-issued disciplinary complaints under Rule 3000.1100 and adds the delegated authority to approve transfers of ownership in casino operations where the entities receiving control of the operation have already been disclosed to and approved by the Board.

• Rule 1900.1130 Request to Prohibit Wagering on Injuries, Officiating Related, Player Conduct and Pre-Determined Events in any National Football League (“NFL”) Game

The Board voted unanimously to grant the NFL’s Rule 1900.1130 request as revised and discussed at the meeting.

CASINO

OWNERS/ORGANIZATION GAMING LICENSEE ITEMS

Request for Final Consideration of Owners License Renewal

• Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises LLC d/b/a Harrah's Metropolis Casino

The Board voted unanimously to renew Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises LLC d/b/a Harrah's Metropolis Casino’s Owners license for a period of four years, expiring in February 2029. Furthermore, the Board found that the following business entities and individuals remain suitable as key persons of Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises LLC d/b/a Harrah's Metropolis Casino:

1. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

2. Caesars Holdings, Inc.

3. Caesars Growth Partners, LLC

4. Caesars Resort Collection, LLC

5. CEOC, LLC

6. Players International, LLC

7. Players Holding, LLC

8. Anthony Louis Carano

9. Gary Louis Carano

10. Thomas Robert Reeg

11. Bret Daniel Yunker

12. Stephanie Dana Lepori

13. Edmund Lawrence Quatmann Jr.

14. Herman Campuzano

15. William Michael Reeg

16. Nicole Lee Solaita

17. Eric Lee Golebiewski

18. Cydnel Delarosa Trias

Request for Waiver of Two-Meeting Rule and Request for Transfer of Ownership in Owners Licensees

• Request for Waiver of Two-Meeting Rule and Request for Transfer of Ownership in Owners Licensees: Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC; Casino Queen, Inc. d/b/a DraftKings at Casino Queen; and The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel

The Board voted unanimously to waive the two-meeting rule and give immediate attention to the action request regarding the transfer of ownership.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the Request to Transfer Ownership in Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC; Casino Queen, Inc. d/b/a DraftKings at Casino Queen; and The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel as it relates to their respective Owners licenses, subject to final transfer documentation being submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board upon execution, and under the condition that the Administrator may revoke said approval if the final terms and conditions are not materially consistent with the terms previously disclosed.

Key Person Suitability Determinations

• Eddie Leon Tullis – Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland

The Board voted unanimously to find Eddie Leon Tullis suitable as a key person of Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland.

• Clairvest Equity Partners V Holdings Limited Partnership – Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park

• CEP V Co-Investment Holdings Limited Partnership – Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park

The Board voted unanimously to find Clairvest Equity Partners V Holdings Limited Partnership and CEP V Co-Investment Holdings Limited Partnership suitable as key persons of Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park as it relates to its Organization Gaming License application.

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS

Level 1 License Applications – Approvals

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Becky Anne Johnson as Level 1 Occupational licensee at Alton Casino LLC d/b/a Argosy Casino Alton.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Sarina Lynn Martinez as Level 1 Occupational licensee at both Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC and The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Andrew James Oghenero Ebireri as Level 1 Occupational licensee at The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Roger Yates Kuehn and Kevin Peter Helfgott as Level 1 Occupational licensees at Wind Creek IL LLC d/b/a Wind Creek Chicago Southland.

Level 2 and 3 License Applications – Approvals and Denials

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 97 Level 2 and 180 Level 3 occupational licenses, The Board further voted to issue a Notices of Denial to:

1. Melvin Justern Ford (24Y013052)

2. Justin Deomonte Stewart (24O000902)

3. Travis Daniel Quade (24R016422)

4. Eraj Khamisi (24R010193)

5. Dasan Tyrell Smith (23X003212)

6. Patrick Donnell Allen (23Y000172)

Occupational License Renewals by the Administrator

Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 6, 2025, the Administrator renewed the Level 1, 2, and 3 licenses of individuals who were licensed or renewed in January or February 2024 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

Request for Waiver of Two-Meeting Rule and Request for Transfer of Ownership in Master Sports Wagering Licensees

• Request for Waiver of Two-Meeting Rule and Request for Transfer of Ownership in Master Sports Wagering Licensees: Casino Queen, Inc. d/b/a DraftKings at Casino Queen and The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel

The Board voted unanimously to waive the two-meeting rule and give immediate attention to the action request regarding the transfer of ownership as it relates to the Master Sports Wagering licenses.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the Request to Transfer Ownership in Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC; Casino Queen, Inc. d/b/a DraftKings at Casino Queen; and The Rock Island Boatworks, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Quad Cities Casino & Hotel as it relates to their respective Master Sports Wagering licenses, subject to final transfer documentation being submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board upon execution, and under the condition that the Administrator may revoke said approval if the final terms and conditions are not materially consistent with the terms previously disclosed.

Key Person Suitability Determinations

• Clairvest Equity Partners V Holdings Limited Partnership

• CEP V Co-Investment Holdings Limited Partnership suitable as key persons of Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park

The Board voted unanimously to find Clairvest Equity Partners V Holdings Limited Partnership and CEP V Co-Investment Holdings Limited Partnership suitable as key persons of Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park as it relates to its Master Sports Wagering license.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDER

Management Services Provider License Item – Initial License

• American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook a Management Services Provider license for a period of four years, expiring in February 2029 and further to find the following business entities and individuals suitable as key persons of American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook:

1. William Hill U.S. Holdco, Inc.

2. Digital Holdco, LLC

3. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

4. Anthony Louis Carano

5. Gary Louis Carano

6. Eric Alan Hession

7. Stephanie Dana Lepori

8. Edmund Lawrence Quatmann Jr.

9. Thomas Robert Reeg

10. Bret Daniel Yunker

SPORTS WAGERING SUPPLIERS

Sports Wagering Supplier License Items – Initial Licenses

• American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook a Supplier license for a period of four years, expiring in February 2029 and further to find the following business entities and individuals suitable as key persons of

American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook:

1. William Hill U.S. Holdco, Inc.

2. Digital Holdco, LLC

3. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

4. Anthony Louis Carano

5. Gary Louis Carano

6. Eric Alan Hession

7. Stephanie Dana Lepori

8. Edmund Lawrence Quatmann Jr.

9. Thomas Robert Reeg

10. Bret Daniel Yunker

SPORTS WAGERING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS

Level 1 Application – Approvals

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Craig William Joseph Mucklow as Sports Wagering Level 1 Occupational licensee for American Wagering, Inc. d/b/a Caesars Sportsbook.

Level 2 and Level 3 License Applications – Approvals

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 112 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 6, 2025, the Administrator renewed the Level 1, 2, and 3 Sports Wagering licenses of the individuals who were licensed or renewed in January or February 2024 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

Initial Licenses – Approvals and Denials

• Rise2Shine Gaming LLC

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Rise2Shine Gaming LLC a terminal operator license for a period of four years, expiring February 2029.

• Game Gurus, LLC

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to grant Game Gurus, LLC. a terminal operator license for a period of four years, expiring February 2029.

TECHNICIANS & TERMINAL HANDLERS

Initial Licenses – Approvals and Denials

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 5 Technician licenses and 117 Terminal Handler licenses for a period of two years, expiring in February 2027, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before March 31, 2025.

VG Technicians and Terminal Handlers License Renewals (by Administrator)

Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 6, 2025, the Administrator renewed the licenses of Technicians and Terminal Handlers who were licensed in January or February 2023, for a period of two years expiring in January or February 2027, who have properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Video Gaming Act and the Board's Rules.

VIDEO GAMING ESTABLISHMENT APPLICANT ITEMS

VG Location Establishment Approvals and Denials

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 96 Video Gaming Establishment License applications, for a period of two years, expiring in February 2027, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before March 31, 2025, and further to issue a Notice of Denial to the following applicant:

1. The Shine Box Bar LLC d/b/a The Shine Box Bar (230703389)

VG Location Establishment – Rescission Item

• THE 143 HIDEOUT LLC d/b/a THE 143 HIDEOUT LLC

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to rescind its December 12, 2024 denial and grant THE 143 HIDEOUT LLC d/b/a THE 143 HIDEOUT LLC a Video Gaming Establishment License, for a period of two years, expiring in February 2027, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before March 31, 2025.

VG Location Establishment License Renewals by Administrator

Pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board on February 6, 2025, the Administrator renewed the licenses of Video Gaming Location Establishments who were licensed in January or February 2023, for a period of two years expiring in January or February 2027, who have properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Video Gaming Act and the Board’s Rules.

DISASSOCIATION

Video Gaming - Disassociation of Sales Agent/Broker

• Bradley Michael Grenoble (171702300), former Sales Agent/Broker for Terminal Operators Gold Rush Amusements, Inc. and Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation for the Board to formally order Gold Rush Amusements, Inc. and Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC to economically disassociate from sales agent/broker, Bradley Michael Grenoble.

ADJOURN

The Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

https://igb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/igb/documents/board-meetings/minutes/2025/20250206-open-meeting-minutes.pdf