Prairie State Wire

Illinois Gaming Board met April 24,

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Illinois Gaming Board convened for a Regular Meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 9:01 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 April 24, 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 Dionne Hayden, Member Sean Brannon and Member Stephen Ferrara. Four 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 Brannon 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 10:17 A.M., the Board reconvened its Regular Meeting of Thursday, April 24, 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 April 24, 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 Dionne Hayden, Member Sean Brannon and Member Stephen Ferrara. Four members of the Board being present, a quorum was satisfied.

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

None.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Administrator Fruchter began his report by announcing that Fairmount Park Inc. recently became Illinois’ 17th operating casino and the State’s first racetrack casino or “racino”. The Administrator noted that this was an Illinois gaming expansion milestone, as the massive 2019 gaming expansion bill continues to come to fruition. He mentioned that Fairmount Park is the 8th new Illinois casino facility to open since November 2021 and that the State of Illinois has received approximately $400 million in fees related to these openings.

As he has done at previous meetings, Administrator Fruchter reminded listeners to avoid wagering with unregulated, unlicensed and illegal operators, whether online or retail. The Administrator noted that the has sent cease-and-desist letters to some of these operators and is actively monitoring the problem, which is a nationwide issue and not just an Illinois challenge.

Administrator Fruchter noted that Illinois has 17 operating casinos, 13 sportsbooks, 58 active Terminal Operators, 8,670 licensed Video Gaming Establishments and 48,947 live Video Gaming Terminals (“VGTs”). He noted that 26 VGTs are currently part of the Ticket in Ticket out (“TITO”) test program in anticipation of a TITO launch in July.

The Administrator then provided listeners the monthly revenue numbers for video gaming, casino and sports wagering. In March, Illinois’ VGTs generated Net Terminal Income ((“NTI”) of $287,604,433.69, which yielded a total tax of $100,660,613.19. The State retained $85,861,253.16, while local municipalities and counties received $14,799,360.03. Illinois casinos produced Adjusted Gross Receipts (“AGR”) of $170,922,083.10, yielding a State tax of $25,285,821.22 while host communities earned $10,391,715.35. Sports wagering had AGR of $128,034,092, generating a State tax in the amount of $45,823,584 while Cook County received an additional $1,293,228.79. From January-March 2025, Illinois has received total gaming taxes of $458,068,497. The State retained $388,053,051, while locals received $70,015,446.

PUBLIC COMMENTARY

Although Joe Langhauser of the Columbian Association of Breese appeared on the April 24, 2025 agenda, he was not present at the meeting. Therefore, the IGB did not entertain any public commentary.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

• Proposed Amendments to Rule 3000.600 and Rule 3000.614 – Implementation of Cashless Wagering in Casinos and Update to Approvals for Promotional Activities.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve for submission to the Index Department of the Secretary of State on First Notice the proposed amendments to Rule 3000.600 regarding Cashless Wagering in Casinos and Rule 3000.614 regarding Tournaments, Enhanced Payouts and Give aways.

• Proposed Amendment to Rule 1800.265 – Record Retention Requirements for Video Gaming Sales Agents

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve for submission to the Index Department of the Secretary of State on First Notice the proposed amendment to Rule 1800.265 regarding sales agent record retention.

• Proposed Amendment to Rule 1900.1220 – Prohibition on Funding Sports Wagering Accounts with Credit Cards

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve for submission to the Index Department of the Secretary of State on First Notice the proposed amendment to Rule 1900.1220 regarding the Prohibition on Funding Sports Wagering Accounts with Credit Cards.

CASINO

SUPPLIER LICENSEE ITEM

Key Person Suitability Determinations

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to find Lisa Marie Whiteley suitable as a key person of American Gaming & Electronics, Inc.

OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS

Level 1 License Applications – Approvals

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Derek Steven Dishman as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Travis Jett Hankins as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation to approve Ryan Patrick Coppola as a 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 Kenneth Ray Clayton as a Level 1 Occupational licensee 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 208 Level 2 and 131 Level 3 occupational licenses and further to issue Notices of Denial to the following applicants:

1. Korbin Gage Liebe Folkerts (24Q013642)

2. Lacie Anna Adams (24O003553)

3. Courrie Antau Tamara Frazier (24G106812)

4. Ryan Charles Reed (25K106632)

5. James Alexander Watkins (24Y014902)

6. Charles Anthony Intrieri (24Y010772) and (24D157372)

7. Jhaylin Amire Benson (23Y006843)

8. Londell Hassahn Lee (23Y009662)

9. Giara Alise Stevenson (23Y004122)

10. Andres Vazquez (23Y004222)

Request for Hearing

• Patrick Donnell Allen (23Y000172) – Denied Level 2 Occupational license applicant

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to deny the Request for Hearing submitted by Patrick Donnell Allen for failure to state a prima facie case and failure to meet the technical requirements of Rule 405.

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 April 2024 who properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Illinois Gambling Act and the Board’s Rules.

SPORTS WAGERING

SPORTS WAGERING OCCUPATIONAL LICENSEE ITEMS

Level 1 License Application – Approvals

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve Laura Jeanne Conlon as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Hawthorne Race Course, Inc. d/b/a Hawthorne Casino & Race Course.

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve John Michael Walsh as a Level 1 Occupational licensee at Hawthorne Race Course, Inc. d/b/a Hawthorne Casino & Race Course.

Level 2 and Level 3 License Applications – Approvals

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 173 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 April 2024 who properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Sports Wagering Act and the Board's Rules.

VIDEO GAMING

TERMINAL OPERATOR LICENSEE ITEM

Initial Licenses – Approvals and Denials

• Win Baby Productions, LLC

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation deny Win Baby Productions, LLC’s terminal operator license application.

TECHNICIANS & TERMINAL HANDLERS

Initial Licenses – Approvals and Denials

The Board voted unanimously to adopt the staff’s recommendation to approve 4 Technician licenses and 40 Terminal Handler licenses for a period of two years, expiring in April 2027, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before May 31, 2025, and to issue a Notice of Denial to the following individual: James Daniel D’Amico (240500005)

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 April 2023, for a period of two years expiring in April 2027, who 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 91 Video Gaming Establishment License applications, for a period of two years, expiring in April 2027, subject to licensee’s payment of the applicable licensing fee on or before May 31, 2025, and further to issue a Notice of Denial to the following applicant: Leena Corp d/b/a Quick Stop (250700019)

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 April 2023, for a period of two years expiring in April 2027, who properly updated their applications and complied with the requirements of the Video Gaming Act and the Board’s Rules.

LITIGATION/ALJ RECOMMENDATION

ALJ Recommendation/Final Board Order

• In re the Denial of: Debra Wells d/b/a Deb’s Red Rose (22-GB-019) Location Establishment License Applicant

The Board voted unanimously to adopt staff’s recommendation that the Board adopt the Administrative Law Judge’s Recommended Decision as a Final Board Order.

ADJOURN

The Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

https://igb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/igb/documents/board-meetings/minutes/2025/20250424-open-meeting-minutes.pdf