HB1793 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 14119 SMS 19471 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB1793

Introduced 2/17/2021, by Rep. Robert Rita

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 40/25

Amends the Video Gaming Act. Removes provisions requiring the Illinois Gaming Board to consider the impact of any economic concentration of the operation of video gaming terminals when deciding whether to approve the operation of video gaming terminals in a location. 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 Section 25 as follows:

(230 ILCS 40/25)

Sec. 25. Restriction of licensees.

(a) Manufacturer. A person may not be licensed as a manufacturer of a video gaming terminal in Illinois unless the person has a valid manufacturer's license issued under this Act. A manufacturer may only sell video gaming terminals for use in Illinois to persons having a valid distributor's license.

(b) Distributor. A person may not sell, distribute, or lease or market a video gaming terminal in Illinois unless the person has a valid distributor's license issued under this Act. A distributor may only sell video gaming terminals for use in Illinois to persons having a valid distributor's or terminal operator's license.

(c) Terminal operator. A person may not own, maintain, or place a video gaming terminal unless he has a valid terminal operator's license issued under this Act. A terminal operator may only place video gaming terminals for use in Illinois in licensed establishments, licensed truck stop establishments, licensed large truck stop establishments, licensed fraternal establishments, and licensed veterans establishments. No terminal operator may give anything of value, including but not limited to a loan or financing arrangement, to a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment as any incentive or inducement to locate video terminals in that establishment. Of the after-tax profits from a video gaming terminal, 50% shall be paid to the terminal operator and 50% shall be paid to the licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary. A video terminal operator that violates one or more requirements of this subsection is guilty of a Class 4 felony and is subject to termination of his or her license by the Board.

(d) Licensed technician. A person may not service, maintain, or repair a video gaming terminal in this State unless he or she (1) has a valid technician's license issued under this Act, (2) is a terminal operator, or (3) is employed by a terminal operator, distributor, or manufacturer.

(d-5) Licensed terminal handler. No person, including, but not limited to, an employee or independent contractor working for a manufacturer, distributor, supplier, technician, or terminal operator licensed pursuant to this Act, shall have possession or control of a video gaming terminal, or access to the inner workings of a video gaming terminal, unless that person possesses a valid terminal handler's license issued under this Act.

(e) Licensed establishment. No video gaming terminal may be placed in any licensed establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment unless the owner or agent of the owner of the licensed establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment has entered into a written use agreement with the terminal operator for placement of the terminals. A copy of the use agreement shall be on file in the terminal operator's place of business and available for inspection by individuals authorized by the Board. A licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed veterans establishment, or licensed fraternal establishment may operate up to 6 video gaming terminals on its premises at any time. A licensed large truck stop establishment may operate up to 10 video gaming terminals on its premises at any time.

(f) (Blank).

(g) Financial interest restrictions. As used in this Act, "substantial interest" in a partnership, a corporation, an organization, an association, a business, or a limited liability company means:

(A) When, with respect to a sole proprietorship, an individual or his or her spouse owns, operates, manages, or conducts, directly or indirectly, the organization, association, or business, or any part thereof; or

(B) When, with respect to a partnership, the individual or his or her spouse shares in any of the profits, or potential profits, of the partnership activities; or

(C) When, with respect to a corporation, an individual or his or her spouse is an officer or director, or the individual or his or her spouse is a holder, directly or beneficially, of 5% or more of any class of stock of the corporation; or

(D) When, with respect to an organization not covered in (A), (B) or (C) above, an individual or his or her spouse is an officer or manages the business affairs, or the individual or his or her spouse is the owner of or otherwise controls 10% or more of the assets of the organization; or

(E) When an individual or his or her spouse furnishes 5% or more of the capital, whether in cash, goods, or services, for the operation of any business, association, or organization during any calendar year; or

(F) When, with respect to a limited liability company, an individual or his or her spouse is a member, or the individual or his or her spouse is a holder, directly or beneficially, of 5% or more of the membership interest of the limited liability company.

For purposes of this subsection (g), "individual" includes all individuals or their spouses whose combined interest would qualify as a substantial interest under this subsection (g) and whose activities with respect to an organization, association, or business are so closely aligned or coordinated as to constitute the activities of a single entity.

(h) Location restriction. A licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment that is (i) located within 1,000 feet of a facility operated by an organization licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or the home dock of a riverboat licensed under the Illinois Gambling Act or (ii) located within 100 feet of a school or a place of worship under the Religious Corporation Act, is ineligible to operate a video gaming terminal. The location restrictions in this subsection (h) do not apply if (A) a facility operated by an organization licensee, a school, or a place of worship moves to or is established within the restricted area after a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment becomes licensed under this Act or (B) a school or place of worship moves to or is established within the restricted area after a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment obtains its original liquor license. For the purpose of this subsection, "school" means an elementary or secondary public school, or an elementary or secondary private school registered with or recognized by the State Board of Education.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (h), the Board may waive the requirement that a licensed establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, licensed large truck stop establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, or licensed veterans establishment not be located within 1,000 feet from a facility operated by an organization licensee licensed under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or the home dock of a riverboat licensed under the Illinois Gambling Act. The Board shall not grant such waiver if there is any common ownership or control, shared business activity, or contractual arrangement of any type between the establishment and the organization licensee or owners licensee of a riverboat. The Board shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this paragraph.

(h-5) Restrictions on licenses in malls. The Board shall not grant an application to become a licensed video gaming location if the Board determines that granting the application would more likely than not cause a terminal operator, individually or in combination with other terminal operators, licensed video gaming location, or other person or entity, to operate the video gaming terminals in 2 or more licensed video gaming locations as a single video gaming operation.

(1) In making determinations under this subsection (h-5), factors to be considered by the Board shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) the physical aspects of the location;

(B) the ownership, control, or management of the location;

(C) any arrangements, understandings, or agreements, written or otherwise, among or involving any persons or entities that involve the conducting of any video gaming business or the sharing of costs or revenues; and

(D) the manner in which any terminal operator or other related entity markets, advertises, or otherwise describes any location or locations to any other person or entity or to the public.

(2) The Board shall presume, subject to rebuttal, that the granting of an application to become a licensed video gaming location within a mall will cause a terminal operator, individually or in combination with other persons or entities, to operate the video gaming terminals in 2 or more licensed video gaming locations as a single video gaming operation if the Board determines that granting the license would create a local concentration of licensed video gaming locations.

For the purposes of this subsection (h-5):

"Mall" means a building, or adjoining or connected buildings, containing 4 or more separate locations.

"Video gaming operation" means the conducting of video gaming and all related activities.

"Location" means a space within a mall containing a separate business, a place for a separate business, or a place subject to a separate leasing arrangement by the mall owner.

"Licensed video gaming location" means a licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, licensed truck stop establishment, or licensed large truck stop.

"Local concentration of licensed video gaming locations" means that the combined number of licensed video gaming locations within a mall exceed half of the separate locations within the mall.

(i) (Blank). Undue economic concentration. In addition to considering all other requirements under this Act, in deciding whether to approve the operation of video gaming terminals by a terminal operator in a location, the Board shall consider the impact of any economic concentration of such operation of video gaming terminals. The Board shall not allow a terminal operator to operate video gaming terminals if the Board determines such operation will result in undue economic concentration. For purposes of this Section, "undue economic concentration" means that a terminal operator would have such actual or potential influence over video gaming terminals in Illinois as to:

(1) substantially impede or suppress competition among terminal operators;

(2) adversely impact the economic stability of the video gaming industry in Illinois; or

(3) negatively impact the purposes of the Video Gaming Act.

The Board shall adopt rules concerning undue economic concentration with respect to the operation of video gaming terminals in Illinois. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, (i) limitations on the number of video gaming terminals operated by any terminal operator within a defined geographic radius and (ii) guidelines on the discontinuation of operation of any such video gaming terminals the Board determines will cause undue economic concentration.

(j) The provisions of the Illinois Antitrust Act are fully and equally applicable to the activities of any licensee under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)

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