HB2359 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 12617 SMS 17955 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2359

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

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

230 ILCS 10/4	from Ch. 120, par. 2404
230 ILCS 10/8	from Ch. 120, par. 2408
230 ILCS 10/9	from Ch. 120, par. 2409

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be interpreted to require a suppliers license for a third-party supplier of an amenities outlet or non-gaming operation or function or an occupational license for a person whose duties do not directly involve gaming activities and who is employed exclusively in an amenities outlet or operation. Provides that those people are exempt from licensure. Defines "amenities outlet or non-gaming operation or function".

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 Illinois Gambling Act is amended by changing Sections 4, 8, and 9 as follows:

(230 ILCS 10/4) (from Ch. 120, par. 2404)

Sec. 4. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Board" means the Illinois Gaming Board.

"Occupational license" means a license issued by the Board to a person or entity to perform an occupation which the Board has identified as requiring a license to engage in riverboat gambling, casino gambling, or gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under this Act in Illinois.

"Gambling game" includes, but is not limited to, baccarat, twenty-one, poker, craps, slot machine, video game of chance, roulette wheel, klondike table, punchboard, faro layout, keno layout, numbers ticket, push card, jar ticket, or pull tab which is authorized by the Board as a wagering device under this Act.

"Riverboat" means a self-propelled excursion boat, a permanently moored barge, or permanently moored barges that are permanently fixed together to operate as one vessel, on which lawful gambling is authorized and licensed as provided in this Act.

"Slot machine" means any mechanical, electrical, or other device, contrivance, or machine that is authorized by the Board as a wagering device under this Act which, upon insertion of a coin, currency, token, or similar object therein, or upon payment of any consideration whatsoever, is available to play or operate, the play or operation of which may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the machine to receive cash, premiums, merchandise, tokens, or anything of value whatsoever, whether the payoff is made automatically from the machine or in any other manner whatsoever. A slot machine:

(1) may utilize spinning reels or video displays or both;

(2) may or may not dispense coins, tickets, or tokens to winning patrons;

(3) may use an electronic credit system for receiving wagers and making payouts; and

(4) may simulate a table game.

"Slot machine" does not include table games authorized by the Board as a wagering device under this Act.

"Managers license" means a license issued by the Board to a person or entity to manage gambling operations conducted by the State pursuant to Section 7.3.

"Dock" means the location where a riverboat moors for the purpose of embarking passengers for and disembarking passengers from the riverboat.

"Gross receipts" means the total amount of money exchanged for the purchase of chips, tokens, or electronic cards by riverboat patrons.

"Adjusted gross receipts" means the gross receipts less winnings paid to wagerers.

"Cheat" means to alter the selection of criteria which determine the result of a gambling game or the amount or frequency of payment in a gambling game.

"Gambling operation" means the conduct of gambling games authorized under this Act upon a riverboat or in a casino or authorized under this Act and the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 at an organization gaming facility.

"License bid" means the lump sum amount of money that an applicant bids and agrees to pay the State in return for an owners license that is issued or re-issued on or after July 1, 2003.

"Table game" means a live gaming apparatus upon which gaming is conducted or that determines an outcome that is the object of a wager, including, but not limited to, baccarat, twenty-one, blackjack, poker, craps, roulette wheel, klondike table, punchboard, faro layout, keno layout, numbers ticket, push card, jar ticket, pull tab, or other similar games that are authorized by the Board as a wagering device under this Act. "Table game" does not include slot machines or video games of chance.

The terms "minority person", "woman", and "person with a disability" shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 2 of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.

"Amenities outlet or non-gaming operation or function" means a place or function that offers non-gaming amenities or part of the operation that perform non-gaming functions that are a part of, or operates in conjunction with, a facility at which lawful gaming is conducted as authorized by this Act. "Amenities outlet or operation or function" includes, but is not limited to, a shop, restaurant, bar, lodging, parking lot or garage, and another place that offers non-gaming goods and services.

"Casino" means a facility at which lawful gambling is authorized as provided in this Act.

"Owners license" means a license to conduct riverboat or casino gambling operations, but does not include an organization gaming license.

"Licensed owner" means a person who holds an owners license.

"Organization gaming facility" means that portion of an organization licensee's racetrack facilities at which gaming authorized under Section 7.7 is conducted.

"Organization gaming license" means a license issued by the Illinois Gaming Board under Section 7.7 of this Act authorizing gaming pursuant to that Section at an organization gaming facility.

"Organization gaming licensee" means an entity that holds an organization gaming license.

"Organization licensee" means an entity authorized by the Illinois Racing Board to conduct pari-mutuel wagering in accordance with the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. With respect only to gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license, "organization licensee" includes the authorization for gaming created under subsection (a) of Section 56 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975.

(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17; 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)

(230 ILCS 10/8) (from Ch. 120, par. 2408)

Sec. 8. Suppliers licenses.

(a) The Board may issue a suppliers license to such persons, firms or corporations which apply therefor upon the payment of a non-refundable application fee set by the Board, upon a determination by the Board that the applicant is eligible for a suppliers license and upon payment of a $5,000 annual license fee.

(b) The holder of a suppliers license is authorized to sell or lease, and to contract to sell or lease, gambling equipment and supplies to any licensee involved in the ownership or management of gambling operations.

(c) Gambling supplies and equipment may not be distributed unless supplies and equipment conform to standards adopted by rules of the Board.

(d) A person, firm or corporation is ineligible to receive a suppliers license if:

(1) the person has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this State, any other state, or the United States;

(2) the person has been convicted of any violation of Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or substantially similar laws of any other jurisdiction;

(3) the person has submitted an application for a license under this Act which contains false information;

(4) the person is a member of the Board;

(5) the entity is one in which a person defined in (1), (2), (3) or (4), is an officer, director or managerial employee;

(6) the firm or corporation employs a person who participates in the management or operation of gambling authorized under this Act;

(7) the license of the person, firm or corporation issued under this Act, or a license to own or operate gambling facilities in any other jurisdiction, has been revoked.

(e) Any person that supplies any equipment, devices, or supplies to a licensed gambling operation must first obtain a suppliers license. A supplier shall furnish to the Board a list of all equipment, devices and supplies offered for sale or lease in connection with gambling games authorized under this Act. A supplier shall keep books and records for the furnishing of equipment, devices and supplies to gambling operations separate and distinct from any other business that the supplier might operate. A supplier shall file a quarterly return with the Board listing all sales and leases. A supplier shall permanently affix its name or a distinctive logo or other mark or design element identifying the manufacturer or supplier to all its equipment, devices, and supplies, except gaming chips without a value impressed, engraved, or imprinted on it, for gambling operations. The Board may waive this requirement for any specific product or products if it determines that the requirement is not necessary to protect the integrity of the game. Items purchased from a licensed supplier may continue to be used even though the supplier subsequently changes its name, distinctive logo, or other mark or design element; undergoes a change in ownership; or ceases to be licensed as a supplier for any reason. Any supplier's equipment, devices or supplies which are used by any person in an unauthorized gambling operation shall be forfeited to the State. A holder of an owners license or an organization gaming license may own its own equipment, devices and supplies. Each holder of an owners license or an organization gaming license under the Act shall file an annual report listing its inventories of gambling equipment, devices and supplies.

(f) Any person who knowingly makes a false statement on an application is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(g) Any gambling equipment, devices and supplies provided by any licensed supplier may either be repaired on the riverboat, in the casino, or at the organization gaming facility or removed from the riverboat, casino, or organization gaming facility to a facility owned by the holder of an owners license, organization gaming license, or suppliers license for repair.

(h) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to require a suppliers license for a third-party supplier of an amenities outlet or non-gaming operation or function and such suppliers shall be exempt from licensure.

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

(230 ILCS 10/9) (from Ch. 120, par. 2409)

Sec. 9. Occupational licenses.

(a) The Board may issue an occupational license to an applicant upon the payment of a non-refundable fee set by the Board, upon a determination by the Board that the applicant is eligible for an occupational license and upon payment of an annual license fee in an amount to be established. To be eligible for an occupational license, an applicant must:

(1) be at least 21 years of age if the applicant will perform any function involved in gaming by patrons. Any applicant seeking an occupational license for a non-gaming function shall be at least 18 years of age;

(2) not have been convicted of a felony offense, a violation of Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or a similar statute of any other jurisdiction;

(2.5) not have been convicted of a crime, other than a crime described in item (2) of this subsection (a), involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, except that the Board may, in its discretion, issue an occupational license to a person who has been convicted of a crime described in this item (2.5) more than 10 years prior to his or her application and has not subsequently been convicted of any other crime;

(3) have demonstrated a level of skill or knowledge which the Board determines to be necessary in order to operate gambling aboard a riverboat, in a casino, or at an organization gaming facility; and

(4) have met standards for the holding of an occupational license as adopted by rules of the Board. Such rules shall provide that any person or entity seeking an occupational license to manage gambling operations under this Act shall be subject to background inquiries and further requirements similar to those required of applicants for an owners license. Furthermore, such rules shall provide that each such entity shall be permitted to manage gambling operations for only one licensed owner.

(b) Each application for an occupational license shall be on forms prescribed by the Board and shall contain all information required by the Board. The applicant shall set forth in the application: whether he has been issued prior gambling related licenses; whether he has been licensed in any other state under any other name, and, if so, such name and his age; and whether or not a permit or license issued to him in any other state has been suspended, restricted or revoked, and, if so, for what period of time.

(c) Each applicant shall submit with his application, on forms provided by the Board, 2 sets of his fingerprints. The Board shall charge each applicant a fee set by the Department of State Police to defray the costs associated with the search and classification of fingerprints obtained by the Board with respect to the applicant's application. These fees shall be paid into the State Police Services Fund.

(d) The Board may in its discretion refuse an occupational license to any person: (1) who is unqualified to perform the duties required of such applicant; (2) who fails to disclose or states falsely any information called for in the application; (3) who has been found guilty of a violation of this Act or whose prior gambling related license or application therefor has been suspended, restricted, revoked or denied for just cause in any other state; or (4) for any other just cause.

(e) The Board may suspend, revoke or restrict any occupational licensee: (1) for violation of any provision of this Act; (2) for violation of any of the rules and regulations of the Board; (3) for any cause which, if known to the Board, would have disqualified the applicant from receiving such license; or (4) for default in the payment of any obligation or debt due to the State of Illinois; or (5) for any other just cause.

(f) A person who knowingly makes a false statement on an application is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(g) Any license issued pursuant to this Section shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance.

(h) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to prohibit a licensed owner or organization gaming licensee from entering into an agreement with a public community college or a school approved under the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012 for the training of any occupational licensee. Any training offered by such a school shall be in accordance with a written agreement between the licensed owner or organization gaming licensee and the school.

(i) Any training provided for occupational licensees may be conducted either at the site of the gambling facility or at a school with which a licensed owner or organization gaming licensee has entered into an agreement pursuant to subsection (h).

(j) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to require an occupational license for a person whose duties do not directly involve gaming activities or who is employed exclusively in an amenities outlet or non-gaming operation or function. A person who meets these requirements is exempt from occupational licensure.

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