State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB0520

 
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 1        AN  ACT  to  amend the Riverboat Gambling Act by changing
 2    Section 5.

 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section  5.   The  Riverboat  Gambling  Act is amended by
 6    changing Section 5 as follows:

 7        (230 ILCS 10/5) (from Ch. 120, par. 2405)
 8        Sec. 5.  Gaming Board.
 9        (a)  (1)  There  is   hereby   established   within   the
10    Department  of  Revenue  an Illinois Gaming Board which shall
11    have the powers and duties specified in  this  Act,  and  all
12    other  powers  necessary  and proper to fully and effectively
13    execute  this  Act  for   the   purpose   of   administering,
14    regulating,  and  enforcing  the system of riverboat gambling
15    established by this Act. Its jurisdiction shall extend  under
16    this   Act   to   every   person,  association,  corporation,
17    partnership  and  trust  involved   in   riverboat   gambling
18    operations in the State of Illinois.
19        (2)  The  Board  shall  consist  of  7  5  members  to be
20    appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of  the
21    Senate, one of whom shall be designated by the Governor to be
22    chairman.   Each  member shall have a reasonable knowledge of
23    the  practice,   procedure   and   principles   of   gambling
24    operations.  Each  member  shall  either  be  a  resident  of
25    Illinois  or  shall certify that he will become a resident of
26    Illinois before taking office. At least one member  shall  be
27    experienced in law enforcement and criminal investigation, at
28    least  one  member  shall  be  a  certified public accountant
29    experienced in accounting and  auditing,  and  at  least  one
30    member shall be a lawyer licensed to practice law in Illinois
31    ,  and  at least one member shall be a person verified by the
 
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 1    National  Counsel  on  Problem  Gambling  or  by  its   State
 2    affiliate,  the  Illinois  Counsel  on Problem and Compulsive
 3    Gambling, as either a person who has been in  a  recovery  or
 4    treatment  program  for  compulsive  gambling for at least 10
 5    years  or  an  individual  with  specialized   knowledge   or
 6    experience in the field of pathological gambling.
 7        (3)  The  terms of office of the Board members shall be 3
 8    years, except that the terms of office of the  initial  Board
 9    members appointed pursuant to this Act will commence from the
10    effective  date  of  this  Act and run as follows:  one for a
11    term ending July 1, 1991, 2 for a term ending July  1,  1992,
12    and 2 for a term ending July 1, 1993.  The terms of office of
13    the initial Board members appointed under this amendatory Act
14    of  1999  will  commence  from  the  effective  date  of this
15    amendatory Act of 1999 and run until July  1,  2002.Upon  the
16    expiration  of  the  foregoing  terms, the successors of such
17    members shall serve a  term  for  3  years  and  until  their
18    successors  are  appointed  and  qualified  for  like  terms.
19    Vacancies in the Board shall be filled for the unexpired term
20    in  like manner as original appointments.  Each member of the
21    Board shall be eligible for reappointment at  the  discretion
22    of the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
23        (4)  Each member of the Board shall receive $300 for each
24    day  the Board meets and for each day the member conducts any
25    hearing pursuant to this Act.  Each member of the Board shall
26    also be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses  and
27    disbursements incurred in the execution of official duties.
28        (5)  No  person  shall be appointed a member of the Board
29    or continue to be a member of the  Board  who  is,  or  whose
30    spouse,  child  or  parent  is,  a  member  of  the  board of
31    directors of, or a  person  financially  interested  in,  any
32    gambling operation subject to the jurisdiction of this Board,
33    or  any  race  track, race meeting, racing association or the
34    operations  thereof  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of   the
 
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 1    Illinois  Racing Board.  No Board member shall hold any other
 2    public office for which he shall receive  compensation  other
 3    than  necessary  travel  or  other  incidental  expenses.  No
 4    person shall be a member of the Board  who  is  not  of  good
 5    moral  character  or  who  has been convicted of, or is under
 6    indictment for, a felony under the laws of  Illinois  or  any
 7    other state, or the United States.
 8        (6)  Any  member  of  the  Board  may  be  removed by the
 9    Governor for neglect of duty,  misfeasance,  malfeasance,  or
10    nonfeasance in office.
11        (7)  Before  entering upon the discharge of the duties of
12    his office, each member of the Board shall take an oath  that
13    he will faithfully execute the duties of his office according
14    to  the  laws  of  the  State  and  the rules and regulations
15    adopted therewith  and  shall  give  bond  to  the  State  of
16    Illinois,  approved  by  the Governor, in the sum of $25,000.
17    Every such bond, when duly executed and  approved,  shall  be
18    recorded  in  the office of the Secretary of State.  Whenever
19    the Governor determines that the bond of any  member  of  the
20    Board   has   become  or  is  likely  to  become  invalid  or
21    insufficient, he shall require such member forthwith to renew
22    his bond, which is to  be  approved  by  the  Governor.   Any
23    member  of  the  Board  who  fails to take oath and give bond
24    within 30 days from the date of his appointment, or who fails
25    to renew his bond within 30 days after it is demanded by  the
26    Governor,  shall  be  guilty  of  neglect  of duty and may be
27    removed by the Governor.  The cost of any bond given  by  any
28    member of the Board under this Section shall be taken to be a
29    part of the necessary expenses of the Board.
30        (8)  Upon  the request of the Board, the Department shall
31    employ such personnel as may be necessary to  carry  out  the
32    functions of the Board.  No person shall be employed to serve
33    the  Board  who  is,  or whose spouse, parent or child is, an
34    official of, or has a  financial  interest  in  or  financial
 
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 1    relation  with,  any  operator engaged in gambling operations
 2    within this State or any organization engaged  in  conducting
 3    horse racing within this State.  Any employee violating these
 4    prohibitions shall be subject to termination of employment.
 5        (9)  An  Administrator  shall  perform any and all duties
 6    that  the  Board  shall  assign  him.   The  salary  of   the
 7    Administrator  shall  be determined by the Board and approved
 8    by the Director of the Department and, in addition, he  shall
 9    be  reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred
10    by  him  in  discharge   of   his   official   duties.    The
11    Administrator  shall  keep  records of all proceedings of the
12    Board and shall preserve all records,  books,  documents  and
13    other papers belonging to the Board or entrusted to its care.
14    The Administrator shall devote his full time to the duties of
15    the office and shall not hold any other office or employment.
16        (b)  The  Board shall have general responsibility for the
17    implementation of this  Act.   Its  duties  include,  without
18    limitation, the following:
19             (1)  To  decide promptly and in reasonable order all
20        license applications. Any party aggrieved by an action of
21        the Board denying, suspending, revoking,  restricting  or
22        refusing  to renew a license may request a hearing before
23        the Board.  A request for a hearing must be made  to  the
24        Board in writing within 5 days after service of notice of
25        the  action  of  the  Board.  Notice of the action of the
26        Board shall be served either by personal delivery  or  by
27        certified mail, postage prepaid, to the aggrieved party.
28        Notice  served by certified mail shall be deemed complete
29        on the business day following the date of  such  mailing.
30        The  Board  shall conduct all requested hearings promptly
31        and in reasonable order;
32             (2)  To conduct all  hearings  pertaining  to  civil
33        violations   of   this   Act  or  rules  and  regulations
34        promulgated hereunder;
 
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 1             (3)  To promulgate such rules and regulations as  in
 2        its  judgment  may be necessary to protect or enhance the
 3        credibility  and   integrity   of   gambling   operations
 4        authorized   by  this  Act  and  the  regulatory  process
 5        hereunder;
 6             (4)  To provide for the establishment and collection
 7        of all license and registration fees and taxes imposed by
 8        this Act and the rules and  regulations  issued  pursuant
 9        hereto.   All such fees and taxes shall be deposited into
10        the State Gaming Fund;
11             (5)  To provide  for  the  levy  and  collection  of
12        penalties  and  fines  for the violation of provisions of
13        this  Act  and  the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated
14        hereunder.   All  such  fines  and  penalties  shall   be
15        deposited  into the Education Assistance Fund, created by
16        Public Act 86-0018, of the State of Illinois;
17             (6)  To be present through its inspectors and agents
18        any  time  gambling  operations  are  conducted  on   any
19        riverboat  for  the  purpose  of  certifying  the revenue
20        thereof,  receiving  complaints  from  the  public,   and
21        conducting  such other investigations into the conduct of
22        the gambling games and the maintenance of  the  equipment
23        as  from  time  to  time the Board may deem necessary and
24        proper;
25             (7)  To review and rule  upon  any  complaint  by  a
26        licensee  regarding  any  investigative procedures of the
27        State which  are  unnecessarily  disruptive  of  gambling
28        operations.  The need to inspect and investigate shall be
29        presumed  at  all  times.  The disruption of a licensee's
30        operations  shall  be  proved  by  clear  and  convincing
31        evidence, and establish that:  (A) the procedures had  no
32        reasonable   law   enforcement   purposes,  and  (B)  the
33        procedures were so disruptive as to unreasonably  inhibit
34        gambling operations;
 
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 1             (8)  To  hold  at  least one meeting each quarter of
 2        the fiscal year.  In addition, special  meetings  may  be
 3        called  by  the  Chairman  or any 2 Board members upon 72
 4        hours written notice to each member.  All Board  meetings
 5        shall  be subject to the Open Meetings Act. Three members
 6        of the Board shall constitute a quorum, and 3 votes shall
 7        be required for any final  determination  by  the  Board.
 8        The  Board  shall  keep a complete and accurate record of
 9        all its meetings. A majority of the members of the  Board
10        shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the transaction of any
11        business, for the performance of any  duty,  or  for  the
12        exercise  of  any power which this Act requires the Board
13        members to transact, perform or exercise en banc,  except
14        that,  upon  order of the Board, one of the Board members
15        or an administrative law judge designated  by  the  Board
16        may conduct any hearing provided for under this Act or by
17        Board  rule  and  may recommend findings and decisions to
18        the Board.  The Board member or administrative law  judge
19        conducting  such hearing shall have all powers and rights
20        granted to the Board in this Act. The record made at  the
21        time  of the hearing shall be reviewed by the Board, or a
22        majority thereof, and the findings and  decision  of  the
23        majority  of  the Board shall constitute the order of the
24        Board in such case;
25             (9)  To maintain  records  which  are  separate  and
26        distinct  from  the  records  of any other State board or
27        commission.  Such records shall be available  for  public
28        inspection   and   shall  accurately  reflect  all  Board
29        proceedings;
30             (10)  To file  a  written  annual  report  with  the
31        Governor  on  or  before  March  1  each  year  and  such
32        additional  reports  as  the  Governor  may  request. The
33        annual report shall include a statement of  receipts  and
34        disbursements  by  the Board, actions taken by the Board,
 
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 1        and any additional information and recommendations  which
 2        the  Board  may  deem  valuable or which the Governor may
 3        request;
 4             (11)  To review the patterns of  wagering  and  wins
 5        and  losses  by  persons on riverboat gambling operations
 6        under this Act, and make recommendation to  the  Governor
 7        and  the  General  Assembly,  by  January 31, 1992, as to
 8        whether limits on wagering losses should be imposed; and
 9             (12)  To    assume    responsibility     for     the
10        administration  and  enforcement of the Bingo License and
11        Tax Act, the Charitable Games Act, and the Pull Tabs  and
12        Jar  Games  Act if such responsibility is delegated to it
13        by the Director of Revenue.
14        (c)  The Board shall have  jurisdiction  over  and  shall
15    supervise  all gambling operations governed by this Act.  The
16    Board shall have all powers necessary and proper to fully and
17    effectively execute the provisions of  this  Act,  including,
18    but not limited to, the following:
19             (1)  To  investigate  applicants  and  determine the
20        eligibility of applicants  for  licenses  and  to  select
21        among  competing  applicants  the  applicants  which best
22        serve the interests of the citizens of Illinois.
23             (2)  To have jurisdiction and supervision  over  all
24        riverboat  gambling  operations  in  this  State  and all
25        persons  on  riverboats  where  gambling  operations  are
26        conducted.
27             (3)  To promulgate rules  and  regulations  for  the
28        purpose  of  administering the provisions of this Act and
29        to prescribe  rules,  regulations  and  conditions  under
30        which  all  riverboat  gambling  in  the  State  shall be
31        conducted.  Such rules and regulations are to provide for
32        the prevention of practices  detrimental  to  the  public
33        interest   and   for  the  best  interests  of  riverboat
34        gambling, including rules and regulations  regarding  the
 
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 1        inspection  of  such  riverboats  and  the  review of any
 2        permits or licenses  necessary  to  operate  a  riverboat
 3        under  any  laws or regulations applicable to riverboats,
 4        and to impose penalties for violations thereof.
 5             (4)  To enter the office, riverboats, facilities, or
 6        other places of business of a licensee, where evidence of
 7        the compliance or noncompliance with  the  provisions  of
 8        this Act is likely to be found.
 9             (5)  To  investigate  alleged violations of this Act
10        or the  rules  of  the  Board  and  to  take  appropriate
11        disciplinary  action against a licensee or a holder of an
12        occupational  license  for  a  violation,  or   institute
13        appropriate legal action for enforcement, or both.
14             (6)  To  adopt  standards  for  the licensing of all
15        persons under this Act, as  well  as  for  electronic  or
16        mechanical gambling games, and to establish fees for such
17        licenses.
18             (7)  To   adopt   appropriate   standards   for  all
19        riverboats and facilities.
20             (8)  To  require   that   the   records,   including
21        financial  or other statements of any licensee under this
22        Act, shall be kept in such manner as  prescribed  by  the
23        Board   and  that  any  such  licensee  involved  in  the
24        ownership or management of gambling operations submit  to
25        the  Board  an  annual  balance sheet and profit and loss
26        statement, list of  the  stockholders  or  other  persons
27        having  a  1%  or  greater  beneficial  interest  in  the
28        gambling  activities  of  each  licensee,   and any other
29        information  the  Board  deems  necessary  in  order   to
30        effectively   administer   this   Act   and   all  rules,
31        regulations, orders and final decisions promulgated under
32        this Act.
33             (9)  To conduct hearings, issue  subpoenas  for  the
34        attendance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum for the
 
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 1        production   of   books,   records  and  other  pertinent
 2        documents in accordance with the Illinois  Administrative
 3        Procedure  Act,  and to administer oaths and affirmations
 4        to the witnesses, when, in the judgment of the Board,  it
 5        is  necessary  to  administer  or enforce this Act or the
 6        Board rules.
 7             (10)  To prescribe a form to be used by any licensee
 8        involved in  the  ownership  or  management  of  gambling
 9        operations  as  an  application  for employment for their
10        employees.
11             (11)  To revoke or suspend licenses,  as  the  Board
12        may see fit and in compliance with applicable laws of the
13        State  regarding administrative procedures, and to review
14        applications for the renewal of licenses.  The Board  may
15        suspend an owners license, without notice or hearing upon
16        a  determination  that the safety or health of patrons or
17        employees is  jeopardized  by  continuing  a  riverboat's
18        operation.  The suspension may remain in effect until the
19        Board  determines  that the cause for suspension has been
20        abated.  The Board may revoke the owners license  upon  a
21        determination  that  the  owner has not made satisfactory
22        progress toward abating the hazard.
23             (12)  To eject or exclude or authorize the  ejection
24        or  exclusion  of,  any  person  from  riverboat gambling
25        facilities where such person is in violation of this Act,
26        rules and regulations thereunder, or final orders of  the
27        Board,  or  where  such person's conduct or reputation is
28        such that his  presence  within  the  riverboat  gambling
29        facilities  may,  in  the opinion of the Board, call into
30        question  the  honesty  and  integrity  of  the  gambling
31        operations or interfere  with  orderly  conduct  thereof;
32        provided that the propriety of such ejection or exclusion
33        is subject to subsequent hearing by the Board.
34             (13)  To   require   all   licensees   of   gambling
 
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 1        operations  to utilize a cashless wagering system whereby
 2        all players' money is  converted  to  tokens,  electronic
 3        cards,  or chips which shall be used only for wagering in
 4        the gambling establishment.
 5             (14)  To authorize the routes of a riverboat and the
 6        stops which a riverboat may make.
 7             (15)  To suspend, revoke or  restrict  licenses,  to
 8        require  the  removal  of  a licensee or an employee of a
 9        licensee for a violation of this Act or a Board  rule  or
10        for  engaging  in  a  fraudulent  practice, and to impose
11        civil penalties of up to $5,000 against  individuals  and
12        up  to  $10,000  or  an  amount  equal to the daily gross
13        receipts, whichever is larger, against licensees for each
14        violation of any provision of the Act, any rules  adopted
15        by  the Board, any order of the Board or any other action
16        which, in the  Board's  discretion,  is  a  detriment  or
17        impediment to riverboat gambling operations.
18             (16)  To   hire  employees  to  gather  information,
19        conduct investigations and  carry  out  any  other  tasks
20        contemplated under this Act.
21             (17)  To establish minimum levels of insurance to be
22        maintained by licensees.
23             (18)  To  authorize  a  licensee  to  sell  or serve
24        alcoholic liquors, wine or beer as defined in the  Liquor
25        Control  Act  of  1934  on  board a riverboat and to have
26        exclusive authority to establish the hours for  sale  and
27        consumption  of  alcoholic  liquor  on board a riverboat,
28        notwithstanding any provision of the Liquor  Control  Act
29        of 1934 or any local ordinance.  The establishment of the
30        hours  for  sale  and  consumption of alcoholic liquor on
31        board a riverboat is an exclusive power and  function  of
32        the  State.  A home rule unit may not establish the hours
33        for sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor on  board  a
34        riverboat.   This  amendatory Act of 1991 is a denial and
 
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 1        limitation  of  home  rule  powers  and  functions  under
 2        subsection (h)  of  Section  6  of  Article  VII  of  the
 3        Illinois Constitution.
 4             (19)  After consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of
 5        Engineers, to establish binding emergency orders upon the
 6        concurrence  of  a  majority  of the members of the Board
 7        regarding the navigability of  rivers  in  the  event  of
 8        extreme  weather conditions, acts of God or other extreme
 9        circumstances.
10             (20)  To delegate the execution of any of its powers
11        under this Act  for  the  purpose  of  administering  and
12        enforcing   this   Act  and  its  rules  and  regulations
13        hereunder.
14             (21)  To take any other action as may be  reasonable
15        or   appropriate  to  enforce  this  Act  and  rules  and
16        regulations hereunder.
17        (d)  The Board may seek and shall receive the cooperation
18    of the Department of State Police  in  conducting  background
19    investigations   of   applicants   and   in   fulfilling  its
20    responsibilities under this Section.  Costs incurred  by  the
21    Department  of  State  Police as a result of such cooperation
22    shall  be  paid  by  the  Board  in  conformance   with   the
23    requirements  of  subsection  22  of Section 55a of The Civil
24    Administrative Code of Illinois.
25    (Source: P.A. 86-1029; 86-1389; 87-826.)

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