Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that both creates and amends the rules and regulations regarding the gaming and gambling laws in the state.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the creation of the "Chicago Casino Development Authority" (Sec. 1-12).

• Specifies that the "Chicago Casino Development Authority" shall be responsible for the following duties (Sec. 1-13):
• Promote and maintain a casino in the city;
• Construct, equip, and maintain grounds, buildings, and facilities for that purpose;
• Contract with a casino operator licensee to manage and operate the casino, and in no event shall the Authority or City manage or operate the casino; and
• The Authority is responsible for the payment of any fees required of a casino operator under the Illinois Gambling act.

• Authorizes the authority to select locations in the City for a temporary and a permanent casino, subject to final approval by the Gaming Board (Sec. 1-31).

• Specifies that board members and employees of the Authority must carry out their duties and responsibilities in such a manner as to promote and preserve public trust and confidence in the integrity and conduct of gaming (Sec. 1-32).

• Prohibits Board members and employees of the Authority from engaging in gambling on any riverboat, in any casino, or in an electronic gaming facility licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board (Sec. 1-32).

• Prohibits Board members and employees of the Authority from pursuing employment, office, position, business, or occupation that may conflict with his or her official duties with the Authority (Sec. 1-32).

• Specifies that the Board shall develop and administer a competitive sealed bidding process for the selection of a potential casino operator licensee to develop or operate a casino within the city (Sec. 1-45).

• Specifies that within 5 days after the time limit for submitting bids and proposals has passed, the Board shall make all bids and proposals public (Sec. 1-45).

• Specifies that after reviewing proposals, and subject to Gaming Board approval, the Board shall enter into a casino management contract authorizing the development, construction, or operation of the casino (Sec. 1-45).

• Specifies that after the Authority has been issued a casino license, the Gaming Board has issued a casino operator license, and the Gaming Board has approved the location of a temporary facility, the Authority may conduct gaming operations at a temporary facility for no longer than 24 months after gaming operations begin (Sec. 1-45).

• Authorizes the creation of an advisory committee to monitor, review and report on the Authority's utilization of minority-owned business enterprises and female-owned business enterprises, with regard to the development and construction of the casino (Sec. 1-62).

• Authorizes the Authority to conduct gaming operations in an airport under the administration or control of the Chicago Department of Aviation. Gaming operations may be conducted in airports so long as (Sec. 1-67):
• Gaming operations are conducted in a secured area that is beyond the Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints and only available to airline passengers and not the general public;
• Gaming operations are limited to slot machines; and
• The combined number of gaming positions operating in the City at the airports and the temporary and permanent casino facility does not exceed the maximum number of gaming positions authorized pursuant to the The Illinois Gambling Act.

• Authorizes the Authority to borrow money and issue bonds for land acquisition, site assembly and preparation, and the design and construction of the casino (Sec. 1-75).

• Specifies that bonds of the Authority shall be payable from one or more of the following sources (Sec. 1-75):   
• The property or revenues of the Authority;
• Revenues derived from the casino;
• Revenues derived from any casino operator licensee;
• Fees, bid proceeds, charges, lease payments, payments required pursuant to any casino management contract or other revenues payable to the Authority;
• Payments by financial institutions, insurance companies, or others pursuant to letters or lines or credit, policies of insurance, or purchase agreements;
• Investment earnings from funds or accounts maintained;
• Proceeds of refunding bonds; and
• Any other revenues of payments derived from by the City.

• Establishes that all construction contracts and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment, and services, when the cost to the Authority exceeds $25,000, shall be let by a competitive selection process to the lowest responsible proposer (Sec. 1-115).

• Authorizes the creation of the "Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority" (Sec. 10-10).

• Establishes that the duties of the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority shall include promoting, operating, and maintaining horse racing operations through a racing contractor in the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Sec. 10-15).

• Specifies the governing and administrative powers of the Racetrack Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 11 members (Sec. 10-20).

• Specifies that the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority shall have the following rights and powers (Sec. 10-30):
• Transition the conduct of horse racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds from an annual race meeting that is contained within the duration of the Illinois State Fair to an annual standard bred race meeting that lasts from 3 to 9 months;
• Adopt, amend, and repeal by-laws, rules and regulations consistent with the furtherance of the powers and duties provided for;
• Operate and maintain grounds, buildings, and facilities to carry out its corporate purposes and duties;
• Enter into revoke, and modify contracts;
• Develop a master plan for development of horse racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds;
• Receive and disburse funds for its own corporate purposes or as otherwise specified in this Act; and
• Borrow money from any source, public or private.

• Establishes that the Board shall develop and administer a competitive sealed bidding process for the selection of a potential racing contractor to develop or operate hose racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Sec. 10-35).

• Specifies that within 5 days after the time limit for submitting bids and proposals has passed, the Board shall make all bids and proposals public (Sec. 10-35).

• Specifies that the racing Authority and its racing contractor are subject to the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and all of the rules of the Illinois Racing Board (Sec. 10-37).

• Establishes that all construction contracts and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment, and services, when the cost to the Authority exceeds $25,000, shall be let by a competitive selection process to the lowest responsible proposer (Sec. 1-115).

• Authorizes the creation of the Depressed Communities Economic Development board (Sec. 605-530).

• Specifies that the Board must make recommendations, which must be approved by a majority of the Board, to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity concerning the award of grants from amounts appropriated to the Department from the Depressed Communities Economic Development Fund (Sec. 605-530).

• Authorizes the creation of the Gaming Facilities Fee Revenue Fund (Sec. 6z-79).

• Amends the following aspects of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 (Secs. 3.33, 3.35 & 3.36):
• Defines "Electronic Gaming" as slot machine gambling, video game of chance gambling, or gambling with electronic gambling games;
• Defines "Electronic gaming license" as a license issued by the Illinois Gaming Board authorizing electronic gaming at an electronic gaming facility; and
• Defines "electronic gaming facility" as a portion of an organization licensee's racetrack facility at which electronic gaming is conducted.

• Amends the following aspects of Chapter 230 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) (230 ILCS 5/20):
• Specifies that in awarding standard bred racing dates for calendar year 2012 and thereafter, the Board shall award at least 310 racing days, and each organization licensees shall average at least 12 races for each racing day awarded; and
• Specifies that in awarding racing dates for calendar year 2020 and thereafter, the Board shall award racing dates and the organization licensees shall run at least 2,500 thoroughbred races at cook County race tracks and 700 thoroughbred races at a race track in Madison county each year.

• Amends the Illinois Compiled Statutes establishing that a person, firm, or corporation having operating control of a race track that employees 10 or more persons must waive the rights of itself and its members to strike, picket, or otherwise boycott the operation for at least 3 years before it files its application for an electronic gaming license to provide or prepare food or beverages or perform custodial or maintenance work (230 ILCS 5/29.2).

• Amends the Illinois Compiled Statutes specifying that the Illinois Racing Board and the Department of Agriculture shall jointly establish a program for the purpose of conducting drug testing of horses at county fairs and shall adopt any rules necessary for enforcement of the program (230 ILCS 5/34.3).

• Amends the Illinois Compiled Statutes adding the following sections pertaining to electronic gaming (230 ILCS 5/56):
• A person, firm, or corporation having operating control of a race track, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority, may apply to the Gaming Board for an electronic gaming license; an electronic gaming license shall authorize its holder to conduct electronic gaming on the grounds of the race track controlled by the licensee's race track;
• Only one electronic gaming license may be awarded for any racetrack and each license shall specify the number of gaming positions that its holder may operate;
• An electronic gaming licensee may not permit persons less than 21 years of age to be present in its electronic gaming facility;
• As a requirement for continued eligibility to conduct electronic gaming, each organization licensee must promote live racing and horse ownership through marketing and promotional efforts.

• Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act by changing the short title from the latter to the Illinois Gambling Act (230 ILCS 10/1).

• Authorizes the Board to issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat or casino gambling in each of the following cities (230 ILCS 10/7):
• The City of Chicago;
• The City of Danville;
• The City of Park City;
• The City of Rockford; and
• The following townships: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton, or Worth.

• Specifies that all casinos, riverboats, and electronic gaming facilities shall consist of buildings that are certified as meeting the U.S. Green Building Council's leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards (230 ILCS 10/7.12).

• Requires a tax to be imposed on admissions to electronic gaming facilities at the rate of $3 per person admitted by an electronic gaming licensee (230 ILCS 10/12).

• Specifies that from the tax revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund under this act, $10 million shall be paid annually to the Department of Human Services for the administration of programs to treat problem gambling (230 ILCS 10/13).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that both creates and amends the rules and regulations regarding the gaming and gambling laws in the state.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the creation of the "Chicago Casino Development Authority" (Sec. 1-12).

• Specifies that the "Chicago Casino Development Authority" shall be responsible for the following duties (Sec. 1-13):
• Promote and maintain a casino in the city;
• Construct, equip, and maintain grounds, buildings, and facilities for that purpose;
• Contract with a casino operator licensee to manage and operate the casino, and in no event shall the Authority or City manage or operate the casino; and
• The Authority is responsible for the payment of any fees required of a casino operator under the Illinois Gambling act.

• Authorizes the authority to select locations in the City for a temporary and a permanent casino, subject to final approval by the Gaming Board (Sec. 1-31).

• Specifies that board members and employees of the Authority must carry out their duties and responsibilities in such a manner as to promote and preserve public trust and confidence in the integrity and conduct of gaming (Sec. 1-32).

• Prohibits Board members and employees of the Authority from engaging in gambling on any riverboat, in any casino, or in an electronic gaming facility licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board (Sec. 1-32).

• Prohibits Board members and employees of the Authority from pursuing employment, office, position, business, or occupation that may conflict with his or her official duties with the Authority (Sec. 1-32).

• Specifies that the Board shall develop and administer a competitive sealed bidding process for the selection of a potential casino operator licensee to develop or operate a casino within the city (Sec. 1-45).

• Specifies that within 5 days after the time limit for submitting bids and proposals has passed, the Board shall make all bids and proposals public (Sec. 1-45).

• Specifies that after reviewing proposals, and subject to Gaming Board approval, the Board shall enter into a casino management contract authorizing the development, construction, or operation of the casino (Sec. 1-45).

• Specifies that after the Authority has been issued a casino license, the Gaming Board has issued a casino operator license, and the Gaming Board has approved the location of a temporary facility, the Authority may conduct gaming operations at a temporary facility for no longer than 24 months after gaming operations begin (Sec. 1-45).

• Authorizes the creation of an advisory committee to monitor, review and report on the Authority's utilization of minority-owned business enterprises and female-owned business enterprises, with regard to the development and construction of the casino (Sec. 1-62).

• Authorizes the Authority to conduct gaming operations in an airport under the administration or control of the Chicago Department of Aviation. Gaming operations may be conducted in airports so long as (Sec. 1-67):
• Gaming operations are conducted in a secured area that is beyond the Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints and only available to airline passengers and not the general public;
• Gaming operations are limited to slot machines; and
• The combined number of gaming positions operating in the City at the airports and the temporary and permanent casino facility does not exceed the maximum number of gaming positions authorized pursuant to the The Illinois Gambling Act.

• Authorizes the Authority to borrow money and issue bonds for land acquisition, site assembly and preparation, and the design and construction of the casino (Sec. 1-75).

• Specifies that bonds of the Authority shall be payable from one or more of the following sources (Sec. 1-75):   
• The property or revenues of the Authority;
• Revenues derived from the casino;
• Revenues derived from any casino operator licensee;
• Fees, bid proceeds, charges, lease payments, payments required pursuant to any casino management contract or other revenues payable to the Authority;
• Payments by financial institutions, insurance companies, or others pursuant to letters or lines or credit, policies of insurance, or purchase agreements;
• Investment earnings from funds or accounts maintained;
• Proceeds of refunding bonds; and
• Any other revenues of payments derived from by the City.

• Establishes that all construction contracts and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment, and services, when the cost to the Authority exceeds $25,000, shall be let by a competitive selection process to the lowest responsible proposer (Sec. 1-115).

• Authorizes the creation of the "Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority" (Sec. 10-10).

• Establishes that the duties of the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority shall include promoting, operating, and maintaining horse racing operations through a racing contractor in the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Sec. 10-15).

• Specifies the governing and administrative powers of the Racetrack Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 11 members (Sec. 10-20).

• Specifies that the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority shall have the following rights and powers (Sec. 10-30):
• Transition the conduct of horse racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds from an annual race meeting that is contained within the duration of the Illinois State Fair to an annual standard bred race meeting that lasts from 3 to 9 months;
• Adopt, amend, and repeal by-laws, rules and regulations consistent with the furtherance of the powers and duties provided for;
• Operate and maintain grounds, buildings, and facilities to carry out its corporate purposes and duties;
• Enter into revoke, and modify contracts;
• Develop a master plan for development of horse racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds;
• Receive and disburse funds for its own corporate purposes or as otherwise specified in this Act; and
• Borrow money from any source, public or private.

• Establishes that the Board shall develop and administer a competitive sealed bidding process for the selection of a potential racing contractor to develop or operate hose racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Sec. 10-35).

• Specifies that within 5 days after the time limit for submitting bids and proposals has passed, the Board shall make all bids and proposals public (Sec. 10-35).

• Specifies that the racing Authority and its racing contractor are subject to the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 and all of the rules of the Illinois Racing Board (Sec. 10-37).

• Establishes that all construction contracts and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment, and services, when the cost to the Authority exceeds $25,000, shall be let by a competitive selection process to the lowest responsible proposer (Sec. 1-115).

• Authorizes the creation of the Depressed Communities Economic Development board (Sec. 605-530).

• Specifies that the Board must make recommendations, which must be approved by a majority of the Board, to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity concerning the award of grants from amounts appropriated to the Department from the Depressed Communities Economic Development Fund (Sec. 605-530).

• Authorizes the creation of the Gaming Facilities Fee Revenue Fund (Sec. 6z-79).

• Amends the following aspects of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 (Secs. 3.33, 3.35 & 3.36):
• Defines "Electronic Gaming" as slot machine gambling, video game of chance gambling, or gambling with electronic gambling games;
• Defines "Electronic gaming license" as a license issued by the Illinois Gaming Board authorizing electronic gaming at an electronic gaming facility; and
• Defines "electronic gaming facility" as a portion of an organization licensee's racetrack facility at which electronic gaming is conducted.

• Amends the following aspects of Chapter 230 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) (230 ILCS 5/20):
• Specifies that in awarding standard bred racing dates for calendar year 2012 and thereafter, the Board shall award at least 310 racing days, and each organization licensees shall average at least 12 races for each racing day awarded; and
• Specifies that in awarding racing dates for calendar year 2020 and thereafter, the Board shall award racing dates and the organization licensees shall run at least 2,500 thoroughbred races at cook County race tracks and 700 thoroughbred races at a race track in Madison county each year.

• Amends the Illinois Compiled Statutes establishing that a person, firm, or corporation having operating control of a race track that employees 10 or more persons must waive the rights of itself and its members to strike, picket, or otherwise boycott the operation for at least 3 years before it files its application for an electronic gaming license to provide or prepare food or beverages or perform custodial or maintenance work (230 ILCS 5/29.2).

• Amends the Illinois Compiled Statutes specifying that the Illinois Racing Board and the Department of Agriculture shall jointly establish a program for the purpose of conducting drug testing of horses at county fairs and shall adopt any rules necessary for enforcement of the program (230 ILCS 5/34.3).

• Amends the Illinois Compiled Statutes adding the following sections pertaining to electronic gaming (230 ILCS 5/56):
• A person, firm, or corporation having operating control of a race track, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority, may apply to the Gaming Board for an electronic gaming license; an electronic gaming license shall authorize its holder to conduct electronic gaming on the grounds of the race track controlled by the licensee's race track;
• Only one electronic gaming license may be awarded for any racetrack and each license shall specify the number of gaming positions that its holder may operate;
• An electronic gaming licensee may not permit persons less than 21 years of age to be present in its electronic gaming facility;
• As a requirement for continued eligibility to conduct electronic gaming, each organization licensee must promote live racing and horse ownership through marketing and promotional efforts.

• Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act by changing the short title from the latter to the Illinois Gambling Act (230 ILCS 10/1).

• Authorizes the Board to issue one owners license authorizing the conduct of riverboat or casino gambling in each of the following cities (230 ILCS 10/7):
• The City of Chicago;
• The City of Danville;
• The City of Park City;
• The City of Rockford; and
• The following townships: Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton, or Worth.

• Specifies that all casinos, riverboats, and electronic gaming facilities shall consist of buildings that are certified as meeting the U.S. Green Building Council's leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards (230 ILCS 10/7.12).

• Requires a tax to be imposed on admissions to electronic gaming facilities at the rate of $3 per person admitted by an electronic gaming licensee (230 ILCS 10/12).

• Specifies that from the tax revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund under this act, $10 million shall be paid annually to the Department of Human Services for the administration of programs to treat problem gambling (230 ILCS 10/13).

Full Bill Text