Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands gambling development in certain areas and amends state gambling tax appropriations.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Chicago Casino Development Authority for the purpose of building, promoting and maintaining a casino in the city of Chicago which includes the following facilities (Sec. 1):
• 1 temporary land-based or water-based facility;
• 1 permanent land-based or water-based facility; and
• Airport gaming locations.

• Requires the profits from the Chicago casino to be used by the city for the construction, maintenance, and “modernization” of schools (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Illinois Gaming Board to issue 1 owner’s license that authorizes the conduct of gambling in a casino in the city of Chicago (Sec. 7). 

• Requires airport gaming operations to meet the following requirements (Secs. 1 & 7): 
• The gaming is limited to slot machines;
• The gaming is conducted in a secured area beyond the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints; and
• The gaming is only available to airline passengers who are members of a private gambling club and who are at least 21 years old.

• Authorizes the Illinois Gaming Board to issue 1 owner’s license that authorizes the conduct of riverboat gambling in each of the following locations (Sec. 7): 
• The City of Danville;
• The City of Rockford;
• The Cook County township of Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich, Thornton, or Worth; and
• The Lake County municipality of Park City, North Chicago, or Waukegan. 

• Authorizes the Illinois Gaming Board to issue an electronic gaming license to a horse-racing track that authorizes the use of slot machines on the grounds of the racetrack (Secs. 1 & 90).
• Establishes a fee of $100,000 for the issuance or renewal of an electronic gaming license (Sec. 90).

• Appropriates tax revenue funds gathered from electronic gaming licenses and deposited into the State Gaming Fund for certain uses including, but not limited to, the following uses (Sec. 90):
• $5 million annually for the administration of programs to treat gambling addiction;
• $5 million annually to the State Fairgrounds Capital Improvements Fund; and
• $75,000 annually to a county forest for the maintenance of a botanic garden in a preserved district.

• Requires any remaining amounts of tax revenue funds gathered from electronic gaming licenses and deposited into the State Gaming Fund to be deposited into the Education Assistance Fund (Sec. 90).

• Prohibits casino operator licensees and applicants from offering campaign contributions to certain individuals including, but not limited to, the following individuals (Sec. 1):
• State officeholders and candidates for such offices; and
• County and municipal officeholders and candidates for such offices in counties and municipalities that receive financial benefits from gaming activities.

• Establishes the “Depressed Communities Economic Development Board” to make recommendations to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to award grants to public or private entities planning to revitalize an Illinois depressed community including, but not limited to, plans intended to curb high levels of poverty and unemployment (Sec. 90).

• Establishes the “Commission on the Future of Economic Development of the Latino Community” to perform certain duties including, but not limited to, the following duties (Sec. 90):
• To make recommendations to the department concerning to award grants to public or private entities to assist in the economic development of the Latino community;
• To maintain and develop the economy of Latinos and provide opportunities for the community which will “enhance and expand” the quality of their lives; and
• To submit to the governor and the general assembly a biennial comprehensive statewide economic development strategy for the Latino community. 

• Appropriates certain proceeds collected from wagering taxes paid by the riverboats and casinos authorized by this bill to be transferred to other funds including, but not limited to, the following funds (Sec. 90):
• 5 percent of the wagering taxes to the Depressed Communities Economic Development Fund; and
• 2.5 percent of the wagering taxes to the Latino Community Economic Development Fund.

Full Bill Text