104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1356 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act Creates the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits a video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner from making a contribution to: (1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or (2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials. Provides that any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. Requires political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees to maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the Act. Imposes penalties on any person or entity found to have made prohibited political contributions and on any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts prohibited political contributions. Allows the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission to enforce the Act. Allows the Attorney General to prosecute violations of the Act. Effective immediately. LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1356 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act Creates the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits a video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner from making a contribution to: (1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or (2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials. Provides that any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. Requires political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees to maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the Act. Imposes penalties on any person or entity found to have made prohibited political contributions and on any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts prohibited political contributions. Allows the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission to enforce the Act. Allows the Attorney General to prosecute violations of the Act. Effective immediately. LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1356 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act New Act
New Act
Creates the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits a video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner from making a contribution to: (1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or (2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials. Provides that any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. Requires political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees to maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the Act. Imposes penalties on any person or entity found to have made prohibited political contributions and on any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts prohibited political contributions. Allows the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission to enforce the Act. Allows the Attorney General to prosecute violations of the Act. Effective immediately.
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LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b
A BILL FOR
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1 AN ACT concerning gaming.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Video
5 Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act.
6 Section 5. Purpose; application.
7 (a) The purpose of this Act is to promote transparency,
8 prevent conflicts of interest, and protect the integrity of
9 the democratic process by prohibiting directors, employees,
10 investors, landlords, property owners, video game terminal
11 operators, and their immediate family members from making
12 political contributions to candidates, political
13 organizations, political action committees, or independent
14 expenditure committees that may directly or indirectly
15 influence their financial interests.
16 (b) This prohibition applies to entities benefiting from
17 gaming licenses.
18 Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
19 "Board of directors" means the governing body of an entity
20 that owns or operates a gaming location or leases property to
21 such operators.
22 "Gaming location investor" means an individual or entity
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1356 Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act New Act
New Act
Creates the Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act. Prohibits a video game terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner from making a contribution to: (1) a municipal or county official responsible for issuing gaming licenses; or (2) a political action committee that supports or is affiliated with such officials. Provides that any corporation, organization, or entity receiving benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their immediate family members who receive a benefit to the appropriate governmental body. Requires political organizations, candidates, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees to maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities subject to the Act. Imposes penalties on any person or entity found to have made prohibited political contributions and on any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts prohibited political contributions. Allows the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission to enforce the Act. Allows the Attorney General to prosecute violations of the Act. Effective immediately.
LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b
LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b
A BILL FOR
New Act
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1 that holds a financial interest in a licensed gaming location,
2 including the individual's or entity's immediate family
3 members.
4 "Immediate family member" means a spouse, domestic
5 partner, parent, sibling, child, or any other relative
6 residing in the same household as the individual.
7 "Landlord" means an individual or entity that owns or
8 manages a property and leases all or part of it to tenants,
9 including gaming operators or video gaming location owners.
10 "Municipal or county issuer" means a local governmental
11 body, official, or regulatory entity responsible for approving
12 or issuing gaming.
13 "Political action committee" means any committee,
14 organization, or entity organized for the purpose of raising
15 or spending funds to influence political elections.
16 "Video game terminal operator" means an individual or
17 entity licensed to operate video gaming terminals.
18 Section 15. Prohibited contributions.
19 (a) No video game terminal operator, landlord, or property
20 owner, the board of directors or investors of a terminal
21 operator, landlord, or property owner, or immediately family
22 members of a terminal operator, landlord, or property owner
23 may make a contribution to:
24 (1) a municipal or county official responsible for
25 issuing gaming licenses; or
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1 (2) a political action committee that supports or is
2 affiliated with such officials.
3 (b) The prohibition applies for a period of 10 years from
4 the date of issuance or approval of the gaming license, tax
5 increment financing district benefit, or zoning variance.
6 Section 20. Disclosure of benefits and contributions.
7 (a) Any corporation, organization, or entity receiving
8 benefits from a gaming license shall disclose the names of
9 directors, employees, investors, landlords, and their
10 immediate family members who receive a benefit to the
11 appropriate governmental body. This disclosure shall be made
12 annually and available for public inspection.
13 (b) Political organizations, candidates, political action
14 committees, and independent expenditure committees shall
15 maintain records and disclose contributions from individuals
16 or entities subject to the provisions of this Act.
17 Section 25. Penalties.
18 (a) Any person or entity found to have violated the
19 provisions of this Act by making prohibited political
20 contributions shall be subject to:
21 (1) A civil penalty of up to $100,000.
22 (2) Suspension or revocation of the gaming license or
23 associated with the violating party.
24 (3) Ineligibility to receive future benefits from
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1 gaming licenses for a period of up to 5 years.
2 (b) Any municipal or county official who knowingly accepts
3 a prohibited political contribution shall be subject to:
4 (1) An ethics investigation and potential action,
5 including removal from office.
6 (2) Criminal penalties for repeated or intentional
7 violations, including imprisonment for up to one year.
8 Section 30. Enforcement.
9 (a) The Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois State Board of
10 Elections, and the Illinois Ethics Commission are responsible
11 for enforcement of this Act, including conducting
12 investigations and imposing penalties.
13 (b) The Attorney General may also prosecute a violation of
14 this Act.
15 Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
16 severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
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