Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB1963 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/06/2025

                            104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 SB1963 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new Creates the Internet Gaming Act. Authorizes an Internet gaming operator to offer Internet gaming in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Provides that Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet gaming license or an Internet management services provider that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. Provides that an Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3 individually branded Internet gaming skins. Provides that an Internet management services provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the rules of the Board and the provisions of the Act. Includes provisions for: requirements of an Internet gaming platform; Internet waging accounts; license requirements; age verification, location, and responsible gaming; diversity goals in procurement and spending by Internet gaming licensees; acceptance of out-of-state wagers; and limitations on home rule units. Provides that a 25% privilege tax is imposed on Internet gaming to be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. Authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement the Act and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately. LRB104 08373 LNS 18424 b   A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 SB1963 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:  New Act5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new New Act  5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new  Creates the Internet Gaming Act. Authorizes an Internet gaming operator to offer Internet gaming in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Provides that Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet gaming license or an Internet management services provider that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. Provides that an Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3 individually branded Internet gaming skins. Provides that an Internet management services provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the rules of the Board and the provisions of the Act. Includes provisions for: requirements of an Internet gaming platform; Internet waging accounts; license requirements; age verification, location, and responsible gaming; diversity goals in procurement and spending by Internet gaming licensees; acceptance of out-of-state wagers; and limitations on home rule units. Provides that a 25% privilege tax is imposed on Internet gaming to be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. Authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement the Act and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.  LRB104 08373 LNS 18424 b     LRB104 08373 LNS 18424 b   A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 SB1963 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new New Act  5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new
New Act
5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new
Creates the Internet Gaming Act. Authorizes an Internet gaming operator to offer Internet gaming in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Provides that Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet gaming license or an Internet management services provider that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. Provides that an Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3 individually branded Internet gaming skins. Provides that an Internet management services provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the rules of the Board and the provisions of the Act. Includes provisions for: requirements of an Internet gaming platform; Internet waging accounts; license requirements; age verification, location, and responsible gaming; diversity goals in procurement and spending by Internet gaming licensees; acceptance of out-of-state wagers; and limitations on home rule units. Provides that a 25% privilege tax is imposed on Internet gaming to be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. Authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement the Act and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.
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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
5  Internet Gaming Act.
6  Section 5. Definitions. Unless otherwise provided in this
7  Act, the terms used in this Act have the same meaning given to
8  those terms in the Illinois Gambling Act. Further, as used in
9  this Act:
10  "Adjusted gross gaming revenue" means the total of all
11  sums actually received by an Internet gaming licensee from
12  Internet gaming operations, excluding voided wagers, free
13  play, and promotional credits, less the total of all sums
14  actually paid out as winnings to patrons, which includes the
15  cash equivalent of any merchandise or thing of value awarded
16  as a prize, and the total of successfully disputed credit or
17  debit card charges that were previously included in the
18  computation of gross gaming revenue. "Adjusted gross gaming
19  revenue" does not include the dollar amount of non-cashable
20  vouchers, coupons, or promotions redeemed by participants on
21  an Internet gaming platform.
22  "Board" means the Illinois Gaming Board.
23  "Internet game" means an Internet-based version or

 

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 SB1963 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new New Act  5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new
New Act
5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new
Creates the Internet Gaming Act. Authorizes an Internet gaming operator to offer Internet gaming in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Provides that Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet gaming license or an Internet management services provider that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. Provides that an Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3 individually branded Internet gaming skins. Provides that an Internet management services provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the rules of the Board and the provisions of the Act. Includes provisions for: requirements of an Internet gaming platform; Internet waging accounts; license requirements; age verification, location, and responsible gaming; diversity goals in procurement and spending by Internet gaming licensees; acceptance of out-of-state wagers; and limitations on home rule units. Provides that a 25% privilege tax is imposed on Internet gaming to be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. Authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement the Act and makes conforming changes in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR

 

 

New Act
5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new



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1  substantial equivalent of a gambling game, slot machine,
2  poker, table game, or any other game approved by the Board,
3  including, but not limited to, simulcasted live-dealer
4  versions of casino games in which an individual wagers money
5  or something of monetary value for the opportunity to win
6  money or something of monetary value, and which is accessed by
7  an Internet-connected computer or mobile device. "Internet
8  game" includes gaming tournaments conducted via the Internet
9  in which players compete against one another or in one or more
10  of the games authorized in this Act. "Internet game" does not
11  include sports wagering conducted pursuant to the Sports
12  Wagering Act or fantasy contests in which one or more players
13  compete against each other and winning outcomes reflect the
14  relative knowledge and skill of the players and are determined
15  predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the
16  performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of
17  sporting events.
18  "Internet gaming" means conducting Internet games.
19  "Internet gaming licensee" means the owners licensee or
20  organization licensee that holds an Internet gaming license
21  under this Act.
22  "Internet gaming operator" means an Internet gaming
23  licensee that operates an Internet gaming platform or, if an
24  Internet management services provider operates the Internet
25  gaming platform, the Internet management services provider.
26  "Internet gaming platform" means the combination of

 

 

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1  hardware and software or other technology designed and used to
2  manage, conduct, and record Internet gaming and the wagers
3  associated with Internet gaming.
4  "Internet gaming skin" means a distinctly branded Internet
5  gaming platform operated by an Internet gaming operator, which
6  may encompass a website, mobile application, or other portal
7  to the Internet gaming platform. The brand may be that of the
8  Internet gaming licensee or its affiliate, the Internet
9  management service provider, or another brand as agreed upon
10  by the Internet gaming licensee and its Internet management
11  service provider.
12  "Internet management service provider" means a licensed
13  business entity that operates an Internet gaming platform
14  pursuant to an agreement with an Internet gaming licensee.
15  "Internet wagering" means the placing of wagers with an
16  Internet gaming operator by persons who are either physically
17  present in the State or in another permissible jurisdiction
18  with which the Board has entered into a reciprocal agreement
19  when placing a wager or otherwise permitted to place a wager by
20  law.
21  "Internet wagering account" means a financial record
22  established and accessible through an Internet gaming platform
23  for an individual patron in which the patron may deposit and
24  withdraw funds for Internet gaming and other authorized
25  purchases and to which the Internet gaming operator may credit
26  winnings or other amounts due to that patron or authorized by

 

 

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1  that patron. Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the use of the
2  same Internet wagering account for sports wagering conducted
3  and authorized under the Sports Wagering Act.
4  "Organization licensee" has the meaning given to that term
5  in the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975.
6  "Owners licensee" means the holder of an owners license
7  issued under the Illinois Gambling Act.
8  "Permissible jurisdiction" means another jurisdiction from
9  which wagers may be accepted pursuant to Section 60.
10  "Supplier" means (i) a seller or lessor of gaming
11  equipment, systems, or other items to conduct Internet gaming,
12  including a manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or
13  retailer; (ii) a provider of Internet gaming equipment,
14  maintenance, or repair services; (iii) a provider of security
15  services at designated gaming areas; or (iv) any other
16  purveyor of goods, data, or services to an Internet gaming
17  licensee or Internet management service provider licensee, as
18  deemed necessary by the Board if the Board determines that the
19  goods, data, or services impact the integrity or security of
20  the Internet gaming operation.
21  Section 10. Board powers and responsibilities. The Board
22  has the same powers and responsibilities with respect to the
23  offering of Internet gaming as it has with respect to
24  non-Internet gaming pursuant to Section 5 of the Illinois
25  Gambling Act, except where the exercise of such powers or

 

 

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1  responsibilities is incompatible with the offering of gambling
2  games over the Internet or with this Act.
3  Section 15. Rulemaking.
4  (a) The Board shall adopt emergency rules within 90 days
5  after the effective date of this Act to administer this Act in
6  accordance with Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative
7  Procedure Act. For the purposes of the Illinois Administrative
8  Procedure Act, the General Assembly finds that the adoption of
9  rules to implement this Act is deemed an emergency and
10  necessary to the public interest, safety, and welfare.
11  (b) In adopting rules and regulating the conduct of
12  Internet gaming, the Board shall to the greatest extent
13  possible utilize existing rules adopted under the Illinois
14  Gambling Act and amend existing rules or adopt new rules or
15  standards only as reasonably necessary to implement Internet
16  gaming under this Act. The Board shall look to the Internet
17  gaming rules of other regulated jurisdictions in the United
18  States and shall implement consistent rules to the greatest
19  extent practicable.
20  Section 20. Internet gaming authorized.
21  (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
22  Internet gaming is only lawful when conducted by an Internet
23  gaming operator in accordance with the provisions of this Act
24  and the rules of the Board.

 

 

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1  (b) Internet gaming shall only be offered by an Internet
2  gaming licensee or an Internet management services provider
3  that has contracted with an Internet gaming licensee. An
4  Internet gaming licensee shall offer no more than 3
5  individually branded Internet gaming skins. The Internet
6  gaming licensee may operate the platform and contract with up
7  to 3 Internet management service providers to conduct Internet
8  gaming in accordance with the rules of the Board and the
9  provisions of this Act. An Internet management services
10  provider may conduct Internet gaming on its own Internet
11  gaming platform pursuant to the agreement between the provider
12  and an Internet gaming licensee and in accordance with the
13  rules of the Board and the provisions of this Act.
14  (c) The primary servers necessary to the placement or
15  resolution of wagers on an Internet gaming platform shall be
16  located within a facility that is secure and inaccessible to
17  the public. The primary servers may be located anywhere in the
18  United States that is in compliance with federal law for a
19  period of one year following the effective date of this Act.
20  Beginning one year after the effective date of this Act, the
21  primary servers must be located in the State. All wagers
22  placed by a person physically located in the State are deemed
23  to be placed in this State. The intermediate routing of
24  electronic data in connection with Internet gaming, including
25  across State lines, shall not determine the location or
26  locations in which a wager is initiated, received, or

 

 

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1  otherwise made.
2  Section 25. Requirements of Internet gaming platform.
3  (a) An Internet gaming operator may accept wagers on an
4  Internet gaming platform only as follows:
5  (1) the wager is placed directly with the Internet
6  gaming operator through an Internet wagering account; and
7  (2) the Internet gaming operator has verified that the
8  person placing the wager is the holder of the Internet
9  wagering account and is physically located within this
10  State or a permissible jurisdiction using technological
11  requirements in compliance with this Section.
12  (b) An Internet gaming platform shall include age and
13  location verification mechanisms and requirements that are
14  designed to preclude knowingly accepting wagers from
15  individuals under 21 years of age, persons not physically
16  within the State or a permissible jurisdiction, and persons
17  otherwise excluded from Internet gaming from establishing
18  Internet wagering accounts or from engaging in Internet gaming
19  under this Act. The Internet gaming platform's age, location,
20  and eligibility detection mechanisms shall monitor attempts to
21  access the system and shall use commercially reasonable
22  attempts to block unauthorized attempts to access the system.
23  (c) An Internet gaming operator shall implement
24  commercially reasonable data security standards to prevent
25  unauthorized access by any person whose identity has not been

 

 

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1  verified or cannot be verified, in accordance with rules
2  adopted by the Board. The Internet gaming platform's identity
3  verification mechanisms shall monitor attempts to access the
4  system and shall use commercially reasonable attempts to block
5  unauthorized attempts to access the system by persons who are
6  not the wagering account holder.
7  (d) An Internet gaming operator shall implement
8  commercially reasonable standards to protect the privacy and
9  security of patrons to a reasonable degree of certainty.
10  Internet gaming operators shall establish and offer patrons
11  the option to protect their accounts with multi-factor
12  authentication or authentication features such as personal
13  identification numbers or biometric data.
14  (e) An Internet gaming operator shall establish internal
15  and accounting controls applicable to Internet gaming and
16  shall ensure that the security and integrity of all financial
17  transactions in connection with Internet gaming shall comply
18  with this Act and any rules adopted by the Board.
19  (f) Each Internet gaming operator shall collect, report,
20  and pay all applicable taxes and fees and shall maintain all
21  books, records, and documents pertaining to the Internet
22  gaming operators gaming operations in a manner approved by the
23  Board.
24  (g) All books, records, and documents concerning Internet
25  gaming shall be available for inspection upon commercially
26  reasonable notice by the Board during ordinary business hours

 

 

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1  in accordance with the Board's rules and shall be maintained
2  by each Internet gaming operator in a manner and during
3  periods of time as the Board shall require.
4  (h) Each Internet gaming operator shall maintain a file
5  containing samples of the types and forms of advertising and
6  promotional materials that it has used for Internet gaming in
7  connection with this State for a period of 2 years. Such
8  advertising samples shall be made available or produced for
9  inspection upon the Board's request. The Board shall allow for
10  Internet gaming operators to advertise beginning on the date
11  of their licensing approval, including a temporary licensing
12  approval. Nothing in this Section shall require Internet
13  gaming operators to obtain advertising preapproval from the
14  Board.
15  Section 30. Internet wagering accounts.
16  (a) Eligible persons seeking to establish Internet
17  wagering accounts may do so in person at a casino or racetrack
18  or over the Internet without appearing in person. An Internet
19  gaming operator shall adopt reasonable procedures to ensure
20  that individuals have no more than one Internet wagering
21  account with the Internet gaming operator. However, nothing in
22  this Act prohibits the use of a single account for a sports
23  wagering account under the Sports Wagering Act and the
24  Internet wagering account set forth under this Act.
25  (b) A participant may deposit and withdraw funds from the

 

 

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1  participant's Internet wagering accounts in-person at a casino
2  or racetrack or over the Internet through electronic means to
3  the extent allowed by federal law, including debit and credit
4  cards; automated clearing house transfers; wire transfers;
5  deposits and withdrawals of cash or gaming chips at cashiering
6  locations in a river boat, a casino, or any property or
7  facility owned, maintained, or leased by an organization
8  licensee, an owners licensee, an Internet gaming operator, an
9  Internet gaming licensee, or any other facility where a
10  gambling game, a casino game, slot machines, table games, or
11  other gambling operation occurs; deposits and withdrawals of
12  cash at retail locations in the State approved by the Board;
13  reloadable prepaid cards; gift cards; cash complimentary,
14  promotional credits, or bonus credits; winnings; digital,
15  crypto, and virtual currencies; or other means as approved by
16  the Board.
17  (c) An Internet gaming operator shall include, as part of
18  the Internet gaming operator's internal controls, mechanisms
19  and procedures for reasonably detecting unauthorized access to
20  Internet wagering accounts, unauthorized attempts to access
21  Internet wagering accounts, and suspicious Internet wagering
22  activity constituting cheating, theft, embezzlement,
23  collusion, money laundering, and other illegal activity.
24  (d) As permitted by federal law, nothing in this Act
25  prohibits Internet gaming operators from linking or otherwise
26  commingling Internet wagering accounts with an eligible

 

 

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1  person's Internet wagering account in another jurisdiction.
2  However, each Internet gaming operator must retain records of
3  all deposits, withdraws, wagers, and wager results that take
4  place within this State and pursuant to this Act and ensure all
5  taxes and fees due under this Act are properly documented and
6  paid.
7  Section 35. License requirements.
8  (a) No person may offer Internet games in this State
9  unless all necessary licenses have been obtained in accordance
10  with this Act and the rules of the Board. The Board may issue
11  the following licenses to persons, firms, partnerships, or
12  corporations that apply for licensure upon a determination by
13  the Board that the applicant is eligible for the license under
14  this Act and rules adopted by the Board:
15  (1) Internet gaming license;
16  (2) Internet management service provider license;
17  (3) supplier license; and
18  (4) occupational license.
19  (b) The Board shall issue an Internet gaming license upon
20  request to any owners licensee or organization licensee that
21  meets the conditions of subsection (i). The fee for a license
22  shall be $250,000. An Internet gaming license shall be valid
23  for the same period of time as the requester's owners license
24  or organization license and shall be renewed as a matter of
25  course upon renewal of the owners license or organization

 

 

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1  license and for the same period of time as the owners license
2  or organization license. The fee for renewal of an Internet
3  gaming license is $100,000. If an Internet gaming license is
4  received after the issuance or renewal of an owners license or
5  organizational license, the Internet gaming license fee shall
6  be prorated for the remainder of the existing term.
7  (c) An entity may apply for an Internet management service
8  provider license in the form as may be required by the Board
9  consistent with the requirements of this Act. The Board shall
10  provide an abbreviated application for entities that hold or
11  have a pending application for a management services provider
12  license under the Sports Wagering Act or other types of gaming
13  under Illinois law. Before issuance of an Internet management
14  service provider license under this Act, the applicant shall
15  pay to the Board a licensing fee of $100,000 or, for applicants
16  holding a management service provider license issued under
17  other State law, a licensing fee of $50,000. An Internet
18  management service provider license issued under this Act
19  shall be valid for 4 years, subject to renewal upon payment of
20  a fee of $50,000.
21  (d) An applicant for a supplier license shall apply in the
22  form as may be required by the Board consistent with the
23  requirements of this Act. The Board shall provide an
24  abbreviated application for entities that hold or have a
25  pending application for a supplier license under the Sports
26  Wagering Act or other types of gaming under State law. Before

 

 

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1  issuance of a supplier license under this Act, the applicant
2  shall pay to the Board a licensing fee of $75,000 or, for
3  applicants holding a supplier license issued under other
4  Illinois law, a licensing fee of $50,000. A supplier license
5  issued under this Act shall be valid for 4 years, subject to
6  renewal upon payment of a fee of $50,000.
7  (e) An applicant for an occupation license shall apply in
8  the form as may be required by the Board consistent with the
9  requirements of this Act for individuals who can directly
10  change critical components of Internet game system hardware or
11  software and meet 2 of the following requirements:
12  (1) have access to wagering account holders'
13  personally identifying information;
14  (2) have the ability to make adjustments to Internet
15  wagering accounts; or
16  (3) have direct interaction with wagering account
17  holders.
18  Before issuance of an occupational license under this Act,
19  the applicant shall pay to the Board a licensing fee of $150
20  or, for applicants holding an occupational license issued
21  under other State law, a licensing fee of $100. An
22  occupational license issued under this Act shall be valid for
23  4 years, subject to renewal upon payment of a fee of $100. An
24  Internet gaming licensee may pay an occupational licensing fee
25  on behalf of its employees.
26  (f) The Board shall issue any license under this Act upon

 

 

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1  payment of the license fee to an applicant that meets the
2  conditions of subsection (i), if applicable, and a showing
3  that the applicant holds an equivalent license under the
4  Illinois Sports Wagering Act or, otherwise, has an equivalent
5  license to conduct Internet gaming in another U.S.
6  3jurisdiction with licensing standards similar to those
7  established under this Act and accompanying rules.
8  (g) The Board shall issue any license under this Act on a
9  temporary basis within 30 days after receiving an application
10  to any applicant that holds an equivalent license or temporary
11  license under the Sports Wagering Act or, otherwise, has
12  equivalent licenses in connection with Internet gaming in
13  another U.S. jurisdiction with licensing standards similar to
14  those established under this Act and accompanying rules. The
15  Board shall issue the temporary license under this subsection
16  within 30 days after receiving a completed application unless
17  it is aware of credible information that may prevent the
18  issuance of a license or require certain conditions on a
19  license to ensure compliance with State gaming law, subject to
20  due process. The temporary license shall be valid for a period
21  of one year. The Board may revoke a temporary license at any
22  time if it becomes aware of credible information that may
23  prevent the issuance of a license or require certain
24  conditions on a license to ensure compliance with State gaming
25  law. A temporary license shall otherwise be deemed to be the
26  equivalent of a full license for all purposes. A temporary

 

 

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1  license shall be renewed if a final determination has not been
2  made by the Board on permanent licensure within one year. The
3  Board shall adopt a process for ensuring an equal opportunity
4  for all licensees to initially launch on a date set forth by
5  the Board.
6  (h) The Board may require background investigations for
7  any officer, director, or shareholder with 10% or more equity
8  interests of an applicant for an Internet management service
9  provider license. The Board may recover the actual and
10  reasonable costs of an investigation conducted under this
11  subsection from any license applicant. The Board shall waive a
12  background investigation upon a showing that a background
13  investigation has previously been conducted on the applicant
14  under the Sports Wagering Act. The Board may accept a
15  background investigation conducted by another state with
16  licensing standards similar to those established under this
17  Act and accompanying rules.
18  (i) The Board may not issue an Internet gaming license to
19  an owners licensee or organization licensee that has reduced
20  the size of its workforce by 25% or more since February 28,
21  2020. The Board may not renew the Internet gaming license of
22  any owners licensee or organization licensee that has reduced
23  the size of its workforce by 25% since the date its last
24  Internet gaming license was issued or renewed.
25  Section 40. Age verification; location; responsible

 

 

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1  gaming.
2  (a) An Internet gaming platform's internal controls shall
3  include one or more mechanism to reasonably verify that a
4  participant is 21 years of age or older, that wagering on
5  Internet games is limited to transactions that are initiated
6  and received within the State or a permissible jurisdiction,
7  and that the participant is physically located within the
8  State or a permissible jurisdiction.
9  (b) The Board shall develop responsible Internet gaming
10  measures, including a statewide responsible gaming database
11  identifying individuals who shall be prohibited from
12  establishing an Internet wagering account or participating in
13  Internet gaming offered by an Internet gaming operator. The
14  Board shall adopt rules for the establishment and maintenance
15  of the responsible gaming database, which shall include
16  allowances for individuals to self-exclude from Internet
17  wagering, including making self-exclusion elections through an
18  Internet gaming operator on an Internet gaming platform or in
19  person at casinos or racetracks. The Board shall maintain the
20  responsible gaming database in a confidential manner and
21  Internet gaming operators shall not knowingly accept wagers
22  from anyone listed on the responsible gaming database.
23  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a self-exclusion
24  election and the responsible gaming database are not public
25  records subject to copying and disclosure under the Freedom of
26  Information Act.

 

 

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1  (c) Each Internet gaming platform shall display the words
2  "If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is
3  available. Call (toll-free telephone number)" or some
4  comparable language approved by the Board, which language
5  shall include the words "gambling problem" and "call
6  (toll-free telephone number)", to be displayed on the home
7  page accessible to any person initially logging into the
8  Internet gaming platform. Similar information shall be
9  accessible to account holders when logged onto the Internet
10  gaming platform.
11  (d) Each Internet gaming platform shall include mechanisms
12  for temporary and permanent self-exclusion through the Board's
13  statewide responsible gaming database from Internet gaming.
14  Each Internet gaming platform shall include mechanisms for
15  termination of a patron's Internet wagering account.
16  Additionally, each Internet gaming platform shall include
17  player self-imposed wagering and deposit limits, including a
18  deposit limit offered on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
19  that allows patrons to specify the maximum amount of money
20  they can deposit into the Internet wagering account during the
21  particular time period; and a spend limit offered on a daily,
22  weekly, and monthly basis that allows patrons to specify the
23  maximum amount of the deposits that they may put at risk during
24  the particular time period. Self-imposed wagering or deposit
25  limits shall take effect immediately but increases to a
26  previously imposed limit shall not take effect until the

 

 

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1  expiration of the limit per the terms of the patron's original
2  election. A licensee under this Act shall not knowingly mail
3  or otherwise forward any gaming-related promotional materials
4  or electronic mail to a participant during any period in which
5  the patron has elected to temporarily or permanently suspend
6  oneself from all Internet gaming or permanently terminate
7  Internet gaming through the account.
8  (e) A patron shall continue to have the ability to
9  withdraw funds, notwithstanding any temporary or permanent
10  suspension or limits placed upon the account pursuant to this
11  Section.
12  Section 45. Tax.
13  (a) A privilege tax is imposed on an Internet gaming
14  operator based on the adjusted gross gaming revenue wagered on
15  Internet gaming platforms authorized under this Act at a rate
16  of 25% of adjusted gross gaming revenue. This privilege tax is
17  the exclusive tax in relation to Internet gaming. No local
18  government of this State, including home rule municipalities,
19  may impose or levy taxes on adjusted gross gaming revenue.
20  (b) All moneys collected under this Act by the Board shall
21  be deposited into the State Gaming Fund. The taxes imposed by
22  this Section shall be paid by the Internet gaming operator no
23  later than the last day of the month following the calendar
24  month in which the adjusted gross gaming receipts were
25  received and the tax obligation was accrued.

 

 

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1  (c) If the taxpayer's adjusted gross gaming revenue for a
2  month is a negative number, the taxpayer may carry over the
3  negative amount to a return filed a subsequent month and
4  deduct such amount from its tax liability for such month,
5  provided that such amount shall not be carried over and
6  deducted against tax liability in any month that is more than
7  12 months later than the month in which such amount was
8  accrued.
9  (d) The tax revenue deposited into the State Gaming Fund
10  under this Act shall be distributed according to Section 13 of
11  the Illinois Gambling Act, wherein the Internet gaming
12  operator shall be treated as the owners licensee or
13  organization licensee that holds the Internet gaming license
14  under this Act.
15  Section 50. Diversity programs.
16  (a) As used in this Section only, "licensee" means an
17  Internet gaming licensee under this Act.
18  (b) The public policy of this State is to collaboratively
19  work with companies that serve State residents to improve
20  their supplier diversity in a non-antagonistic manner.
21  (c) The Board shall require all licensees under this Act
22  to submit an annual report by April 15, 2026 and every April 15
23  thereafter, in a searchable Adobe PDF format, on all
24  procurement goals and actual spending for businesses owned by
25  women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities and

 

 

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1  small business enterprises in the previous calendar year.
2  These goals shall be expressed as a percentage of the total
3  work performed by the entity submitting the report, and the
4  actual spending for all businesses owned by women, minorities,
5  veterans, and persons with disabilities and small business
6  enterprises shall also be expressed as a percentage of the
7  total work performed by the entity submitting the report.
8  (d) Each licensee in its annual report shall include the
9  following information:
10  (1) an explanation of the plan for the next year to
11  increase participation;
12  (2) an explanation of the plan to increase the goals;
13  (3) the areas of procurement each licensee shall be
14  actively seeking more participation in the next year;
15  (4) an outline of the plan to alert and encourage
16  potential vendors in that area to seek business from the
17  licensee;
18  (5) an explanation of the challenges faced in finding
19  quality vendors and offer any suggestions for what the
20  Board could do to be helpful to identify those vendors;
21  (6) a list of the certifications the licensee
22  recognizes;
23  (7) the point of contact for any potential vendor who
24  wishes to do business with the licensee and explain the
25  process for a vendor to enroll with the licensee as a
26  businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, or

 

 

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1  persons with disabilities; and
2  (8) any particular success stories to encourage other
3  licensees to emulate best practices.
4  (e) Each annual report shall include as much
5  State-specific data as possible. If the submitting entity does
6  not submit State-specific data, then the licensee shall
7  include any national data it does have and explain why it could
8  not submit State-specific data and how it intends to do so in
9  future reports, if possible.
10  (f) Each annual report shall include the rules,
11  regulations, and definitions used for the procurement goals in
12  the licensee's annual report.
13  (g) The Board and all licensees shall hold an annual
14  workshop and job fair open to the public in 2026 and every year
15  thereafter on the state of supplier diversity to
16  collaboratively seek solutions to structural impediments to
17  achieving stated goals, including testimony from each licensee
18  as well as subject matter experts and advocates. The Board
19  shall publish a database on its website of the point of contact
20  for licensees it regulates under this Act for supplier
21  diversity, along with a list of certifications each licensee
22  recognizes from the information submitted in each annual
23  report. The Board shall publish each annual report on its
24  website and shall maintain each annual report for at least 5
25  years.
26  (h) A licensee under this Act that is also subject to the

 

 

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1  diversity program requirements of Section 7.6 of the Illinois
2  Gambling Act shall include its Internet gaming activities
3  within the supplier diversity goals and accompanying reports.
4  Compliance with Section 7.6 of the Illinois Gambling Act shall
5  be in lieu of compliance with the reporting requirements under
6  this Act.
7  Section 55. Applicability of the Illinois Gambling Act and
8  the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act. The provisions of the
9  Illinois Gambling Act, and all rules adopted under that Act,
10  shall apply to this Act, except where there is a conflict
11  between those Acts, including the incompatibility of any
12  provision to the conduct of gaming remotely, without a
13  brick-and-mortar facility, or over the Internet. All
14  provisions of the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act shall
15  apply, as far as practicable, to the subject matter of this Act
16  to the same extent as if such provisions were included in this
17  Act.
18  Section 60. Acceptance of out-of-state wagers.
19  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
20  wagers may be accepted under this Act from persons who are not
21  physically present in this State if the Board has determined
22  that out-of-state wagering is not inconsistent with federal
23  law or the law of the jurisdiction in which the person is
24  located or if out-of-state wagering is conducted pursuant to a

 

 

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1  reciprocal agreement to which this State is a party that is not
2  inconsistent with federal law. The Board may enter into
3  agreements with other jurisdictions to facilitate, administer,
4  and regulate multijurisdictional approved Internet games,
5  including, but not limited to, poker.
6  Section 65. Home rule. The licensure and conduct of
7  Internet gaming conducted by a person or entity pursuant to
8  this Act are exclusive powers and functions of the State. A
9  home rule unit may not regulate or license Internet gaming.
10  This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and
11  functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of
12  the Illinois Constitution.
13  Section 95. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is
14  amended by adding Section 5-45.65 as follows:
15  (5 ILCS 100/5-45.65 new)
16  Sec. 5-45.65. Emergency rulemaking; Internet Gaming Act.
17  To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of
18  the Internet Gaming Act, emergency rules implementing the
19  Internet Gaming Act shall be adopted in accordance with
20  Section 5-45 by the Illinois Gaming Board. The adoption of
21  emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is
22  deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and
23  welfare.

 

 

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1  This Section is repealed on January 1, 2029.

 

 

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