Chapter 230 — GAMING

(230 ILCS 5/1) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-1) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975". (Source: P.A. 79-1185.)

(230 ILCS 5/1.2) Sec. 1.2. Legislative intent. This Act is intended to benefit the people of the State of Illinois by encouraging the breeding and production of race horses, assisting economic development and promoting Illinois tourism. The General Assembly finds and declares it …

(230 ILCS 5/1.3) Sec. 1.3. Legislative findings. (a) The General Assembly finds that the Illinois gaming industry is a single industry consisting of horse racing and riverboat gambling. Reports issued by the Economic and Fiscal Commission (now Commission on Government Forecasting…

(230 ILCS 5/10) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-10) Sec. 10. Any Board member or Board employee who is subject to any civil action arising from any act executed by him while serving as a Board member or Board employee shall be represented by the Attorney General. All costs of defending such…

(230 ILCS 5/11) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-11) Sec. 11. (Repealed). (Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-495.)

(230 ILCS 5/12) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-12) Sec. 12. (a) Board members shall employ under the "Personnel Code", as now or hereafter amended, such representatives, accountants, clerks, stenographers, inspectors, and other employees as may be necessary. No person shall be appointed or…

(230 ILCS 5/12.1) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-12.1) Sec. 12.1. (a) The General Assembly finds that the Illinois Racing Industry does not include a fair proportion of minority or female workers. Therefore, the General Assembly urges that the job training institutes, trade associations an…

(230 ILCS 5/12.2) Sec. 12.2. Business enterprise program. (a) For the purposes of this Section, the terms "minority", "minority-owned business", "woman", "women-owned business", "person with a disability", and "business owned by a person with a disability" have the meanings ascri…

(230 ILCS 5/13) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-13) Sec. 13. The executive director shall perform any and all duties that the Board shall assign him. The salary of the executive director shall be determined by the Board and, in addition, he shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary e…

(230 ILCS 5/14) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-14) Sec. 14. (a) The Board shall hold regular and special meetings at such times and places as may be necessary to perform properly and effectively all duties required under this Act. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a q…

(230 ILCS 5/14a) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-14a) Sec. 14a. The Board may employ hearing officers qualified by professional training or previous experience according to rules established by the Board. The Board shall also establish rules providing for the disqualification of hearing off…

(230 ILCS 5/15) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-15) Sec. 15. (a) The Board shall, in its discretion, issue occupation licenses to horse owners, trainers, harness drivers, jockeys, agents, apprentices, grooms, stable foremen, exercise persons, veterinarians, valets, blacksmiths, concessionai…

(230 ILCS 5/15.1) Sec. 15.1. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 97-1060, eff. 8-24-12. Repealed by P.A. 104-185, eff. 8-15-25.)

(230 ILCS 5/15.2) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-15.2) Sec. 15.2. (a) No pari-mutuel clerk, parking attendant or security guard employed by a licensee at a wagering facility shall commit any of the following acts: theft; fraud; wagering during the course of employment; touting; bookmaking;…

(230 ILCS 5/15.3) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-15.3) Sec. 15.3. Any person who makes application for an employment position as a pari-mutuel clerk, parking attendant or security guard with a licensee, where such position would involve work conducted in whole or in part at a wagering faci…

(230 ILCS 5/15.4) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-15.4) Sec. 15.4. The Board shall take disciplinary action authorized by subsection (d) of Section 9 of this Act or impose a civil penalty authorized by subsection (1) of Section 9 of this Act against any licensee which requires, as a conditi…

(230 ILCS 5/15.5) Sec. 15.5. Labor agreements. (a) This Section applies to each entity subject to this Act that has at least 10 employees on average over the 12 months preceding application for an organization gaming license. (b) Before an organization gaming license may be grant…

(230 ILCS 5/16) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-16) Sec. 16. (a) The Board shall, in accordance with Section 15, have the power to revoke or suspend an occupation license, and the steward or judges at a race meeting shall have the power to suspend an occupation license of any horse owner, t…

(230 ILCS 5/17) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-17) Sec. 17. No person shall hold or conduct a horse race meeting except at a State, county, township, agricultural or other fair without a valid and unrevoked organization license issued under this Act authorizing the holding of such meeting.…

(230 ILCS 5/18) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-18) Sec. 18. (a) Together with its application, each applicant for racing dates shall deliver to the Board a certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Board for $1,000. In the event the applicant applies for racing dates in 2 o…

(230 ILCS 5/19) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-19) Sec. 19. (a) No organization license may be granted to conduct a horse race meeting: (1) except as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21 of this Act, to any person at any place within 35 miles of any other place licensed by the Board to…

(230 ILCS 5/19.5) Sec. 19.5. Standardbred racetrack in Cook County. Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, in addition to organization licenses issued by the Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Board shall issue an …

(230 ILCS 5/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-2) Sec. 2. There is hereby created and established an Illinois Racing Board which shall have the powers and duties specified in this Act, and also the powers necessary and proper to enable it to fully and effectively execute all the provisions …

(230 ILCS 5/2.1) Sec. 2.1. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 84-1468. Repealed by P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)

(230 ILCS 5/2.5) Sec. 2.5. Separation from Department of Revenue. On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, all of the powers, duties, assets, liabilities, employees, contracts, property, records, pending business, and unexpended appropriations of…

(230 ILCS 5/20) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-20) Sec. 20. (a) Any person desiring to conduct a horse race meeting may apply to the Board for an organization license. The application shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the Board. The application shall specify: (1) the date…

(230 ILCS 5/20.1) Sec. 20.1. Authority of licensees. (a) Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, an organization licensee shall have authority to: (1) determine prices charged for goods and services; (2) determine prices charged for wagering products, subject to Sec…

(230 ILCS 5/20.5) Sec. 20.5. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 89-16, eff. 5-30-95. Repealed by P.A. 91-40, eff. 6-25-99.)

(230 ILCS 5/21) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-21) Sec. 21. (a) Applications for organization licenses must be filed with the Board at a time and place prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Board. The Board shall examine the applications within 21 days after the date allowed for f…

(230 ILCS 5/23) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-23) Sec. 23. (a) The Board shall promulgate as part of its rules and regulations a set of minimum standards (including, but not limited to, a workers' compensation plan) to be observed by race tracks. (b) The failure of a person who has been a…

(230 ILCS 5/24) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-24) Sec. 24. (a) No license shall be issued to or held by an organization licensee unless all of its officers, directors, and holders of ownership interests of at least 5% are first approved by the Board. The Board shall not give approval of a…

(230 ILCS 5/25) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-25) Sec. 25. Admission charge; bond; fine. (a) There shall be paid to the Board at such time or times as it shall prescribe, the sum of fifteen cents (15¢) for each person entering the grounds or enclosure of each organization licensee and int…

(230 ILCS 5/26) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26) Sec. 26. Wagering. (a) Any licensee may conduct and supervise the pari-mutuel system of wagering, as defined in Section 3.12 of this Act, on horse races conducted by an Illinois organization licensee or conducted at a racetrack located in …

(230 ILCS 5/26.1) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26.1) Sec. 26.1. For all pari-mutuel wagering conducted pursuant to this Act, breakage shall be at all times computed on the basis of not to exceed 10¢ on the dollar. If there is a minus pool, the breakage shall be computed on the basis of n…

(230 ILCS 5/26.2) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26.2) Sec. 26.2. In addition to the amount retained by licensees pursuant to Section 26, each licensee may retain an additional amount up to 3 1/2% of the amount wagered on all multiple wagers plus an additional amount up to 8% of the amount…

(230 ILCS 5/26.3) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26.3) Sec. 26.3. On and after July 1, 1987, each organization licensee may impose a surcharge of up to 1% on winning wagers and winnings from wagers placed upon races conducted by that organization licensee. Where a surcharge is imposed, it …

(230 ILCS 5/26.4) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26.4) Sec. 26.4. In addition to the amount retained pursuant to paragraph (10) of subsection (h) of Section 26, inter-track wagering location licensees shall retain an additional amount equal to 2.5% of each winning wager and winnings from w…

(230 ILCS 5/26.5) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-26.5) Sec. 26.5. Inter-track wagering licensee surcharge. In addition to the amount retained pursuant to paragraph (10) of subsection (h) of Section 26, inter-track wagering licensees shall retain an additional amount equal to 1.5% of each w…

(230 ILCS 5/26.6) Sec. 26.6. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 89-16, eff. 5-30-95. Repealed by P.A. 91-40, eff. 6-25-99.)

(230 ILCS 5/26.7) Sec. 26.7. Advance deposit wagering surcharge. Beginning on August 26, 2012, each advance deposit wagering licensee shall impose a surcharge of 0.18% on winning wagers and winnings from wagers placed through advance deposit wagering. The surcharge shall be deduc…

(230 ILCS 5/26.8) Sec. 26.8. Beginning on February 1, 2014, each wagering licensee may impose a surcharge of up to 0.5% on winning wagers and winnings from wagers. The surcharge shall be deducted from winnings prior to payout. All amounts collected from the imposition of this sur…

(230 ILCS 5/26.9) Sec. 26.9. Beginning on February 1, 2014, in addition to the surcharge imposed in Sections 26.3, 26.4, 26.5, 26.7, and 26.8 of this Act, each licensee shall impose a surcharge of 0.2% on winning wagers and winnings from wagers. The surcharge shall be deducted fr…

(230 ILCS 5/27) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-27) Sec. 27. (a) In addition to the organization license fee provided by this Act, until January 1, 2000, a graduated privilege tax is hereby imposed for conducting the pari-mutuel system of wagering permitted under this Act. Until January 1, …

(230 ILCS 5/27.1) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-27.1) Sec. 27.1. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 91-40, eff. 6-25-99. Repealed internally, eff. 1-1-00.)

(230 ILCS 5/27.2) Sec. 27.2. Withholding of delinquent child support. (a) From winnings required to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and subject to withholding on Form W-2G, organization licensees and advance deposit wagering licensees licensed under this Act shall wit…

(230 ILCS 5/28) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-28) Sec. 28. Except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 27 of this Act, moneys collected shall be distributed according to the provisions of this Section 28. (a) Thirty per cent of the total of all monies received by the State as privileg…

(230 ILCS 5/28.1) (Text of Section from P.A. 104-2) Sec. 28.1. Payments. (a) Beginning on January 1, 2000, moneys collected by the Department of Revenue and the Racing Board pursuant to Section 26 or Section 27 of this Act shall be deposited into the Horse Racing Fund, which is h…

(230 ILCS 5/29) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-29) Sec. 29. (a) After the privilege or pari-mutuel tax established in Sections 26(f), 27, and 27.1 is paid to the State from the monies retained by the organization licensee pursuant to Sections 26, 26.2, and 26.3, the remainder of those moni…

(230 ILCS 5/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-3) Sec. 3. As used in this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in Section 3.01 through 3.23 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 89-16, eff. 5-30-95.)

(230 ILCS 5/3.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-3.01) Sec. 3.01. "Board" means the Illinois Racing Board. (Source: P.A. 79-1185.)