Bill Text: IL SB1986 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Removes language ending the obligation of owners licensees to make certain payments of 3% of adjusted gross receipts (the impact fee) upon the meeting of specified conditions. Removes language providing for the payment of 15% of the adjusted gross receipts of specified owners licensees from the State Gaming Fund to the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund and other related provisions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-03 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB1986 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SB1986-Introduced.html

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96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2009 and 2010 SB1986 Introduced 2/20/2009, by Sen. John M. Sullivan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
230 ILCS 10/7 from Ch. 120, par. 2407
230 ILCS 10/13 from Ch. 120, par. 2413
Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act. Removes language ending the obligation of owners licensees to make certain payments of 3% of adjusted gross receipts (the impact fee) upon the meeting of specified conditions. Removes language providing for the payment of 15% of the adjusted gross receipts of specified owners licensees from the State Gaming Fund to the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund and other related provisions.
LRB096 07596 AMC 17692 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
SB1986 LRB096 07596 AMC 17692 b
AN ACT concerning gaming.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Riverboat Gambling Act is amended by
changing Sections 7 and 13 as follows:
(230 ILCS 10/7) (from Ch. 120, par. 2407)
Sec. 7. Owners Licenses.
(a) The Board shall issue owners licenses to persons, firms
or corporations which apply for such licenses upon payment to
the Board of the non-refundable license fee set by the Board,
upon payment of a $25,000 license fee for the first year of
operation and a $5,000 license fee for each succeeding year and
upon a determination by the Board that the applicant is
eligible for an owners license pursuant to this Act and the
rules of the Board. Beginning December 15, 2008 (the effective
date of Public Act 95-1008) From the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly until (i) 3 years
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th
General Assembly, (ii) the date any organization licensee
begins to operate a slot machine or video game of chance under
the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or this Act, (iii) the
date that payments begin under subsection (c-5) of Section 13
of the Act, or (iv) the wagering tax imposed under Section 13

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of this Act is increased by law to reflect a tax rate that is at
least as stringent or more stringent than the tax rate
contained in subsection (a-3) of Section 13, whichever occurs
first, as a condition of licensure and as an alternative source
of payment for those funds payable under subsection (c-5) of
Section 13 of the Riverboat Gambling Act, any owners licensee
that holds or receives its owners license on or after the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General
Assembly, other than an owners licensee operating a riverboat
with adjusted gross receipts in calendar year 2004 of less than
$200,000,000, must pay into the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund,
in addition to any other payments required under this Act, an
amount equal to 3% of the adjusted gross receipts received by
the owners licensee. The payments required under this Section
shall be made by the owners licensee to the State Treasurer no
later than 3:00 o'clock p.m. of the day after the day when the
adjusted gross receipts were received by the owners licensee. A
person, firm or corporation is ineligible to receive an owners
license if:
(1) the person has been convicted of a felony under the
laws of this State, any other state, or the United States;
(2) the person has been convicted of any violation of
Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961, or substantially
similar laws of any other jurisdiction;
(3) the person has submitted an application for a
license under this Act which contains false information;

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(4) the person is a member of the Board;
(5) a person defined in (1), (2), (3) or (4) is an
officer, director or managerial employee of the firm or
corporation;
(6) the firm or corporation employs a person defined in
(1), (2), (3) or (4) who participates in the management or
operation of gambling operations authorized under this
Act;
(7) (blank); or
(8) a license of the person, firm or corporation issued
under this Act, or a license to own or operate gambling
facilities in any other jurisdiction, has been revoked.
The Board is expressly prohibited from making changes to
the requirement that licensees make payment into the Horse
Racing Equity Trust Fund without the express authority of the
Illinois General Assembly and making any other rule to
implement or interpret this amendatory Act of the 95th General
Assembly. For the purposes of this paragraph, "rules" is given
the meaning given to that term in Section 1-70 of the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act.
(b) In determining whether to grant an owners license to an
applicant, the Board shall consider:
(1) the character, reputation, experience and
financial integrity of the applicants and of any other or
separate person that either:
(A) controls, directly or indirectly, such

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applicant, or
(B) is controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
applicant or by a person which controls, directly or
indirectly, such applicant;
(2) the facilities or proposed facilities for the
conduct of riverboat gambling;
(3) the highest prospective total revenue to be derived
by the State from the conduct of riverboat gambling;
(4) the extent to which the ownership of the applicant
reflects the diversity of the State by including minority
persons and females and the good faith affirmative action
plan of each applicant to recruit, train and upgrade
minority persons and females in all employment
classifications;
(5) the financial ability of the applicant to purchase
and maintain adequate liability and casualty insurance;
(6) whether the applicant has adequate capitalization
to provide and maintain, for the duration of a license, a
riverboat;
(7) the extent to which the applicant exceeds or meets
other standards for the issuance of an owners license which
the Board may adopt by rule; and
(8) The amount of the applicant's license bid.
(c) Each owners license shall specify the place where
riverboats shall operate and dock.
(d) Each applicant shall submit with his application, on

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forms provided by the Board, 2 sets of his fingerprints.
(e) The Board may issue up to 10 licenses authorizing the
holders of such licenses to own riverboats. In the application
for an owners license, the applicant shall state the dock at
which the riverboat is based and the water on which the
riverboat will be located. The Board shall issue 5 licenses to
become effective not earlier than January 1, 1991. Three of
such licenses shall authorize riverboat gambling on the
Mississippi River, or, with approval by the municipality in
which the riverboat was docked on August 7, 2003 and with Board
approval, be authorized to relocate to a new location, in a
municipality that (1) borders on the Mississippi River or is
within 5 miles of the city limits of a municipality that
borders on the Mississippi River and (2), on August 7, 2003,
had a riverboat conducting riverboat gambling operations
pursuant to a license issued under this Act; one of which shall
authorize riverboat gambling from a home dock in the city of
East St. Louis. One other license shall authorize riverboat
gambling on the Illinois River south of Marshall County. The
Board shall issue one additional license to become effective
not earlier than March 1, 1992, which shall authorize riverboat
gambling on the Des Plaines River in Will County. The Board may
issue 4 additional licenses to become effective not earlier
than March 1, 1992. In determining the water upon which
riverboats will operate, the Board shall consider the economic
benefit which riverboat gambling confers on the State, and

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shall seek to assure that all regions of the State share in the
economic benefits of riverboat gambling.
In granting all licenses, the Board may give favorable
consideration to economically depressed areas of the State, to
applicants presenting plans which provide for significant
economic development over a large geographic area, and to
applicants who currently operate non-gambling riverboats in
Illinois. The Board shall review all applications for owners
licenses, and shall inform each applicant of the Board's
decision. The Board may grant an owners license to an applicant
that has not submitted the highest license bid, but if it does
not select the highest bidder, the Board shall issue a written
decision explaining why another applicant was selected and
identifying the factors set forth in this Section that favored
the winning bidder.
In addition to any other revocation powers granted to the
Board under this Act, the Board may revoke the owners license
of a licensee which fails to begin conducting gambling within
15 months of receipt of the Board's approval of the application
if the Board determines that license revocation is in the best
interests of the State.
(f) The first 10 owners licenses issued under this Act
shall permit the holder to own up to 2 riverboats and equipment
thereon for a period of 3 years after the effective date of the
license. Holders of the first 10 owners licenses must pay the
annual license fee for each of the 3 years during which they

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are authorized to own riverboats.
(g) Upon the termination, expiration, or revocation of each
of the first 10 licenses, which shall be issued for a 3 year
period, all licenses are renewable annually upon payment of the
fee and a determination by the Board that the licensee
continues to meet all of the requirements of this Act and the
Board's rules. However, for licenses renewed on or after May 1,
1998, renewal shall be for a period of 4 years, unless the
Board sets a shorter period.
(h) An owners license shall entitle the licensee to own up
to 2 riverboats. A licensee shall limit the number of gambling
participants to 1,200 for any such owners license. A licensee
may operate both of its riverboats concurrently, provided that
the total number of gambling participants on both riverboats
does not exceed 1,200. Riverboats licensed to operate on the
Mississippi River and the Illinois River south of Marshall
County shall have an authorized capacity of at least 500
persons. Any other riverboat licensed under this Act shall have
an authorized capacity of at least 400 persons.
(i) A licensed owner is authorized to apply to the Board
for and, if approved therefor, to receive all licenses from the
Board necessary for the operation of a riverboat, including a
liquor license, a license to prepare and serve food for human
consumption, and other necessary licenses. All use, occupation
and excise taxes which apply to the sale of food and beverages
in this State and all taxes imposed on the sale or use of

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tangible personal property apply to such sales aboard the
riverboat.
(j) The Board may issue or re-issue a license authorizing a
riverboat to dock in a municipality or approve a relocation
under Section 11.2 only if, prior to the issuance or
re-issuance of the license or approval, the governing body of
the municipality in which the riverboat will dock has by a
majority vote approved the docking of riverboats in the
municipality. The Board may issue or re-issue a license
authorizing a riverboat to dock in areas of a county outside
any municipality or approve a relocation under Section 11.2
only if, prior to the issuance or re-issuance of the license or
approval, the governing body of the county has by a majority
vote approved of the docking of riverboats within such areas.
(Source: P.A. 94-667, eff. 8-23-05; 94-804, eff. 5-26-06;
95-1008, eff. 12-15-08.)
(230 ILCS 10/13) (from Ch. 120, par. 2413)
Sec. 13. Wagering tax; rate; distribution.
(a) Until January 1, 1998, a tax is imposed on the adjusted
gross receipts received from gambling games authorized under
this Act at the rate of 20%.
(a-1) From January 1, 1998 until July 1, 2002, a privilege
tax is imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting
riverboat gambling operations, based on the adjusted gross
receipts received by a licensed owner from gambling games

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authorized under this Act at the following rates:
15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and
including $25,000,000;
20% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$25,000,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;
25% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;
30% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;
35% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$100,000,000.
(a-2) From July 1, 2002 until July 1, 2003, a privilege tax
is imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting
riverboat gambling operations, other than licensed managers
conducting riverboat gambling operations on behalf of the
State, based on the adjusted gross receipts received by a
licensed owner from gambling games authorized under this Act at
the following rates:
15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and
including $25,000,000;
22.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$25,000,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;
27.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;
32.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;

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37.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$100,000,000 but not exceeding $150,000,000;
45% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$150,000,000 but not exceeding $200,000,000;
50% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$200,000,000.
(a-3) Beginning July 1, 2003, a privilege tax is imposed on
persons engaged in the business of conducting riverboat
gambling operations, other than licensed managers conducting
riverboat gambling operations on behalf of the State, based on
the adjusted gross receipts received by a licensed owner from
gambling games authorized under this Act at the following
rates:
15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and
including $25,000,000;
27.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$25,000,000 but not exceeding $37,500,000;
32.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$37,500,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;
37.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;
45% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;
50% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$100,000,000 but not exceeding $250,000,000;
70% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of

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$250,000,000.
An amount equal to the amount of wagering taxes collected
under this subsection (a-3) that are in addition to the amount
of wagering taxes that would have been collected if the
wagering tax rates under subsection (a-2) were in effect shall
be paid into the Common School Fund.
The privilege tax imposed under this subsection (a-3) shall
no longer be imposed beginning on the earlier of (i) July 1,
2005; (ii) the first date after June 20, 2003 that riverboat
gambling operations are conducted pursuant to a dormant
license; or (iii) the first day that riverboat gambling
operations are conducted under the authority of an owners
license that is in addition to the 10 owners licenses initially
authorized under this Act. For the purposes of this subsection
(a-3), the term "dormant license" means an owners license that
is authorized by this Act under which no riverboat gambling
operations are being conducted on June 20, 2003.
(a-4) Beginning on the first day on which the tax imposed
under subsection (a-3) is no longer imposed, a privilege tax is
imposed on persons engaged in the business of conducting
riverboat gambling operations, other than licensed managers
conducting riverboat gambling operations on behalf of the
State, based on the adjusted gross receipts received by a
licensed owner from gambling games authorized under this Act at
the following rates:
15% of annual adjusted gross receipts up to and

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including $25,000,000;
22.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$25,000,000 but not exceeding $50,000,000;
27.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$50,000,000 but not exceeding $75,000,000;
32.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$75,000,000 but not exceeding $100,000,000;
37.5% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$100,000,000 but not exceeding $150,000,000;
45% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$150,000,000 but not exceeding $200,000,000;
50% of annual adjusted gross receipts in excess of
$200,000,000.
(a-8) Riverboat gambling operations conducted by a
licensed manager on behalf of the State are not subject to the
tax imposed under this Section.
(a-10) The taxes imposed by this Section shall be paid by
the licensed owner to the Board not later than 3:00 o'clock
p.m. of the day after the day when the wagers were made.
(a-15) If the privilege tax imposed under subsection (a-3)
is no longer imposed pursuant to item (i) of the last paragraph
of subsection (a-3), then by June 15 of each year, each owners
licensee, other than an owners licensee that admitted 1,000,000
persons or fewer in calendar year 2004, must, in addition to
the payment of all amounts otherwise due under this Section,
pay to the Board a reconciliation payment in the amount, if

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any, by which the licensed owner's base amount exceeds the
amount of net privilege tax paid by the licensed owner to the
Board in the then current State fiscal year. A licensed owner's
net privilege tax obligation due for the balance of the State
fiscal year shall be reduced up to the total of the amount paid
by the licensed owner in its June 15 reconciliation payment.
The obligation imposed by this subsection (a-15) is binding on
any person, firm, corporation, or other entity that acquires an
ownership interest in any such owners license. The obligation
imposed under this subsection (a-15) terminates on the earliest
of: (i) July 1, 2007, (ii) the first day after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly that
riverboat gambling operations are conducted pursuant to a
dormant license, (iii) the first day that riverboat gambling
operations are conducted under the authority of an owners
license that is in addition to the 10 owners licenses initially
authorized under this Act, or (iv) the first day that a
licensee under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 conducts
gaming operations with slot machines or other electronic gaming
devices. The Board must reduce the obligation imposed under
this subsection (a-15) by an amount the Board deems reasonable
for any of the following reasons: (A) an act or acts of God,
(B) an act of bioterrorism or terrorism or a bioterrorism or
terrorism threat that was investigated by a law enforcement
agency, or (C) a condition beyond the control of the owners
licensee that does not result from any act or omission by the

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owners licensee or any of its agents and that poses a hazardous
threat to the health and safety of patrons. If an owners
licensee pays an amount in excess of its liability under this
Section, the Board shall apply the overpayment to future
payments required under this Section.
For purposes of this subsection (a-15):
"Act of God" means an incident caused by the operation of
an extraordinary force that cannot be foreseen, that cannot be
avoided by the exercise of due care, and for which no person
can be held liable.
"Base amount" means the following:
For a riverboat in Alton, $31,000,000.
For a riverboat in East Peoria, $43,000,000.
For the Empress riverboat in Joliet, $86,000,000.
For a riverboat in Metropolis, $45,000,000.
For the Harrah's riverboat in Joliet, $114,000,000.
For a riverboat in Aurora, $86,000,000.
For a riverboat in East St. Louis, $48,500,000.
For a riverboat in Elgin, $198,000,000.
"Dormant license" has the meaning ascribed to it in
subsection (a-3).
"Net privilege tax" means all privilege taxes paid by a
licensed owner to the Board under this Section, less all
payments made from the State Gaming Fund pursuant to subsection
(b) of this Section.
The changes made to this subsection (a-15) by Public Act

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94-839 are intended to restate and clarify the intent of Public
Act 94-673 with respect to the amount of the payments required
to be made under this subsection by an owners licensee to the
Board.
(b) Until January 1, 1998, 25% of the tax revenue deposited
in the State Gaming Fund under this Section shall be paid,
subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to the unit
of local government which is designated as the home dock of the
riverboat. Beginning January 1, 1998, from the tax revenue
deposited in the State Gaming Fund under this Section, an
amount equal to 5% of adjusted gross receipts generated by a
riverboat shall be paid monthly, subject to appropriation by
the General Assembly, to the unit of local government that is
designated as the home dock of the riverboat. From the tax
revenue deposited in the State Gaming Fund pursuant to
riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed manager
on behalf of the State, an amount equal to 5% of adjusted gross
receipts generated pursuant to those riverboat gambling
operations shall be paid monthly, subject to appropriation by
the General Assembly, to the unit of local government that is
designated as the home dock of the riverboat upon which those
riverboat gambling operations are conducted.
(c) Appropriations, as approved by the General Assembly,
may be made from the State Gaming Fund to the Department of
Revenue and the Department of State Police for the
administration and enforcement of this Act, or to the

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Department of Human Services for the administration of programs
to treat problem gambling.
(c-5) (Blank). Before May 26, 2006 (the effective date of
Public Act 94-804) and beginning on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, unless any
organization licensee under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of
1975 begins to operate a slot machine or video game of chance
under the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 or this Act, after
the payments required under subsections (b) and (c) have been
made, an amount equal to 15% of the adjusted gross receipts of
(1) an owners licensee that relocates pursuant to Section 11.2,
(2) an owners licensee conducting riverboat gambling
operations pursuant to an owners license that is initially
issued after June 25, 1999, or (3) the first riverboat gambling
operations conducted by a licensed manager on behalf of the
State under Section 7.3, whichever comes first, shall be paid
from the State Gaming Fund into the Horse Racing Equity Fund.
(c-10) (Blank). Each year the General Assembly shall
appropriate from the General Revenue Fund to the Education
Assistance Fund an amount equal to the amount paid into the
Horse Racing Equity Fund pursuant to subsection (c-5) in the
prior calendar year.
(c-15) After the payments required under subsections (b),
(c), and (c-5) have been made, an amount equal to 2% of the
adjusted gross receipts of (1) an owners licensee that
relocates pursuant to Section 11.2, (2) an owners licensee

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conducting riverboat gambling operations pursuant to an owners
license that is initially issued after June 25, 1999, or (3)
the first riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed
manager on behalf of the State under Section 7.3, whichever
comes first, shall be paid, subject to appropriation from the
General Assembly, from the State Gaming Fund to each home rule
county with a population of over 3,000,000 inhabitants for the
purpose of enhancing the county's criminal justice system.
(c-20) Each year the General Assembly shall appropriate
from the General Revenue Fund to the Education Assistance Fund
an amount equal to the amount paid to each home rule county
with a population of over 3,000,000 inhabitants pursuant to
subsection (c-15) in the prior calendar year.
(c-25) After the payments required under subsections (b),
(c), (c-5) and (c-15) have been made, an amount equal to 2% of
the adjusted gross receipts of (1) an owners licensee that
relocates pursuant to Section 11.2, (2) an owners licensee
conducting riverboat gambling operations pursuant to an owners
license that is initially issued after June 25, 1999, or (3)
the first riverboat gambling operations conducted by a licensed
manager on behalf of the State under Section 7.3, whichever
comes first, shall be paid from the State Gaming Fund to
Chicago State University.
(d) From time to time, the Board shall transfer the
remainder of the funds generated by this Act into the Education
Assistance Fund, created by Public Act 86-0018, of the State of

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Illinois.
(e) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the unit of local
government designated as the home dock of the riverboat from
entering into agreements with other units of local government
in this State or in other states to share its portion of the
tax revenue.
(f) To the extent practicable, the Board shall administer
and collect the wagering taxes imposed by this Section in a
manner consistent with the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 5a, 5b,
5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5i, 5j, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8, 9, and 10 of the
Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and Section 3-7 of the Uniform
Penalty and Interest Act.
(Source: P.A. 94-673, eff. 8-23-05; 94-804, eff. 5-26-06;
94-839, eff. 6-6-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-1008, eff.
12-15-08.)