The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. The meeting was hybrid with in-person accessibility at 160 N. LaSalle St., 5th Floor Auditorium and via livestream. Board members present at this meeting were Chair Hayden, Member Brannon, Member Ferrara and newly appointed Member Caleb Melamed. The meeting began with the approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting that preceded it, which was Sept. 11, 2025.

Please note that the IGB has posted the meeting schedule for 2026 with the following dates:

Feb. 5, 2026
April 23, 2026
June 11, 2026
Aug. 20, 2026
Oct. 22, 2026
Dec. 10, 2026

Board Member Comments

There were no Board Member comments

Administrator’s Report

The Administrator began his comments with updates. First, he spoke about the new advertising rules for all gaming types and the grace period for coming into compliance with those new rules that he had discussed at the last meeting. He shared that the Board heard of advertising campaigns that were not making good faith efforts to come into compliance, namely billboards where the problem gambling language was so small as to be unreadable. He reminded everyone that active and good faith efforts were expected and that mere technical compliance that does not meet the regulatory intent and goal of the rules could prompt Board action. He again urged anyone with questions or issues to reach out. Please also reach out to us if you have any questions in complying with these new requirements.

Next the Administrator gave an update relevant to the Board delegation rule, noting that after some initial glitches, the new process for issuing licenses to applicants with no known suitability concerns, was working smoothly and the first batch of licenses had issued on Nov. 6. Going forward, the Administrator will issue license approvals every third Thursday.

The Administrator then provided the industry revenue numbers. In total, the combined industries of video gaming, sports wagering, and casino activity reported thus far for January through November 2025 (taking into consideration reporting limitations at the time of the Administrator’s comments) has generated approximately $1.5 billion in state taxes and $256 million in taxes for local communities

In October, video gaming terminals (VGT) generated approximately $97 million in taxes with the state’s share being approximately $83 million and the location municipalities receiving approximately $13 million. Casinos in November yielded roughly $51 million in tax revenue, with $42 million in taxes going to the state and $9 million to host communities. For individualized revenue from sports wagering activity, please visit the IGB’s website.

Notably, according to the Administrator, there are 62 terminal operators, 8,743 live video gaming locations offering approximately 49,612 video gaming terminals over 75% of which are operating with the Ticket In Ticket Out (TITO) system.

Finally, the Administrator recognized and thanked the retiring staff members for whom this would be the last meeting and wished everyone a happy holiday season.

Public Commentary

Levi Lancaster, a plaintiff in a federal case pending in the Southern District of Illinois, appeared to inform the Board about records in the case and request its attention.

Casino

The casino portion of this meeting began with the Board hearing the Request for Initial Consideration of Owners License Renewal 815 Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Casino Rockford although this does not require any Board action. It will make a presentation at the February meeting.

Next, the Board heard the initial consideration of Par-A-Dice Gaming Corporation d/b/a Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino Rule 230(d) Casino Redevelopment Plan. The Administrator explained that the purpose at today’s meeting was for Boyd and Par-A-Dice to present their plan and that the Board would not take any action as it could not do so until February due to the two-meeting rule. Thereafter, representatives of Boyd and Par-A-Dice appeared and did a presentation. Counsel for the City of Peoria also appeared before the Board. There were no questions or comments from the Administrator or the Board.

After a short break, the Board approved the renewals of the following suppliers’ licensees and found the relevant key persons suitable:

• Ainsworth Game Technology, Inc.
• Everi Games Inc.
• Everi Payments Inc.
• Ignite Rotate LLC – IGT
• AP Voyager Co-Invest, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• AP Voyager Holdings, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• AP X Voyager Aggregator, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• AP X Voyager VoteCo, LLC – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Apollo Investment Fund X, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Apollo Overseas Partners (Delaware 892) X, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Apollo Overseas Partners (Lux) X, SCSp – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Apollo Overseas Partners X, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Voyager Holdco I Corporation – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Voyager Holdco II, LLC – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Voyager Management Holdings, LLC – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Voyager Parent, LLC – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Voyager TopCo GP, LLC – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Voyager TopCo, L.P. – IGT, Everi Games Inc., Everi Payments Inc.
• Siobhan Margaret Lane – LNW Gaming, Inc. d/b/a Light & Wonder – President & Director.

The Board also granted the following Level 1 Occupational Licenses:

• Colton Michael Short for his role as Director of Casino Operations for Alton Casino, LLC d/b/a Argosy Casino Alton.
• Ryan Patrick Coppola for his role as VP & General Manager Bally’s Chicago Operating Company LLC.
• David Matthew Jamros for his role as Manager, Internal Audit of 815 Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
• Mark Anthony Heavrin for his role as Senior Internal Auditor for HC Aurora, LLC d/b/a Hollywood Casino Aurora and HC Joliet, LLC d/b/a Hollywood Casino Joliet.

Additionally, the Board approved 253 initial casino occupational level 2 licenses and issued renewals to all occupational licensees that were up for renewal and had provided updated information, timely paid their renewal fees, and complied with all other requirements.

Sports Wagering

The sports wagering portion of the meeting commenced with the Board finding the same 14 Key Persons for IGT (listed above) suitable and thereafter approving 260 initial casino occupational level 2 licenses. The Administrator then issued renewals to all occupational licensees that were up for renewal and had provided updated information, timely paid their renewal fees, and complied with all other requirements.

Video Gaming

The video gaming portion of the meeting opened with the renewal of Everi Games, Inc. and Everi Payments, Inc.’s supplier licenses. Thereafter, 15 terminal handler license applications were approved and one, for Mark Dale Eugene Teets, was issued a Notice of Denial. Regarding location licenses, the Board approved 31 locations and denied four: Las Palmas Authentic Mexican Cantina, Inc. d/b/a Las Palmas Authentic Mexican Cantina; PGN Village Inn, Inc. d/b/a PGN Tee Time; Sat Kaival Real Estate LLC d/b/a Batavia Shell:, and Tacoma Taco & Enchilada Grill Inc. d/b/A Tacoma Taco & Enchilada Grill, Inc. The Board also denied the application of JD Entertainment Inc. d/b/a Miss Kitty’s Gold Mine on the grounds that it was statutorily prohibited. The Board also voted to rescind its prior denial of the location application of Rushi Veer LLC dba Shiloh Spins & Spirits and granted it a location license. The Board also denied, on the basis that they failed to state a prima facie case and to meet the requirements of Rule 615, requests for hearing filed by JK Investments Holding LLC d/b/a KC Liquor and by 52 Brink Street LLC d/b/a Cantina 252

The Administrator also renewed the terminal handler, technician, and location licensees which were up for renewal and had provided updated information to the IGB, timely paid their renewal fees, and complied with all other requirements.

To conclude the meeting, the Administrator stated that the next meeting will be Feb. 5, 2026.

Happy holidays and a happy new year to you and yours! We will see you in 2026!