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| Board overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | State of Illinois |
| Headquarters | 160 N LaSalle Chicago Illinois |
| Board executive |
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| Website | igb |
| Map | |
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Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is a gaming board in Illinois that controls the state's gaming industry. The Board controls a regulatory and tax collection for video gaming and riverboat casinos. The Board has five members, selected by the Governor and approved by the Senate. [1]
The Illinois Gaming Board was established following the enactment of the Riverboat Gambling Act in February 1990, making Illinois the second state in the nation to legalize riverboat casino gambling. [2] The first riverboat casino, the Argosy Casino Alton, began operations on September 11, 1991. [3] Initially, the Board was authorized to issue up to ten casino licenses, a limit that remained in place for nearly three decades. [4] In July 2009, the Video Gaming Act was signed into law, authorizing the operation of Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) in licensed retail establishments, truck stops, and fraternal or veterans' organizations. [5] The first legal VGTs went live for patron play on September 10, 2012. Under the original 2009 Act, licensed establishments were limited to a maximum of five VGTs per location. [2]
On June 28, 2019, Governor J. B. Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0031, which expanded gaming in the state. [6] The legislation authorized six new casino licenses, including one for the city of Chicago, and legalized sports wagering. [7] The Act increased the maximum number of VGTs allowed in a single establishment from five to six machines. It also increased the maximum wager from $2 to $4 and raised the maximum cash award to $1,195. [8]
While the 2009 Video Gaming Act allowed statewide VGT operation, Chicago maintained a municipal ban on the machines for several years. In late 2025, the Chicago City Council moved to lift the ban to address pension funding requirements. [9] The legalization faced debate regarding the potential impact on the city's casino revenue. [10] By January 2026, city officials continued to weigh regulatory changes and tax structures associated with the introduction of VGTs in Chicago establishments. [11]
The Illinois video gaming market is highly concentrated, with a small number of licensed terminal operators controlling a significant majority of the state's distributed gaming network. As of late 2025, over 49,000 video gaming terminals (VGTs) were in operation across approximately 8,700 licensed establishments statewide. [12] [2] The Illinois Gaming Board provides regulatory oversight for these operators, publishing monthly reports that detail net terminal income and tax contributions to the Capital Projects Fund and local municipalities. [13]
In July 2024, the state implemented a new progressive tax structure for sports betting, with rates ranging from 20% to 40% based on adjusted gross receipts (AGR). [14] By early 2026, the IGB became involved in a jurisdictional dispute as state lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 2800 to prevent the City of Chicago from imposing an additional 10.25% local tax on sportsbooks, asserting that the state holds exclusive authority over gaming regulation. [15]