With our apologies for the delay, on a beautiful summer morning, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) held its monthly meeting on August 2, 2018. In attendance at the open session meeting were Chairman Tracy and Members Alejandre, Dolan and Robinson. Also in attendance was Acting Administrator Lorenzini.

Riverboat

The meeting began with the approval of the minutes from the open session meeting of June 13, 2018. The Chairman began the session acknowledging that IGB staff member Gene O’Shea will be speaking at the next open session Board meeting on September 14, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. on the casino self-exclusion program.

There were no Board Member comments or Public Commentary nor did the Administrator have a Report.

Owner Licensee Items:

The Board waived the two meeting rule and approved the Eldorado Resort Inc.’s acquisition of the Elgin Riverboat Resort d/b/a Grand Victoria Casino. The Board also approved the new key persons who were part of the acquisition.

Caesars Entertainment Corporation’s presented for initial consideration their request for approval of a financing transaction in connection with the proposed debt combination for Caesars Entertainment Operating Company and Caesars Resort Collection.

The IGB approved the license renewal of HC Joliet, LLC dba Hollywood Casino Joliet.

The IGB approved David S. Krasn as a key person (V.P. of internal audit) for Par-A-Dice Gaming Corporation d/b/a Par-A-dice Hotel Casino.

The IGB approved Susan Carletta as a key person (Senior V.P., chief regulatory and compliance counsel) for Southern Illinois Riverboat / Casino Cruises d/b/a Harrah’s Metropolis Casino & Des Plaines Development Limited Partnership d/b/a Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel.

The IGB tabled until its September 2018 meeting its consideration of Jonathan D. Eilian as a key person for Des Plaines Development Limited Partnership d/b/a Harrah’s Joliet Hotel & Casino.

The IGB approved 117 Level 2 occupational licenses and 192 Level 3 occupational licenses. The IGB denied 5 occupational license applications.

There was one hearing request and one newly issued disciplinary complaint. The IGB denied the request for a hearing as to the IGB’s disciplinary complaint seeking to revoke the occupational license of Mr. D. Richardson. The IGB also issued a disciplinary complaint against occupational licensee Jamie Lee Lamb for alleged gross misconduct.

Video Gaming

The meeting began with the approval of the minutes from the open session meeting of June 13, 2018

The Chairman began the meeting by stating that video gaming continues to grow in the State. There are 6588 video gaming locations with 29,664 live video gaming terminals. There were no Board Member Comments or an Administrator’s Report.

Scott Wirtjes provided the public commentary. Mr. Wirtjes is the owner of a pending location application – the 121 Club, Inc. – which has been pending for more than 10 months. Mr. Wirtjes indicated that, as far as he knows, there is no reason for the delay and he cannot seem to get his application on the Board’s agenda. IGB staff declined to comment on the merits of the application. The Board asserted that they would place the application on the September agenda.

The Board approved the following Manufacturer, Distributor and Supplier License renewals:

American Vending Sales, Inc.
Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
CountR GmbH
H. Betti Industries, Inc.
IGT
JCM American Corporation
Konami Gaming, Inc.
M3 Technology Solutions, LLC

The Board thereafter approved the initial terminal operator license application of A1_Keshav Krupa LLC.

The Board approved the following Terminal Operator renewals:

Donico Gaming, LLC
G.F.M. Gaming, LLC
Game on Entertainment, LLC
Illinois Gaming and Coin-Op LLC
Pocket Aces Gaming Inc.
Veterans VGT, LLC

The Board approved 85 Terminal Handler and 3 Technician applications. The Board denied 3 Terminal Handler license applications.

The Board approved 81 video gaming location applications and denied the following 6 location applications: Able Investments, Inc. d/b/a Firestone Lounge; Alley-Bi Saloon, Inc.; Cheesie’s Gurnee LLC; Luna Properties II, Inc. d/b/a/ Luna Café; PAC Industries Inc. d/b/a Carl’s Bar & Grill; and Ruby’s Café, LLC.

The Board thereafter denied renewal of the following video gaming licenses:

KJ’s Bar & Grill
Butler’s Supper Club
The Loaded Buffalo Bar and Grill
The Cove of Apple Canyon
Symplegades, Inc. dba Top Fuel Saloon
Memories Lake Villa
Brick & Ivy, LLC dba Parkside Pub
Smikit Corporation dba Kelly’s Irish Saloon
Smilin Goat, Inc.
Russel Darin Spears, dba Freight House
Thomas’ Barbeque, Inc.
Garcia Restaurants, Inc. dba Bubba and Bobby’s Beef
Mary’s on Maple
SA & TA Incorporated, dba Rose Garden Restaurant
Stuckey’s Bar and Grille, Inc.
The Bullpen Inc.
Tumbles, Inc. dba Wunder Y Tap
TNT Gas Mart
Lansing Investment Corporation dba Kilroy’s
Vail #1 dba The Oasis

The following Requests for Hearing were granted to Bears Showtown USA, Inc., How-Dog’s dba Catcus County and James Stewart.

Denials for Hearing Requests were issued to TBJ Sports Connection, Mexican Honorary Commission and Diamond Jim’s.

Disciplinary Actions:

The Board approved the issuance of Disciplinary Complaints to the following Terminal Handlers: a revocation for Brandon Moore for allegedly failing to disclose an arrest; a revocation for Christopher Carrell for allegedly stealing money; and a $250 fine for Bruce Matlock for allegedly leaving keys in a VGT.

Three locations were issued Complaints for alleged illegal gambling: American Legion Memorial - proposed $4,000 fine; Fuehne’s Tavern, Inc. - proposed $1,000 fine; and Good Spot, Inc. - proposed $750 fine.

RK Hospitality LLC dba Comfort Inn & Suites was issued a Complaint for allegedly failing to monitor the video gaming area for underage gaming and was issued a proposed fine of $2,000.

Lucky Lincoln was issued a Disciplinary Complaint for allegedly failing to get prior approval to move games within a location – proposed fine $500.

Litigation:

The Board adopted the ALJ recommendation and issued a Final Order of Denial to JB Springfield,dba Lazy Lou’s. The Chairman thanked ALJ Haymaker for his service.

Approval to enter into settlement agreements with Kent’s and Sunset Inn, Inc. was granted to the Administrator.

With all matters concluded, the meeting was then adjourned.