Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 230 - GAMING
230 ILCS 25/ - Bingo License and Tax Act.

(230 ILCS 25/1) (from Ch. 120, par. 1101)
Sec. 1. The Department of Revenue shall, upon application therefor on
forms prescribed by the Department, and upon the payment of a nonrefundable

annual fee
of $200, and
upon a determination by the
Department that the applicant meets
all of the qualifications specified in this Act, issue a bingo license for
the conducting of bingo to any of the following: any bona fide religious, charitable, labor,
fraternal, youth athletic, senior citizen, educational or veterans'
organization organized in Illinois which operates without profit to its
members, which has been in existence in Illinois continuously for a period
of 5 years immediately before making application for a license and which
has had during that entire 5 year period a bona fide membership engaged in
carrying out its objects. However, the 5 year requirement shall be
reduced to 2 years, as applied to a local organization which is affiliated
with and chartered by a national organization which meets the 5 year
requirement.
Each

license shall be
in effect for one year from its date of issuance unless extended, suspended, or revoked
by Department action before that date. The Department may provide by rule for an extension of any bingo license issued under this Act. Any extension provided shall not exceed one year. A licensee may hold only one license to conduct bingo and that license is valid for only one location. The Department may authorize by rule the filing by electronic means of any application, license, permit, return, or registration required under this Act. All taxes and fees imposed by this Act, unless otherwise specified, shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury.
(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/1.1)
Sec. 1.1. Definitions. For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:
"Bingo" means a game in which each player has a card or board for which a consideration has been paid, containing 5 horizontal rows of spaces, with each row except the central one containing 5 figures. The central row has 4 figures with the word "free" marked in the center space. "Bingo" includes games that otherwise qualify under this paragraph, except for the use of cards where the figures are not preprinted but are filled in by the players. A player wins a game of bingo by completing a preannounced combination of spaces or, in the absence of a preannouncement of a combination of spaces, any combination of 5 spaces in a row, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
"Bingo equipment" means any equipment or machinery designed or used for the play of bingo. "Bingo equipment" does not include electronic equipment.
"Charitable organization" means an organization or institution organized and operated to benefit an indefinite number of the public.
"Department" means the Department of Revenue.
"Educational organization" means an organization or institution organized and operated to provide systematic instruction in useful branches of learning by methods common to schools and institutions of learning which compare favorably in their scope and intensity with the course of study presented in tax-supported schools.
"Fraternal organization" means an organization of persons having a common interest that is organized and operated exclusively to promote the welfare of its members and to benefit the general public on a continuing and consistent basis, including but not limited to ethnic organizations.
"Holiday" means any of the holidays listed in Section 17 of the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act.
"Labor organization" means an organization composed of labor unions or workers organized with the objectives of betterment of the conditions of those engaged in such pursuit and the development of a higher degree of efficiency in their respective occupations.
"Licensed organization" means a qualified organization that has obtained a license to conduct bingo in conformance with the provisions of this Act.
"Limited license" means a license issued to an organization that is not a licensed organization, but that is otherwise eligible for a regular license to conduct bingo. A limited license authorizes the conduct of bingo at up to 2 indoor or outdoor festivals during the calendar year for which the license is issued for a maximum of 5 consecutive days on each occasion.
"Non-profit organization" means an organization or institution organized and conducted on a not-for-profit basis with no personal profit inuring to anyone as a result of the operation.
"Organization" means a corporation, agency, partnership, association, firm, business or other entity consisting of 2 or more persons joined by a common interest or purpose.
"Person" means any natural individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, organization (as defined in this Section), licensee under this Act, or volunteer.
"Provider" means any person or organization, except a city, village, or incorporated town that owns or leases premises to an organization for the conduct of bingo.
"Regular license" means a license authorizing its holder to conduct one session of bingo per week on the date and at the time and location stated on the license.
"Religious organization" means any church, congregation, society, or organization founded for the purpose of religious worship.
"Senior citizens organization" means an organization or association comprised of members of which substantially all are individuals who are senior citizens, as defined in the Illinois Act on the Aging, the primary purpose of which is to promote the welfare of its members.
"Special games" means bingo games that may be designated as such, played a maximum of 5 times during a bingo session and are distinguished from regular games only by the maximum price that may be charged for the bingo cards used.
"Special permit" means the ability of a licensee who currently holds a license to be granted a permit to conduct bingo on other days not exceeding 5 consecutive days.
"Supplier" means any person, firm, or corporation that sells, leases, or distributes to any organization licensed to conduct bingo or to any licensed bingo supplier, cards, boards, sheets, markers, pads and any other supplies, devices and equipment designed for use in the play of bingo.
"Veterans' organization" means an organization comprised of members of which substantially all are individuals who are veterans or spouses, widows, or widowers of veterans, the primary purpose of which is to promote the welfare of its members and to provide assistance to the general public in such a way as to confer a public benefit.
"Volunteer" means a person recruited by an organization who voluntarily performs services at a bingo event, including participation in the management or operation of a game.
"Youth athletic organization" means an organization having as its exclusive purpose the promotion and provision of athletic activities for youth aged 18 and under.

(Source: P.A. 99-177, eff. 7-29-15.)

(230 ILCS 25/1.2)
Sec. 1.2. Ineligibility for licensure. The following are ineligible for any license under this Act:
The Illinois State Police shall provide the criminal background of any person requested by the Department of Revenue.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

(230 ILCS 25/1.2a)
Sec. 1.2a. Applicant convictions.
(a) The Department, upon a finding that an applicant for a license was convicted of a felony within the previous 5 years or of a violation of Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or Criminal Code of 2012, shall consider any evidence of rehabilitation and mitigating factors contained in the applicant's record, including any of the following factors and evidence, to determine if the applicant is sufficiently rehabilitated or whether the conviction will impair the ability of the applicant to engage in the position for which a license is sought:
(b) If the Department refuses to issue a license to an applicant, then the Department shall notify the applicant of the denial in writing with the following included in the notice of denial:
(c) No later than May 1 of each year, the Department must prepare, publicly announce, and publish a report of summary statistical information relating to new and renewal license applications during the preceding calendar year. Each report shall show, at a minimum:
(d) The Department shall not require applicants to report the following information and shall not consider the following criminal history records in connection with an application for licensure:
(Source: P.A. 100-286, eff. 1-1-18.)

(230 ILCS 25/1.3)
Sec. 1.3. Restrictions on licensure. Licensing for the conducting of bingo is subject to the following restrictions:
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-177, eff. 7-29-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(230 ILCS 25/1.4)
Sec. 1.4. Providers' license. The Department shall issue a providers' license permitting a person, firm, or corporation to provide premises for the conduct of bingo. No person, firm or corporation may rent or otherwise provide premises without having first obtained a license. Applications for providers' licenses shall be made in writing in accordance with Department rules. The Department shall license providers of bingo at a nonrefundable annual fee of $200, or a nonrefundable triennial fee of $600. Each providers' license is valid for one year from date of issuance, or 3 years from date of issuance for a triennial license, unless extended, suspended, or revoked by Department action before that date. Any extension of a providers' license shall not exceed one year. A municipality shall not be required to obtain a license to provide such premises. A provider may receive reasonable expenses for providing premises for conducting bingo. Reasonable expenses shall include only those expenses defined as reasonable by rules promulgated by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/1.5)
Sec. 1.5. Suppliers' license. The Department shall issue a suppliers' license permitting a person, firm, or corporation to sell, lease, lend or distribute to any organization licensed to conduct bingo, supplies, devices and other equipment designed for use in the playing of bingo. No person, firm or corporation shall sell, lease, lend or distribute bingo supplies or equipment without having first obtained a license. Applications for suppliers' licenses shall be made in writing in accordance with Department rules. The Department shall license suppliers of bingo subject to a nonrefundable annual fee of $200, or a nonrefundable triennial fee of $600. Each suppliers' license is valid for one year from date of issuance, or 3 years from date of issuance for a triennial license, unless extended, suspended, or revoked by Department action before that date. Any extension of a providers' license shall not exceed one year. No licensed supplier under this Act shall sell, lease, lend, distribute or allow the use of any supplies, devices or equipment designed for use in the play of bingo for the conducting of anything other than bingo or to any person or organization not otherwise licensed under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/2) (from Ch. 120, par. 1102)
Sec. 2. The conducting of bingo is subject to the following restrictions:
(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/3) (from Ch. 120, par. 1103)
Sec. 3. Payments; returns. There shall be paid to the Department of Revenue, 5% of the gross
proceeds of any game of bingo conducted under the provision of this Act.
Such payments shall be made 4 times per year, between the first and the
20th day of April, July, October and January. Accompanying each payment shall be a return,
on forms prescribed by the Department of Revenue. Failure to submit either the payment or
the return within the specified time may result in suspension or revocation
of the license. Tax returns filed pursuant to this Act shall not be confidential and shall be available for public inspection.
If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the taxpayer's liabilities under this Act, as shown on an original return, the taxpayer may credit such excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department under this Act, in accordance with reasonable rules adopted by the Department.
All payments made to the Department of Revenue under this Section shall be deposited as follows:
The provisions of Sections 4, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5i, 5j,
6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Retailers' Occupation
Tax Act
and Section 3-7 of the
Uniform Penalty and Interest Act, which are not inconsistent with this Act, shall apply, as far as
practicable, to the subject matter of this Act to the same extent as if
such provisions were included in this Act. For the purposes of this Act, references in such incorporated
Sections of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to retailers, sellers or
persons engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property means
persons engaged in conducting bingo games, and references in such
incorporated Sections of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to sales of
tangible personal property mean the conducting of bingo games and the
making of charges for playing such games.

(Source: P.A. 100-1171, eff. 1-4-19.)

(230 ILCS 25/4) (from Ch. 120, par. 1104)
Sec. 4. Each licensee must keep a complete record of bingo games conducted
within the previous 3 years. Such record shall be available for inspection by
any employee of the Department of Revenue during reasonable business hours.
The Department may require that any person, organization or corporation
licensed under this Act obtain from an Illinois certified public accounting
firm at its own expense a certified and unqualified financial statement
and verification of records of such organization.
Failure of a bingo licensee to comply with this requirement within 90
days of receiving notice from the Director may
result in suspension or revocation of the licensee's license.
The Department of Revenue may, at its discretion, suspend or revoke
any license if it finds that the licensee or any person connected therewith
has violated or is violating the provisions of this Act. A suspension or revocation shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other civil penalties or assessments that are authorized by this Act. No licensee under
this Act, while a bingo game is being conducted, shall knowingly permit
entry into any part of the licensed premises by any person
who has been convicted of a felony or a violation of
Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(230 ILCS 25/4.1)
Sec. 4.1. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 84-221. Repealed by P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/4.2)
Sec. 4.2. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 82-967. Repealed by P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/4.3)
Sec. 4.3.
Compulsive gambling.
(a) Each organization conducting bingo shall post signs with a statement
regarding obtaining assistance with gambling problems, the text of which shall
be determined by rule by the Department of Human Services,
at all entrances and exits at the premises at which bingo is conducted by the
organization. The signs shall be provided by the Department of Human
Services.
(b) Each organization conducting bingo shall print a statement regarding
obtaining assistance with gambling problems, the text of which shall be
determined by rule by the Department of Human Services, on all
paper stock that it provides to the public.

(Source: P.A. 89-374, eff. 1-1-96; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(230 ILCS 25/5) (from Ch. 120, par. 1105)
Sec. 5. Penalties.
(a) Any person who conducts or knowingly participates in an
unlicensed bingo game commits the offense of gambling in violation of
Section 28-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. Any person who
violates any other provision of this Act, or any person who
knowingly fails to file a bingo return or who knowingly files a fraudulent
application or return
under this Act, or any person who wilfully
violates any rule or regulation of the Department for the administration
and enforcement of this Act, or any officer or agent of an organization

licensed under this Act who signs a fraudulent application or return filed on behalf of
such an organization, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) Any organization that illegally conducts bingo, in addition to other penalties provided for in this Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty
equal to the gross proceeds derived from those
unlicensed games, as well as confiscation and forfeiture of all bingo equipment
used in the conduct of those unlicensed games.
(c) Any organization licensed to conduct bingo which allows any form of illegal gambling to be conducted on the premises where bingo is being conducted, in addition to other penalties provided for in this Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty equal to the amount of gross proceeds derived on that day from bingo and any illegal game that may have been conducted, as well as confiscation and forfeiture of all bingo equipment used in the conduct of any unlicensed or illegal games.
(d) Any person or organization, in addition to other penalties provided for in this Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for any of the following violations:

(230 ILCS 25/5.1) (from Ch. 120, par. 1105.1)
Sec. 5.1. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is hereby expressly
adopted and shall apply to all administrative rules and procedures of the
Department of Revenue under this Act, except that (1) paragraph (b) of Section
5-10 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to final
orders, decisions and opinions of the Department, (2) subparagraph (a)(ii) of
Section 5-10 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to
forms established by the Department for use under this Act, (3) the
provisions of Section 10-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
regarding proposals for decision are excluded and not applicable to the
Department under this Act, and (4) the provisions of subsection (d) of Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act do not apply so as to prevent summary suspension of any license pending revocation or other action, which suspension shall remain in effect unless modified by the Department or unless the Department's decision is reversed on the merits in proceedings conducted pursuant to the Administrative Review Law.

(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/5.2)
Sec. 5.2. Law enforcement action. Any law enforcement agency that takes action relating to the operation of a bingo game shall notify the Department of Revenue and specify the extent of the action taken and the reasons for the action.

(Source: P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 25/6) (from Ch. 120, par. 1106)
Sec. 6.

If any clause, sentence, section, provision or part of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be adjudged to be
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or its application to persons
or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be
affected thereby.

(Source: P.A. 77-332.)

(230 ILCS 25/7) (from Ch. 120, par. 1107)
Sec. 7.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Bingo License and Tax
Act".

(Source: P.A. 77-332.)