Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 230 - GAMING
230 ILCS 30/ - Charitable Games Act.

(230 ILCS 30/1) (from Ch. 120, par. 1121)
Sec. 1.
This Act shall be known as the "Charitable Games Act".

(Source: P.A. 84-1303.)

(230 ILCS 30/1.1) (from Ch. 120, par. 1121.1)
Sec. 1.1.
Legislative findings and intent.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) not-for-profit charitable organizations provide important and
necessary services to the people of the State of Illinois with respect to
educational and social services; and
(2) there is a need to provide methods of fund raising to such
not-for-profit organizations so as to enable them to meet their stated
charitable and social purposes.
(b) The General Assembly also finds that:
(1) uniform regulation for the conduct of standardized games of chance is in the
best interests of not-for-profit organizations and the people of the State
of Illinois; and
(2) authorization for such not-for-profit organizations to conduct
charitable games as provided in this Act is in the best interests of and
will benefit the people of the State of Illinois.
(c) It is the purpose and intent of this Act:
(1) to permit not-for-profit organizations to conduct charitable games
only in compliance with the provisions of this Act; and
(2) to reaffirm that gambling in Illinois, for non-charitable purposes,
is not to be allowed.

(Source: P.A. 84-1303.)

(230 ILCS 30/2) (from Ch. 120, par. 1122)
Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this Act, the following definitions
apply:
"Charitable games" means the 14 games of chance involving cards, dice, wheels, random selection of numbers, and gambling tickets which may be conducted at charitable games events listed as follows: roulette, blackjack, poker, pull tabs, craps, bang, beat the dealer, big six, gin rummy, five card stud poker, chuck-a-luck, keno, hold-em poker, and merchandise wheel.
"Charitable games event" or "event" means the type of fundraising event authorized by the Act at which participants pay to play charitable games for the chance of winning cash or noncash prizes.
"Charitable organization" means an organization or institution organized and operated to benefit an indefinite number of the public.
"Chips" means scrip, play money, poker or casino chips, or any other representations of money, used to make wagers on the outcome of any charitable game.
"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.
"Labor organization" means an organization composed of labor unions or
workers organized with the objective 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 a charitable games event in conformance with the provisions of this Act.
"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, qualified organization, licensed organization, licensee under this Act, or volunteer.
"Premises" means a distinct parcel of land and the buildings thereon.
"Provider" means the person or organization owning, leasing, or controlling premises upon which any charitable games event is to be conducted.
"Qualified organization" means:
"Religious organization" means any church, congregation, society, or organization founded for the purpose of religious worship.
"Sponsoring organization" means a qualified organization that has obtained a
license to conduct a charitable games event in conformance with the provisions
of this Act.
"Supplier" means any person, firm, or corporation that sells, leases, lends, distributes, or otherwise provides to any organization licensed to conduct charitable games events in Illinois any charitable games equipment.
"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 a licensed organization who voluntarily performs services at a charitable games event, including participation in the management or operation of a game, as defined in Section 8.
(Source: P.A. 98-426, eff. 8-16-13; 98-644, eff. 6-10-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/3) (from Ch. 120, par. 1123)
Sec. 3. The Department of Revenue shall, upon application therefor
on forms prescribed by the Department, and upon the payment of a nonrefundable
fee of $400 due upon application and each renewal, and upon a determination by the Department that the applicant
meets all of the qualifications specified in this Act, issue a
charitable games license for the conducting of charitable games to any
of the following:
The application shall be signed by a person listed on the application as an owner, officer, or other person in charge of the necessary day-to-day operations of the applicant organization, who shall attest under penalties of perjury that the information contained in the application is true, correct, and complete.
Each license shall be in effect for 2 years from its date of
issuance unless extended, suspended, or revoked by Department action before that date.
Any extension shall not exceed one year. The Department may by rule authorize the filing by electronic means of any application, license, permit, return, or registration required under this Act. A licensee may hold only one license. Each license must be applied for at
least 30 days prior to the night or nights the licensee wishes to conduct
such games. The Department may issue a license to a licensee that applies less than 30 days prior to the night or nights the licensee wishes to conduct the games if all other requirements of this Act are met and the Department has sufficient time and resources to issue the license in a timely manner. The Department may provide by rule for an extension of any charitable games license issued under this Act. If a licensee wishes to conduct games at a location other than
the locations originally specified in the license, the licensee shall
notify the Department of the proposed alternate location at least 30 days
before the night on which the licensee wishes to conduct games at the
alternate location. The Department may accept an applicant's change in location with less than 30 days' notice if all other requirements of this Act are met and the Department has sufficient time and resources to process the change in a timely manner.
All taxes and fees imposed by this Act, unless otherwise specified, shall be paid into the Illinois Gaming Law Enforcement Fund of the State Treasury.

(Source: P.A. 98-377, eff. 1-1-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/4) (from Ch. 120, par. 1124)
Sec. 4. Licensing Restrictions. Licensing for the conducting of
charitable games is subject to the following restrictions:
Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a licensee that
conducts charitable games on its own premises from also obtaining a
providers' license in accordance with Section 5.1.
The maximum number of charitable games events that may be held in any one
premises is limited to no more than 12 charitable games events per calendar year.

(Source: P.A. 98-377, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1071, eff. 8-26-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/5) (from Ch. 120, par. 1125)
Sec. 5. Providers' License. The Department shall issue a providers'
license permitting a person, firm or corporation to provide
premises for the conduct of charitable games. 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 charitable games at a nonrefundable annual fee of $50, or nonrefundable triennial license fee of $150. Each providers' license is valid for one year
from the 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 provider may receive reasonable compensation for the provision
of the premises. Reasonable expenses shall include only those expenses defined as reasonable by rules adopted by the Department. A provider, other than a
municipality, may not provide
the same premises for conducting more than 12 charitable games nights
per year.
A provider shall not have any interest in any suppliers' business, either
direct or indirect.
A municipality may provide the same premises for conducting 48 charitable
games nights during a 12-month period. No employee, officer, or owner of a
provider may participate in the management or operation of a charitable games
event, even if the employee, officer, or owner is also a member, volunteer, or
employee of the charitable games licensee. A provider may not promote or
solicit a charitable games event on behalf of a charitable games licensee or
qualified organization.
Any qualified organization licensed to conduct a
charitable game need not obtain a providers' license if such games are to
be conducted on the organization's premises.

(Source: P.A. 98-377, eff. 1-1-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/5.1) (from Ch. 120, par. 1125.1)
Sec. 5.1. If a licensee conducts charitable games on its own premises,
the licensee may also obtain a providers' license in accordance with
Section 5 to allow the licensee to rent or otherwise provide its
premises to another licensee for the conducting of an additional 4
charitable games events. The maximum number of charitable games events that
may be held at any one premises is limited to 12 charitable games events per
calendar year.

(Source: P.A. 98-1071, eff. 8-26-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/6) (from Ch. 120, par. 1126)
Sec. 6. Supplier's license. The Department shall issue a supplier's
license permitting a person,
firm, or corporation to sell, lease, lend or distribute to any organization
licensed
to conduct charitable games,
supplies, devices, and other equipment designed for use in the playing of
charitable games.
No person, firm, or corporation shall sell, lease, lend, or distribute charitable
games 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 charitable games subject to a nonrefundable annual fee of $500, or a nonrefundable triennial fee of $1,500.

Each supplier's license is
valid for one year from the 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 supplier's license shall not exceed one year. No licensed supplier under this Act shall lease, lend, or distribute charitable gaming equipment, supplies, or other devices to persons not otherwise licensed to conduct charitable games under this Act. The Department may require by rule for the provision of
surety bonds by suppliers. A supplier
shall keep among its books and records and make available for inspection by the Department a list of all products and equipment offered for sale or lease to any
organization licensed to conduct charitable games, and all such products
and equipment shall be sold or leased at the prices shown on the books and records. A supplier shall keep all such products and equipment
segregated and separate from any other products, materials or equipment that
it might own, sell, or lease.
A supplier must include in its application for a license the exact
location of the storage of the products, materials, or equipment. A
supplier, as a condition of licensure, must consent to permitting the
Department's employees to enter supplier's premises to inspect and test all
equipment and devices.
A supplier shall keep books and records for
the furnishing of products and equipment to charitable games separate and
distinct from any other business the supplier might operate. All products
and equipment supplied must be in accord with the Department's rules and
regulations.
A supplier shall not alter or modify any equipment or supplies, or possess
any equipment or supplies so altered or modified, so as to allow the
possessor or operator of the equipment to obtain a greater chance of
winning a game other than as under normal rules of play of such games.
The supplier shall not require an organization to pay a
percentage of the proceeds from the charitable games for the use of the
products or equipment. The supplier shall
file a quarterly return with the
Department listing all sales or leases for such quarter and the gross
proceeds from such
sales or leases. A supplier shall permanently affix his name to all
charitable games equipment, supplies and pull tabs. A supplier shall not
have any interest in any providers' business, either direct or indirect.
If the supplier leases his equipment for use at an unlicensed charitable
games or to an unlicensed sponsoring group, all equipment so leased is
forfeited to the State.
Organizations licensed to conduct charitable games may own their own
equipment. Such organizations must apply to the Department for an
ownership permit. Any such application must be accompanied by a one-time, nonrefundable fee of $50.
Such organizations shall file an annual report listing their inventory of
charitable games equipment. Such organizations may lend such equipment
without compensation to other licensed organizations without applying for a
suppliers license.
No employee, owner, or officer of a supplier may
participate in the management or operation of a charitable games event,
even if the employee, owner, or officer is also a member, volunteer, or
employee of the charitable games licensee. A supplier may not promote or
solicit a charitable games event on behalf of a charitable games licensee or
qualified organization.

(Source: P.A. 94-986, eff. 6-30-06; 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 30/7) (from Ch. 120, par. 1127)
Sec. 7. Ineligible persons. 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 30/7.1)
Sec. 7.1. 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 grant 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) Applicants shall not be required to report the following information and the following shall not be considered in connection with an application for licensure or registration:
(Source: P.A. 100-286, eff. 1-1-18.)

(230 ILCS 30/8) (from Ch. 120, par. 1128)
Sec. 8. The conducting of charitable games is subject to the following
restrictions:
(Source: P.A. 98-377, eff. 1-1-14; 98-1071, eff. 8-26-14.)

(230 ILCS 30/8.1)
Sec. 8.1.
Compulsive gambling.
(a) Each organization conducting charitable
games 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 charitable
games are conducted by the organization. The signs shall be provided by the
Department of Human Services.
(b) Each organization conducting charitable games 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 30/9) (from Ch. 120, par. 1129)
Sec. 9. Payments; returns. There shall be paid to the Department of Revenue, 5% of the net
proceeds of charitable games conducted under the provisions
of this Act. Such payments shall be made within 30 days after the
completion of the games. 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.
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 charitable games, and references in such
incorporated Sections of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to sales of
tangible personal property mean the conducting of charitable games and the
making of charges for playing such games.
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
into the Illinois Gaming Law Enforcement Fund of the State Treasury.

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

(230 ILCS 30/10) (from Ch. 120, par. 1130)
Sec. 10. Each licensee
must keep a complete record of charitable games
conducted
within the previous 3 years. Such record shall be open to
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 charitable games licensee to comply with this requirement within
90
days of receiving notice from the Department 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
revocation or suspension 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 charitable game is being conducted, shall knowingly permit
the entry into any part of the licensed premises by any person
who has been convicted of 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 30/11)
Sec. 11. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 94-986, eff. 6-30-06. Repealed by P.A. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 30/12) (from Ch. 120, par. 1132)
Sec. 12. Penalties.
(1) Any person who conducts or knowingly participates in an
unlicensed charitable game commits the offense of gambling in violation of
Section 28-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. Any person who
violates any provision of this Act, or any person who fails to file a
charitable games return or who
files a fraudulent return
or application under this Act, or any person who willfully

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 return or application filed
on behalf of
such an organization, is guilty of a Class
A misdemeanor. Any second or subsequent violation of this Act constitutes
a Class 4 felony.
(2) Any organization that illegally conducts charitable games, 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 from those unlicensed games, as well as confiscation and forfeiture of all charitable games equipment used in the conduct of those unlicensed games.
(3) Any organization licensed to conduct charitable games that allows any form of illegal gambling to be conducted on the premises where charitable games are 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 charitable games and any illegal game that may have been conducted, as well as confiscation and forfeiture of all charitable games equipment used in the conduct of any unlicensed or illegal games.
(4) Any person who violates any provision of this Act or knowingly violates any rule of the Department for the administration of this Act, in addition to other penalties provided, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for each separate violation.
(5) No person shall sell, lease, or distribute for compensation within this State, or possess with intent to sell, lease, or distribute for compensation within this State, any chips, representations of money, wheels, or any devices or equipment designed for use or used in the play of charitable games without first having obtained a license to do so from the Department of Revenue. Any person that knowingly violates this paragraph is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, the fine for which shall not exceed $50,000.

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

(230 ILCS 30/13) (from Ch. 120, par. 1133)
Sec. 13.

The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act 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. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(230 ILCS 30/14) (from Ch. 120, par. 1134)
Sec. 14.
(a) There is hereby created the Illinois Gaming Law
Enforcement Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury.
(b) The General Assembly shall appropriate two-thirds of the monies in
such fund to the Department of Revenue, Illinois State Police and the
Office of the Attorney General for State law enforcement purposes. The
remaining one-third of the monies in such fund shall be appropriated to the
Department of Revenue for the purpose of distribution in the form of
grants to counties or municipalities for law enforcement purposes.
The amount of a grant to counties or municipalities shall bear the same
ratio to the total amount of grants made as the number of licenses issued
in counties or municipalities bears to the total number of licenses
issued in the State. In computing the number of licenses issued in a
county, licenses issued for locations within a municipality's boundaries
shall be excluded.
(c) (Blank).

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

(230 ILCS 30/14.1)
Sec. 14.1. Severability. 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. 95-228, eff. 8-16-07.)

(230 ILCS 30/15) (from Ch. 120, par. 1135)
Sec. 15.

Any law enforcement agency that takes action relating to
the operation of a charitable game shall notify the Department of Revenue
and specify the extent of the action taken and the reasons for such action.

(Source: P.A. 84-1303.)