Ever since the Riverboat Gambling Act was established in 1990, Illinois slot machines and other forms of gambling have grown rapidly across the state, now with more than ten active casinos. Nearly 20 years later in 2009, the Video Gaming Act was enacted, allowing licensed establishments such as bars, restaurants, truck stops, and veteran locations to place up to five Illinois slot machines in their buildings.
Each of these establishments is authorized and monitored by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). They manage the licensing process for video gambling in Illinois and are also in charge of enforcing the proper laws for establishments and other parties that handle Illinois slot machines. The Illinois Gaming Board also maintains the integrity of the Illinois gaming machines through regular inspections. In addition, the board manages the tax collection of both riverboat casinos and video gaming establishments.
And as we mentioned before, the Illinois gaming machine industry is continually on the rise throughout the state. A quick search through the Illinois gaming revenue reports shows that revenue reached nearly $1.5 billion across its 6,560 licensed locations in 2018.
Every Illinois slot machine across the state is connected to a central communications system, also known as a CCS. While the Illinois Gaming Board monitors the laws and regulations of Illinois gaming machines, they have contracted a company called Scientific Games International to develop and control this technical framework.
The CCS software allows Scientific Games to remotely inspect, track, and even disconnect any Illinois gaming machines, depending on the needs and requests of the Illinois Gaming Board. The system is used to ensure machines are turned off outside of business hours and to shut them down if a local establishment is facing disciplinary action for misuse of the Illinois gaming revenue and slot machines.
Awesome Hand Gaming is an Illinois Video Gaming Terminal Operator that offers vital training to help you learn more about Illinois gaming systems and the Illinois Video Gaming Act. Along with a designated marketing representative, we provide coaching throughout the license application process, proper gaming machine maintenance practices, and even how to keep your slot machines secure. We’ll make sure everyone in your group knows what it takes to run the Illinois slot machine area and keep your gamers happy.
Many business owners hope to fill out a quick application and have Illinois slot machines in their bar, restaurant, truck stop, or fraternal organization within a couple of days. While it doesn’t happen that quickly, Awesome Hand Gaming works with each location to get through the process promptly. But much of it will depend on you, your preparations, and the licensing steps.
Before you even begin the process of obtaining Illinois gaming machines, you’ll want to ensure you have a FEIN (federal employer tax identification number) and an Illinois business tax number (IBT). Along with these, you’ll need to have both federal and local liquor licenses clearly displayed and available.
From there, the application for Illinois slot machines will take you through the necessary fingerprinting and background checks, followed by a site inspection. If you are building a new establishment, it will need to be close to opening and have all the appropriate infrastructure already in place. The inspector will review the potential Illinois gaming machines area and meet with both the establishment owners and the Video Gaming Manager. Photos will be taken of each individual along with the location to be sent in with the completed application for final approval.
The Illinois Gaming Board generally meets once per month to review all current applications and vote on whether all requirements have been met. All in all, the entire application process for Illinois gaming machines usually takes anywhere from 2-3 months, depending on when this meeting takes place.
When you partner with the right Illinois Video Gaming Terminal Operator such as Awesome Hand Gaming, you will receive guidance and support throughout the process, we can guarantee the effort invested into obtaining slot machines for your establishment is well worth it!