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SB 3233

HORSE RACING-VARIOUS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Bill Cunningham

Modernizes Illinois horse racing governance by tightening licensing, enhancing background checks, expanding wagering options, and boosting transparency and penalties.

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Bill Summary · SB 3233

Overview

  • Bill: SB3233 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)
  • Introduced: February 2, 2026
  • Primary subject: Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 to update governance, licensing, wagering, and recordkeeping related to horse racing and related activities.

Main purpose and intent

  • Modernize the Illinois Racing Board’s operations and oversight.
  • Increase penalties for violations and tighten background checks and employment screening.
  • Require more stringent track construction/financing prerequisites for organization licenses.
  • Expand and standardize wagering, including interstate and advance deposit wagering, to maximize state revenue and purse funding, while safeguarding the integrity of racing.
  • Improve transparency and public record-keeping through audio/video recordings of meetings (with limited exceptions).

Key provisions and changes

  • Meetings and recordkeeping

    • The Illinois Racing Board shall create a verbatim record of regular and special meetings via audio or video recording (instead of requiring a court reporter transcription), with an emergency exception precluding transcription/recording and alternative minutes instead.
    • Public access to meeting records and annual reporting requirements remain in place.

  • Licenses and employment screening

    • Board can refuse an occupation license for just cause (closing gaps in past language).
    • Applicants for pari-mutuel clerk, parking attendant, or security guard must disclose past convictions for theft, fraud, wagering during employment, touting, bookmaking, etc.
    • Licensee must forward a copy of the employment application to the Board before offering employment and certify background checks.
    • The Board’s previous “inquiry” requirement for reviewing applicants is removed; instead, the Board conducts background checks and can exclude ineligible applicants after investigation.
    • Fingerprinting and background checks are required for occupation licenses; fees collected by Illinois State Police.

  • Organization licenses and track development

    • Before awarding an organization license, applicants must have certified plans by a licensed architect and confirmed financing for a finished race track suitable for the racing type and public accommodation; completion must be scheduled before the meet begins.
    • Application for an organization license requires a $10,000 (previously $1,000) certified check or bank draft.
    • Stronger prerequisites for allowing organization licenses; licenses can be denied for various moral, financial, or integrity concerns.

  • Penalties and civil fines

    • Civil penalties: up to $10,000 for individuals and up to $25,000 for licensees per violation (increased from $5,000 and $10,000 respectively).
    • Penalties to be deposited into the Horse Racing Fund.

  • Board discipline and governance

    • Board authority to appoint executives and staff; oversight provisions otherwise maintained.
    • Expanded scope for testing, auditing, and financial transparency (audits by CPAs, reporting within 120 days of fiscal year end).

  • Wagering and wagering-related changes

    • Allows pari-mutuel wagering for races conducted by Illinois organization licensees and certain inter-jurisdictional wagering.
    • Hosts may accept interstate simulcast wagers; non-host licensees may also participate under Board rules, with signals and allocations governed by the Board.
    • Inter-State simulcast signals: live signals must be shared with advance deposit wagering (ADW) licensees; interstate commission fees capped (initially 5%), with Board rules for exceptions.
    • Advance deposit wagering (ADW) arrangements may be maintained with other states, subject to Board approval and safeguards; proceeds and commissions allocated to purses and organization purses, with specified split rules.
    • Host tracks must provide live signals to ADW licensees; ADW terminals permitted at facilities with Board oversight.

  • Racing dates and schedules

    • The Board has broad discretion to allocate racing dates among organization licensees, with specific minimums and guaranteed live racing requirements (e-1, e-2, e-3, e-4 series) tied to the type of license (thoroughbred vs. standardbred) and geographic considerations (Cook County, Madison County, etc.).
    • Provisions include minimum days of racing, adjustments in response to track conditions, breed associations, and agreements among licensees.
    • Emergency reallocation of dates permitted if licenses are suspended, surrendered, or not accepted.
    • Detailed process for notifying applicants, accepting dates, posting bonds, and ensuring timely licensing.

  • Miscellaneous and compliance

    • Stringent conflict-of-interest rules for Board members and employees.
    • Expanded ethics and disclosure requirements for ownership interests in organization licensees.
    • Rules governing ownership changes and public official interests.
    • Cross-examination and administrative procedure adjustments for organization-license proceedings (with several exceptions allowing Board flexibility).

Who would be affected

  • Illinois Racing Board (IRB) and its staff
  • Occupation licensees (owners, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, etc.) and occupation license applicants
  • Pari-mutuel clerks, parking attendants, security guards, concessionaire employees
  • Organization licensees (entities authorized to conduct horse racing and gaming)
  • County fairs and the Department of Agriculture when involved in race meetings
  • Horsemen, owners, trainers, jockeys, drivers, and other racing industry participants through wagering and date allocation
  • Public and media via enhanced meeting records and annual reporting

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Various timelines include: background check processing, filing of applications, notice requirements, and deadlines for accepting racing dates and posting bonds.
  • Organization license and date allocation processes include annual planning cycles with specific meeting dates for awarding racing dates.
  • Enhanced reporting: annual report due to the Governor by March 1 each year, plus additional requested reports.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current statute language or highlight which sections would have the most substantive impact on racing operations and governance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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