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SB 1356

VID GAMING/POLI CONTRIB PROHIB

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mike Hastings

Prohibits certain gaming-related individuals and entities from political contributions to license officials for 10 years and requires disclosure of beneficiaries.

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Bill Summary · SB 1356

Summary — SB 1356: Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act

Status: Introduced (Illinois) — Introduced 01/28/2025
Sponsor: Sen. Michael E. Hastings
Short title: Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act

Purpose

To promote transparency and reduce conflicts of interest in local gaming licensing by prohibiting certain persons and entities connected to licensed video gaming locations from making political contributions to local officials (or PACs) who oversee or influence gaming licensing decisions, and by requiring disclosure of individuals who benefit from gaming licenses.

Key provisions

  • Creates the "Video Gaming Ethics and Political Contributions Prohibition Act."
  • Prohibited contributors:
    • Video game terminal operators;
    • Landlords or property owners leasing to gaming operators;
    • Boards of directors, investors of those entities; and
    • Immediate family members of any of the above.
  • Prohibited recipients:
    • Municipal or county officials responsible for issuing gaming licenses; and
    • Political action committees that support or are affiliated with such officials.
  • Duration of prohibition: Applies for 10 years following issuance/approval of the gaming license, a tax-increment financing benefit, or a zoning variance.
  • Disclosure requirements:
    • Entities receiving benefits from a gaming license must annually disclose to the appropriate governmental body the names of directors, employees, investors, landlords, and immediate family members who receive a benefit; disclosures to be publicly available.
    • Political organizations, candidates, PACs, and independent expenditure committees must keep records and disclose contributions from individuals or entities covered by the Act.
  • Definitions: Includes terms such as “video game terminal operator,” “landlord,” “gaming location investor,” and “immediate family” (spouse, parent, sibling, child, or domestic relative residing in same household).
  • Enforcement and oversight:
    • Enforcement authorities: Illinois Gaming Board, Illinois State Board of Elections, and Illinois Ethics Commission.
    • The Attorney General may prosecute violations.
  • Penalties:
    • Civil penalty up to $100,000 for prohibited contributions;
    • Suspension or revocation of the gaming license and ineligibility for future gaming benefits (up to 5 years);
    • Municipal or county officials who knowingly accept prohibited contributions face ethics investigations, potential removal, and possible criminal penalties for repeated/intentional violations (including up to one year imprisonment).

Who would be affected

  • Primary: video gaming terminal operators, property owners/landlords leasing to such operators, their boards, investors, and immediate family members.
  • Secondary: municipal and county licensing officials, local PACs and political organizations, gaming industry participants, and local governments receiving disclosure filings.
  • Public: increased public transparency about who benefits from local gaming arrangements.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Illinois General Assembly on January 28, 2025.
  • Bill text states it takes effect upon becoming law (effective immediately upon enactment).
  • Related measures or companion bills may exist; enforcement is distributed among state regulatory bodies and the Attorney General.

Potential practical effects (neutral observation)

  • Seeks to limit financial influence by parties with direct financial interest in gaming licenses and to increase transparency via mandatory disclosures.
  • Would impose new compliance and reporting obligations on gaming-related entities and political organizations.
  • Establishes significant civil, administrative, and criminal penalties to deter prohibited contributions.

For the full statutory text, definitions, and exact procedural language, consult the bill as introduced (LRB104 08115 LNS 18161 b).

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

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