Statutes > Illinois Statutes > CHAPTER 230 GAMING > 230 ILCS 30/ Charitable Games Act.

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": 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:
        (a) a charitable, religious, fraternal, veterans,
     labor or educational 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 and which is exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code;
        (b) a veterans organization as defined in Section
     1.1 of the "Bingo License and Tax Act"organized and conducted on a not‑for‑profit basis with no personal profit inuring to anyone as a result of the operation; or
        (c) An auxiliary organization of a veterans
     organization.
    "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. 94‑986, eff. 6‑30‑06; 95‑228, eff. 8‑16‑07.)

    (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 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 charitable games license for the conducting of charitable games to any of the following:
        (i) Any local fraternal mutual benefit organization
     chartered at least 40 years before it applies for a license under this Act.
        (ii) Any qualified 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 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. The period of existence specified above shall not apply to a qualified organization, organized for charitable purpose, created by a fraternal organization that meets the existence requirements if the charitable organization has the same officers and directors as the fraternal organization. Only one charitable organization created by a branch lodge or chapter of a fraternal organization may be licensed under this provision.
    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 one year 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. 95‑228, eff. 8‑16‑07.)

    (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:
        (1) The license application, when submitted to the
     Department of Revenue, must contain a sworn statement attesting to the not‑for‑profit character of the prospective licensee organization, signed by a person listed on the application as an owner, officer, or other person in charge of the necessary day‑to‑day operations. The application shall contain the name of the person in charge of and primarily responsible for the conduct of the charitable games. The person so designated shall be present on the premises continuously during charitable games.
        (2) The license application shall be prepared by the
     prospective licensee organization or its duly authorized representative in accordance with the rules of the Department of Revenue.
        (2.1) The organization shall maintain among its
     books and records a list of the names, addresses, social security numbers, and dates of birth of all persons who will participate in the management or operation of the games, along with a sworn statement made under penalties of perjury, signed by a person listed on the application as an owner, officer, or other person in charge of the necessary day‑to‑day operations, that the persons listed as participating in the management or operation of the games are bona fide members, volunteers as defined in Section 2, or employees of the applicant, that these persons have not participated in the management or operation of more than 4 charitable games events conducted by any licensee in the calendar year, and that these persons will receive no remuneration or compensation, directly or indirectly from any source, for participating in the management or operation of the games. Any amendments to this listing must contain an identical sworn statement.
        (2.2) (Blank).
        (3) Each license shall state the date, hours and at
     what locations the licensee is permitted to conduct charitable games.
        (4) Each licensee shall file a copy of the license
     with each police department or, if in unincorporated areas, each sheriff's office whose jurisdiction includes the premises on which the charitable games are authorized under the license.
        (5) The licensee shall prominently display the
     license in the area where the licensee is to conduct charitable games. The licensee shall likewise display, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department, the provisions of Section 9 of this Act.
        (6) (Blank).
        (7) Each licensee shall obtain and maintain a bond
     for the benefit of participants in games conducted by the licensee to insure payment to the winners of such games. Such bond discretionary by the Department and shall be in an amount established by rule by the Department of Revenue. In a county with fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, the Department may waive the bond requirement upon a showing by a licensee that it has sufficient funds on deposit to insure payment to the winners of such games.
        (8) A license is not assignable or transferable.
        (9) Unless the premises for conducting charitable
     games are provided by a municipality, the Department shall not issue a license permitting a person, firm or corporation to sponsor a charitable games night if the premises for the conduct of the charitable games has been previously used for 8 charitable games nights during the previous 12 months.
        (10) Auxiliary organizations of a licensee shall not
     be eligible for a license to conduct charitable games, except for auxiliary organizations of veterans organizations as authorized in Section 2.
        (11) Charitable games must be conducted in
     accordance with local building and fire code requirements.
        (12) The licensee shall consent to allowing the
     Department's employees to be present on the premises wherein the charitable games are conducted and to inspect or test equipment, devices and supplies used in the conduct of the game.
    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 8 charitable games events per calendar year.
(Source: P.A. 94‑986, eff. 6‑30‑06; 95‑228, eff. 8‑16‑07.)

    (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 8 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 16 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. 94‑986, eff. 6‑30‑06; 95‑228, eff. 8‑16‑07.)

    (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 8 charitable games events per calendar year.
(Source: P.A. 94‑986, eff. 6‑30‑06.)

    (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:
        (a) any person who has been convicted of a felony
     within the last 10 years before the date of the application;
        (b) any person who has been convicted of a violation
     of Article 28 of the Criminal Code of 1961;
        (c) any person who has had a bingo, pull tabs and jar
     games, or charitable games license revoked by the Department;
        (d) any person who is or has been a professional
     gambler;
        (d‑1) any person found gambling in a manner not
     authorized by this Act, the Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games Act, or the Bingo License and Tax Act participating in such gambling, or knowingly permitting such gambling on premises where an authorized charitable games event is authorized to be conducted or has been conducted;
        (e) any organization in which a person defined in
     (a), (b), (c), (d), or (d‑1) has a proprietary, equitable, or credit interest, or in which the person is active or employed;
        (f) any organization in which a person defined in
     (a), (b), (c), (d), or (d‑1) is an officer, director, or employee, whether compensated or not;
        (g) any organization in which a person defined in
     (a), (b), (c), (d), or (d‑1) is to participate in the management or operation of charitable games.
    The Department of State Police shall provide the criminal background of any person requested by the Department of Revenue.
(Source: P.A. 94‑986, eff. 6‑30‑06; 95‑228, eff. 8‑16‑07.)

    (230 ILCS 30/8)(from Ch. 120, par. 1128)
    Sec. 8. The conducting of charitable games is subject to the following restrictions:
        (1) The entire net proceeds from charitable games
     must be exclusively devoted to the lawful purposes of the organization permitted to conduct that game.
        (2) No person except a bona fide member or employee
     of the sponsoring organization, or a volunteer recruited by the sponsoring organization, may participate in the management or operation of the game. A person participates in the management or operation of a charitable game when he or she sells admission tickets at the event; sells, redeems, or in any way assists in the selling or redeeming of chips, scrip, or play money; participates in the conducting of any of the games played during the event, or supervises, directs or instructs anyone conducting a game; or at any time during the hours of the charitable games event counts, handles, or supervises anyone counting or handling any of the proceeds or chips, scrip, or play money at the event. A person who is present to ensure that the games are being conducted in conformance with the rules established by the licensed organization or is present to insure that the equipment is working properly is considered to be participating in the management or operation of a game. Setting up, cleaning up, selling food and drink, or providing security for persons or property at the event does not constitute participation in the management or operation of the game.
        Only bona fide members, volunteers as defined in
     Section 2 of this Act, and employees of the sponsoring organization may participate in the management or operation of the games. Participation in the management or operation of the games is limited to no more than 4 charitable games events, either of the sponsoring organization or any other licensed organization, during a calendar year.
        (3) No person may receive any remuneration or
     compensation either directly or indirectly from any source for participating in the management or operation of the game.
        (4) No single bet at any game may exceed $10.
        (5) A bank shall be established on the premises to
     convert currency into chips, scrip, or other form of play money which shall then be used to play at games of chance which the participant chooses. Chips, scrip, or play money must be permanently monogrammed with the logo of the licensed organization or of the supplier. Each participant must be issued a receipt indicating the amount of chips, scrip, or play money purchased.
        (6) At the conclusion of the event or when the
     participant leaves, he may cash in his chips, scrip, or play money in exchange for currency not to exceed $250 or noncash prizes. Each participant shall sign for any receipt of prizes. The licensee shall provide the Department of Revenue with a listing of all prizes awarded, including the retail value of all prizes awarded.
        (7) Each licensee shall be permitted to conduct
     charitable games on not more than 4 days each year. 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 7 of this Act.
        (8) Unless the provider of the premises is a
     municipality, the provider of the premises may not rent or otherwise provide the premises for the conducting of more than 8 charitable games nights per year.
        (9) A charitable games event is considered to be a
     one‑day event and charitable games may not be played between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and noon.
        (10) No person under the age of 18 years may play or
     participate in the conducting of charitable games. Any person under the age of 18 years may be within the area where charitable games are being played only when accompanied by his parent or guardian.
        (11) No one other than the sponsoring organization
     of charitable games must have a proprietary interest in the game promoted.
        (12) Raffles or other forms of gambling prohibited
     by law shall not be conducted on the premises where charitable games are being conducted.
        (13) Such games are not expressly prohibited by
     county ordinance for charitable games conducted in the unincorporated areas of the county or municipal ordinance for charitable games conducted in the municipality and the ordinance is filed with the Department of Revenue. The Department shall provide each county or municipality with a list of organizations licensed or subsequently authorized by the Department to conduct charitable games in their jurisdiction.
        (14) The sale of tangible personal property at
     charitable games is subject to all State and local taxes and obligations.
        (15) Each licensee may offer or conduct only the
     games listed below, which must be conducted in accordance with rules posted by the organization. The organization sponsoring charitable games shall promulgate rules, and make printed copies available to participants, for the following games: (a) roulette; (b) blackjack; (c) poker; (d) pull tabs; (e) craps; (f) bang; (g) beat the dealer; (h) big six; (i) gin rummy; (j) five card stud poker; (k) chuck‑a‑luck; (l) keno; (m) hold‑em poker; and (n) merchandise wheel. A licensee need not offer or conduct every game permitted by law. The conducting of games not listed above is prohibited by this Act.
        (16) No slot machines or coin‑in‑the‑slot‑operated
     devices that allow a participant to play games of chance shall be permitted to be used at the location and during the time at which the charitable games are being conducted.
        (17) No cards, dice, wheels, or other equipment may
     be modified or altered so as to give the licensee a greater advantage in winning, other than as provided under the normal rules of play of a particular game.