Illinois Gaming Board approves ownership change for downstate sportsbook and racino

The Board also implemented a requirement for casinos to provide trafficking recognition training for its employees.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has authorized an ownership transfer of a Collinsville sportsbook and racetrack.

The Board approved transferring the ownership of Fairmount Park, which does business as FanDuel Sportsbook and Horseracing from Fairmount Holdings to Accel Entertainment, which said it hopes to launch a temporary racino next April.

The Board also initiated a human trafficking recognition and reporting rule for statewide casinos and has prohibited certain bets at the NFL’s request.

“The rule will require casinos statewide to include mandatory human trafficking recognition training for all employees, develop and implement reporting protocols as well as meet signage requirements,” IGB said in a statement.

IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter took a moment to explain the Board’s decision.

He said, “Human trafficking is a significant problem that demands action from the public, corporate and private sectors. Human traffickers often target casinos and hospitality venues to conduct their activities.

“The IGB as the regulator responsible for maintaining the integrity and safety of Illinois gaming has an appropriate role to make human trafficking recognition training mandatory, establish minimum requirements for that training and require that casino operators implement appropriate reporting protocols.”

The Board said it will accept public comments on “on potential rules that would incorporate video gaming into the Self-Exclusion Program for Problem Gamblers (SEP) and implement cashless wagering in Illinois video gaming.”

Administrator Fruchter said, “When video gaming was first legalized in 2009 and became operational in 2012, video gaming was not incorporated into the Self-Exclusion Program. 

“A potential future rulemaking would close that gap and provide consistent support and resources for problem gamblers in Illinois across all gaming segments.”

Laura Mack

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