The Board is expressly prohibited from making changes to the requirement that licensees make payment into the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund without the express authority of the Illinois General Assembly and making any other rule to implement or interpret Public Act 95-1008. For the purposes of this paragraph, "rules" is given the meaning given to that term in Section 1-70 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
In granting all licenses, the Board may give favorable consideration to economically depressed areas of the State, to applicants presenting plans which provide for significant economic development over a large geographic area, and to applicants who currently operate non-gambling riverboats in Illinois. The Board shall review all applications for owners licenses, and shall inform each applicant of the Board's decision. The Board may grant an owners license to an applicant that has not submitted the highest license bid, but if it does not select the highest bidder, the Board shall issue a written decision explaining why another applicant was selected and identifying the factors set forth in this Section that favored the winning bidder. The fee for issuance or renewal of a license pursuant to this subsection (e) shall be $250,000.
The Board shall consider issuing a license pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection only after the corporate authority of the municipality or the county board of the county in which the riverboat or casino shall be located has certified to the Board the following:
At least 7 days before the corporate authority of a municipality or county board of the county submits a certification to the Board concerning items (i) through (viii) of this subsection, it shall hold a public hearing to discuss items (i) through (viii), as well as any other details concerning the proposed riverboat or casino in the municipality or county. The corporate authority or county board must subsequently memorialize the details concerning the proposed riverboat or casino in a resolution that must be adopted by a majority of the corporate authority or county board before any certification is sent to the Board. The Board shall not alter, amend, change, or otherwise interfere with any agreement between the applicant and the corporate authority of the municipality or county board of the county regarding the location of any temporary or permanent facility.
In addition, within 10 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31), the Board, with consent and at the expense of the City of Chicago, shall select and retain the services of a nationally recognized casino gaming feasibility consultant. Within 45 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31), the consultant shall prepare and deliver to the Board a study concerning the feasibility of, and the ability to finance, a casino in the City of Chicago. The feasibility study shall be delivered to the Mayor of the City of Chicago, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ninety days after receipt of the feasibility study, the Board shall make a determination, based on the results of the feasibility study, whether to recommend to the General Assembly that the terms of the license under paragraph (1) of this subsection (e-5) should be modified. The Board may begin accepting applications for the owners license under paragraph (1) of this subsection (e-5) upon the determination to issue such an owners license.
In addition, prior to the Board issuing the owners license authorized under paragraph (4) of subsection (e-5), an impact study shall be completed to determine what location in the city will provide the greater impact to the region, including the creation of jobs and the generation of tax revenue.
All payments by licensees under this subsection (e-15) shall be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund.
An owners licensee of a casino or riverboat that is located in the City of Chicago pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (e-5) of this Section shall limit the number of gaming positions to 4,000 for such owner. An owners licensee authorized under subsection (e) or paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (e-5) of this Section shall limit the number of gaming positions to 2,000 for any such owners license. An owners licensee authorized under paragraph (6) of subsection (e-5) of this Section shall limit the number of gaming positions to 1,200 for such owner. The initial fee for each gaming position obtained on or after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31) shall be a minimum of $17,500 for licensees not located in Cook County and a minimum of $30,000 for licensees located in Cook County, in addition to the reconciliation payment, as set forth in subsection (e-15) of this Section. The fees under this subsection (h) shall be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund. The fees under this subsection (h) that are paid by an owners licensee authorized under subsection (e) shall be paid by July 1, 2021.
Each owners licensee under subsection (e) of this Section shall reserve its gaming positions within 30 days after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31). The Board may grant an extension to this 30-day period, provided that the owners licensee submits a written request and explanation as to why it is unable to reserve its positions within the 30-day period.
Each owners licensee under subsection (e-5) of this Section shall reserve its gaming positions within 30 days after issuance of its owners license. The Board may grant an extension to this 30-day period, provided that the owners licensee submits a written request and explanation as to why it is unable to reserve its positions within the 30-day period.
A licensee may operate both of its riverboats concurrently, provided that the total number of gaming positions on both riverboats does not exceed the limit established pursuant to this subsection. Riverboats licensed to operate on the Mississippi River and the Illinois River south of Marshall County shall have an authorized capacity of at least 500 persons. Any other riverboat licensed under this Act shall have an authorized capacity of at least 400 persons.
230 ILCS 10/7