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Illinois Gaming Board Approves Measures including Licenses for a Sportsbook in Rockford

Press Release - Thursday, July 27, 2023

The Illinois Gaming Board (the "IGB" or "Board") considered several regulatory matters during its regularly scheduled meeting today including approval of a sportsbook at the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. The casino must comply with IGB rules before sports wagering can offered in-person or online.

"The Board and staff continue their important work to implement the landmark gaming expansion law and regulate Illinois' robust and evolving statewide gaming industry in an ethical, transparent, compliant, and efficient manner," said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter.

The IGB also granted more than 230 new gaming licenses and related approvals and issued a license to Hard Rock Casino Rockford and a sports wagering management service provider license.

At the board meeting, the IGB:

• Granted 815 Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Casino Rockford a master sports wagering operator license and licensed Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC as a management service provider to operate retail and online sports wagering.

• Identified DGC IL LLC as the sole qualified applicant and winning bidder in the competitive selection for an online only sports wagering license under section 25-45 of the Illinois Sports Wagering Act. DGC IL LLC will now undergo the normal licensing and suitability determination process.

• Granted more than 233 new gaming licenses and related approvals for casino gambling, video gaming and sports wagering along with renewal of existing licenses.

For video gaming, the IGB approved licenses for:
o 109 video gaming locations
o Four terminal handlers and one technician

The IGB denied licenses for:
o Two video gaming locations
o One terminal operator license

Issued an economic disassociation
o One terminal handler

For casinos, the IGB approved licenses for:
o Two level 1 casino occupational licenses
o 44 level 2 casino occupational licenses
o 43 level 3 casino occupational licenses
o One casino supplier license

The IGB denied licenses for:
o Three level 3 denials casino occupational licenses
For sports wagering, the IGB approved licenses for:
o 27 level 2 sports wagering occupational licenses


Illinois is home to 13 casinos, more than 8,400 licensed video gaming establishments and nine sportsbooks. Casino gambling, video gaming and sports wagering generated more than $1.4 billion in tax revenue to the state and local communities in calendar year 2022.

The IGB serves as the state regulatory and law enforcement agency, overseeing all licensed casino gambling, video gaming and sports wagering to ensure the integrity and safety of gambling while generating revenue for the state and gaming host communities.

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