SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN ILLINOIS GAMING

Martha A. Sabol
Edward M. Shin
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

From gaming expansion bills and available owner’s licenses to smoking bans and mandatory identification checks, the gaming environment in Illinois has seen some significant developments in 2007, and anticipates more in 2008. Here are the highlights:

The Tenth Owner’s License (Finally) Becomes Available. The tenth owner’s license – which was initially granted to Emerald Casino Inc. (“Emerald”), an operator in East Dubuque, Illinois – has been the subject of nearly six years worth of protracted litigation that has finally concluded. Various appeals in the Illinois Appellate Court for the First and Fourth Districts followed the Illinois Gaming Board’s (the “IGB”) denial of Emerald’s request for renewal of the tenth license on March 6, 2001 and subsequent revocation of that license in December 2005. Although it ultimately ordered the IGB to issue Emerald’s license for renewal, the Illinois Appellate Court also affirmed the IGB’s decision to revoke that license. The Illinois Supreme Court refused Emerald’s request to review the latter decision, and Emerald recently announced that it would not be pursuing any additional appeals in the matter.

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