On August 15, Governor Pritzker signed several bills into law, including HB 1505, which updates parts of the Illinois Video Gaming Act. Here’s what matters most for operators and establishments:
Signage Restrictions
The new law (Sec. 18) bans most outdoor ads for video gaming unless they are permanent parts of the establishment’s structure. That means:
- No flutter flags, razor banners, or temporary signs**
- No off-site billboards
- Only advertisements permanently affixed to the building or permanent pole signs are allowed, and can only be paid for by licensed locations.
Temporary banners can still be used to mark the opening of a new location, but only for the first 90 days after a license is issued. After that period, the temporary (non-permanent) signage must be removed.
Advertising Rules & Recordkeeping
Operators and establishments must now keep a record of all advertising—paid or not. This includes:
- Print, social media, email, or other digital promotions
- Logs that show when and how ads were published, posted, or shared
- Copies of third-party vendor invoices, with an indicator (like an “X”) showing if costs were shared with the establishment
These records must be ready to provide to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) upon request, who is in charge of enforcing the new rules.
Free Play vs. Match Play
The new rules do not ban “free play” or “match play” promotions—but how establishments advertise them matters:
- Free Play is allowed as long as it is truly free (e.g., “Visit between 1–4pm and get $10 in free play”). Players cannot be required to risk their own money to use or cash out winnings.
- Match Play (e.g., “Spend $10, get $10 more”) is still permitted, but it cannot be advertised as “free,” “cost-free,” or “risk-free” since players must spend their own money to qualify.
This is a brief overview of the main highlights of the new rules, enforceable by the IGB. We understand that our partners might have questions. If so, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do everything we can to help clarify, and to make sure your business is in compliance.
