Illinois Governor Signs Bill Allowing Casinos To Hire Convicted Felons

Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 15, 2023

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In an attempt to modify and update current legal codes, a new bill has raised a mild degree of controversy in the gaming community. Senate Bill 1462 (SB 1462) is now law in Illinois. It adjusts the Illinois Gambling Act to permit certain people under certain conditions, including those with felonies, to work in gaming-related environments.

The code intends to allow new hires with minor felony convictions to seek non-gaming roles at state-licensed casinos. Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill on Friday. Once the bill was signed, Pritzker stated that people are worthy of a second chance, which the bill intends to prove.

State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) and State Representative Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) worked with Unite Here Local 1. The latter refers to a prominent gaming and hospitality union to draft SB 1462.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) will be able to hire criminals for jobs that are not directly linked to gaming and betting. These include roles such as housekeeping, waitstaff, chefs and cooks, bartenders, bellhops, porters and dishwashers. This still leaves those people with a pending criminal charge to get specific jobs within betting and gaming establishments.

Pritzker added that creating opportunities for Illinoisans who have made errors is critical. The governor stated that for people to remain in society with productive jobs and build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities, bills such as the one recently created provide an open road for improvement.

Illinois law does not expressly forbid violent convicts from participating in the program. While the margin for interpretation may be broader than in other states, there are still defined protocols that institutions can opt for.

SB 1462 instructs the IGB to consider several variables when determining whether a person qualifies for a gaming license. These variables must be confirmed and checked and must comply with IGB regulations.

The state lists several requirements for license by the IGB. These points, which people must comply with, include the need for applicants to be of good character and refrain from socializing or conducting business with anyone with a questionable reputation.

Before Pritzker signed SB 1462, anyone with a criminal felony offense was excluded under the IGB’s nine eligibility requirements. However, SB 1462 now instructs the IGB to consider the time since the felony conviction and other factors, such as the number of convictions.