ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel with a Request to APPROVE an ORDINANCE Establishing and Regulating RAFFLES and POKER RUNS.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Under Illinois law, all gambling and games of chance are illegal unless specifically allowed by the Criminal Code or other state law. The Raffles and Poker Runs Act authorizes limited raffle and poker run events. A municipality must enact a local ordinance regulating these games of chance before they may occur. Municipalities do not have to allow raffles or poker runs and the lack of a local ordinance effectively prohibits them.
Under the Raffles and Poker Runs Act, qualifying organizations must apply for a raffle or poker run license from the municipality. Licenses for these games of chance are limited to bona fide religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational or veterans' organizations, all of which must be non-profit. Organizations must exist for five years before holding any raffles or poker runs. All proceeds must go solely to the organization licensed to hold the game of chance. Organizations must also maintain specific records regarding their games of chance for at least three years.
The Raffles and Poker Runs Act strictly regulates the conduct of authorized games of chance. The management and operation of raffles and poker runs are limited to bona fide members of the licensed organization. For raffles, a single raffle manager must be identified, and a fidelity bond must be obtained unless unanimously waived by the members of the organization. Licensees must also designate the geographic area or location of the game of chance as well as the location where the winning chances will be determined. Minors under 18 years of age are generally prohibited from participating in any game of chance.
Under the proposed municipal ordinance, the annual aggregate value of prizes awarded by a licensee is capped at $2,000,000. Raffle license fees vary base...
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