Illinois State Representative Joe Sosnowski has introduced a new legislative proposal that could reshape the state’s casino sector by giving underperforming venues the opportunity to move to more promising locations. The bill, House Bill 4070, is designed to support the long-term sustainability of Illinois’ gaming industry and maximize its economic impact across the state.
The legislation would authorize the three lowest-earning casinos in Illinois to apply for relocation, allowing them to bid for a license in communities better suited to support gaming operations. The Illinois Gaming Board would be responsible for evaluating adjusted gross receipts across all casinos to determine which establishments qualify for the option to move.
“It doesn’t mandate it, but it allows for those casino operators to put in a request and then bid out for a new location,” said Sosnowski. “It’s been clear for years that there’s definitely a handful of casinos that do better than others.”
Illinois legalized casino gambling in 1990. Since then, the industry has grown to encompass 17 casinos, nearly 9,000 licensed video gaming locations, and 14 approved sportsbooks. According to the American Gaming Association, the sector supports nearly 30,000 jobs across the state and generated nearly $2 billion in tax revenue in 2024 alone.
Sosnowski believes that relocating struggling casinos could significantly increase employment and tax revenue. “If we have 100 jobs in an underperforming casino location and we can shift those to an overperforming location, you know, we could triple the number of jobs and people that are employed,” he said.
Under the proposal, potential host communities would be allowed to submit proposals to the Illinois Gaming Board for authorization to receive a relocated casino license. The move is expected to attract interest from municipalities aiming to bolster their local economies with new job opportunities and revenue streams.
In cities like Freeport, leaders see the bill as a potential boost to community development. “We will invite anybody who is willing to look into Freeport to come and see what they can do in terms of offering our residents those kinds of employment opportunities,” said a local official.
Communities that lose a casino under the bill would not be left empty-handed. Sosnowski noted that affected towns would receive compensation equal to double their current share of casino receipts, recognizing the importance of gaming revenue to local government budgets.
“Not only will the prior location receive their funds,” he said, “but a new location is more than likely going to have a lot more revenue sharing available for local governments.”
