Illinois Gambling Laws

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker
April 25, 2006

A summary of the laws on Gambling in the State of Illinois –

Criminal offences related to Gambling – Article 28 –

As per Section 28-1, a person is said to be gambling when he : (1) Plays a game of chance or skill for money or anything valuable or (2) Makes wager upon the result of any game, contest or any political nomination / appointment / election or (3) Operates / keeps / owns / uses / purchases / rents / sells / bargains for lease or sale of, manufactures / distributes any gambling device or (4) Contracts to give himself or another person an option to buy / sell, or contracts to buy / sell, in future, any grain / commodity / security / stock of any company, where at the time of such contract both the parties intend that the contract to buy / sell or the option when exercised shall be settled, not by receipt / delivery of such property, but by payment of difference in prices or (5) Knowingly owns / possesses any book / instrument / apparatus used for bets or wagers or knowingly possesses any money received in betting or wagering or (6) Sell pools on result of any game / contest of skill or chance, political nomination / appointment / election or (7) Sets up / promotes lottery or sells / offers to sell / transfers any ticket or share for any lottery or (8) Sets up / promotes any policy game or sells / offers to sell / knowingly possesses / transfers any policy ticket / slip / record / document / other similar device or (9)

Sentence for an offence of Gambling –

Gambling under subsection (a) (1) or (a) (2) of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. Gambling under any of subsections (a) (3) through (a) (11) of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under any of subsections (a) (3) through (a) (11), is a Class 4 offence. Gambling under subsection (a) (12) of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (a) (12) is a Class 4 offence.

Circumstantial Evidence in an offence of Gambling –

In prosecutions under subsection (a) (1) through (a) (12) of Section 28-1, the circumstantial evidences shall have the same validity and weight as in any criminal prosecution.

Section 28-1.1 –

For the purpose of this law, this section mentions about Syndicated Gambling, Declaration of Purpose and also puts down guidelines as to when a person is said to be operating a policy game and when is a person said to be engaged in book marking and also lays down different scenarios / activities where a person cannot be convicted of syndicated gambling. For this purpose, a person is said to have committed syndicated gambling when he operates a “policy game” or engages in the business of book marking.

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