Riverboat Frequently Asked Questions

A Special Board Meeting that was held regarding the re-issuance of the 10th Owner's License on December 22, 2008. You may view the Board documents under Board Meeting & Minutes

The Riverboat Gambling Act imposes two taxes on riverboat gambling operations, a wagering tax and a tax on admissions.

The admissions tax was increased by the Legislature in 2002 from $2 a person to $3 a person. In 2003, the admissions tax was again adjusted by the Legislature and beginning on July 1, 2003, for a licensee that admitted fewer than one million persons in the previous calendar year the admissions tax was set at $3 a person. For a licensee that admitted more than one million persons but less than 2.3 million persons in the previous calendar year, the admission tax was set at $4 a person. For licensees that admitted more than 2.3 million persons, the admissions tax was set at $5 a person.

Effective August 23, 2005 the admissions tax was set at $2 a person for patrons of Casino Rock Island. For all other licensees the admissions tax was set at $3 per person. From each admission $1 goes to the host community where a riverboat gaming operation is located and the remainder goes to the State. In addition, each local government that serves as a host community for a casino licensee receives a share in an amount equal to five percent of AGR. (The Act defines adjusted gross receipts as gross receipts less winnings paid out to gamblers.)

Over the years the Legislature has amended the wagering tax. In 1998 the wagering tax changed from a flat 20 percent tax to a graduated tax rate based on annual adjusted gross receipts or AGR. The wagering tax is based on the AGR of Illinois riverboat casinos.

Effective July 1, 2005 the wagering tax is as follows:

1. 15 percent of AGR up to and including $25 million;
2. 22.5 percent of the AGR in excess of $25 million but not exceeding $50 million;
3. 27.5 percent of AGR in excess of $50 million but not exceeding $75 million;
4. 32.5 percent of AGR in excess of $75 million but not in excess $100 million;
5. 37.5 percent of AGR in excess of $100 million but not exceeding $150 million;
6. 45 percent of AGR in excess of $150 million but not exceeding $200 million;
7. 50 percent of AGR in excess of $200 million.

In order to maintain the State's share of wagering taxes, P.A. 94-673 also imposed a required base amount payment from all Illinois casinos with the exception of the Casino Rock Island. If a casino failed to meet their base payment amount by June 15, 2006 and June 15, 2007, a lump sum payment was paid by the casino to the State.

The base amounts are the following:

1. For a riverboat casino in Alton, $31,000,000
2. For a riverboat casino in East Peoria, $43,000,000
3. For the Empress Casino in Joliet, $86,000,000
4. For a riverboat casino in Metropolis, $45,000,000
5. For Harrah's Casino in Joliet, $114,000,000
6. For a riverboat casino in Aurora, $86,000,000
7. For a riverboat casino in East St. Louis, $48,500,000
8. For a riverboat casino in Elgin, $198,000,000

The base amount portion of the wagering formula terminated on July 1, 2007.