Illinois Compiled Statutes 230 ILCS 15 Raffles and Poker Runs Act. Section 2

    (230 ILCS 15/2) (from Ch. 85, par. 2302)

    Sec. 2. Licensing.

    (a) The governing body of any county or municipality within this State may establish a system for the licensing of organizations to operate raffles. The governing bodies of a county and one or more municipalities may, pursuant to a written contract, jointly establish a system for the licensing of organizations to operate raffles within any area of contiguous territory not contained within the corporate limits of a municipality which is not a party to such contract. The governing bodies of two or more adjacent counties or two or more adjacent municipalities located within a county may, pursuant to a written contract, jointly establish a system for the licensing of organizations to operate raffles within the corporate limits of such counties or municipalities. The licensing authority may establish special categories of licenses and promulgate rules relating to the various categories. The licensing system shall provide for limitations upon (1) the aggregate retail value of all prizes or merchandise awarded by a licensee in a single raffle, (2) the maximum retail value of each prize awarded by a licensee in a single raffle, (3) the maximum price which may be charged for each raffle chance issued or sold and (4) the maximum number of days during which chances may be issued or sold. The licensing system may include a fee for each license in an amount to be determined by the local governing body. Licenses issued pursuant to this Act shall be valid for one raffle or for a specified number of raffles to be conducted during a specified period not to exceed one year and may be suspended or revoked for any violation of this Act. A local governing body shall act on a license application within 30 days from the date of application. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a county or municipality from adopting rules or ordinances for the operation of raffles that are more restrictive than provided for in this Act. The governing body of a municipality may authorize the sale of raffle chances only within the borders of the municipality. The governing body of the county may authorize the sale of raffle chances only in those areas which are both within the borders of the county and outside the borders of any municipality.

    (a-5) The governing body of any county within this State may establish a system for the licensing of organizations to operate poker runs. The governing bodies of 2 or more adjacent counties may, pursuant to a written contract, jointly establish a system for the licensing of organizations to operate poker runs within the corporate limits of such counties. The licensing authority may establish special categories of licenses and adopt rules relating to the various categories. The licensing system may include a fee not to exceed $25 for each license. Licenses issued pursuant to this Act shall be valid for one poker run or for a specified number of poker runs to be conducted during a specified period not to exceed one year and may be suspended or revoked for any violation of this Act. A local governing body shall act on a license application within 30 days after the date of application.

    (b) Licenses shall be issued only to bona fide religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational or veterans' organizations that operate without profit to their members and which have been in existence continuously for a period of 5 years immediately before making application for a license and which have had during that entire 5 year period a bona fide membership engaged in carrying out their objects, or to a non-profit fundraising organization that the licensing authority determines is organized for the sole purpose of providing financial assistance to an identified individual or group of individuals suffering extreme financial hardship as the result of an illness, disability, accident or disaster. A licensing authority may waive the 5-year requirement under this subsection (b) for a bona fide religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational, or veterans' organization that applies for a license to conduct a poker run if the organization is a local organization that is affiliated with and chartered by a national or State organization that meets the 5-year requirement.

    For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply. Non-profit: An organization or institution organized and conducted on a not-for-profit basis with no personal profit inuring to any one as a result of the operation. Charitable: An organization or institution organized and operated to benefit an indefinite number of the public. The service rendered to those eligible for benefits must also confer some benefit on the public. Educational: An organization or institution organized and operated to provide systematic instruction in useful branches of learning by methods common to schools and institutions of learning which compare favorably in their scope and intensity with the course of study presented in tax-supported schools. Religious: Any church, congregation, society, or organization founded for the purpose of religious worship. Fraternal: An organization of persons having a common interest, the primary interest of which is to both promote the welfare of its members and to provide assistance to the general public in such a way as to lessen the burdens of government by caring for those that otherwise would be cared for by the government. Veterans: An organization or association comprised of members of which substantially all are individuals who are veterans or spouses, widows, or widowers of veterans, the primary purpose of which is to promote the welfare of its members and to provide assistance to the general public in such a way as to confer a public benefit. Labor: An organization composed of workers organized with the objective of betterment of the conditions of those engaged in such pursuit and the development of a higher degree of efficiency in their respective occupations. Business: A voluntary organization composed of individuals and businesses who have joined together to advance the commercial, financial, industrial and civic interests of a community.

    (c) Poker runs shall be licensed by the governing body with jurisdiction over the key location. The license granted by the key location shall cover the entire poker run, including locations other than the key location. Each license issued shall include the name and address of each predetermined location.

(Source: P.A. 98-644, eff. 6-10-14.)

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Last modified: February 18, 2015