• Illinois Agency Launches Study Of Gambling Addiction WGN-TV
• Bingo Tax & License Fees - Charity Gaming Taxes - Illinois
• Illinois Department Of Revenue Bingo Tax

New high in sales of legal weed generates new record for adult-use tax revenue

By Ted Cox

As expected, Illinois set a new high for tax revenue on adult-use cannabis in November, in the process closing in on the money generated by liquor taxes.

The Illinois Department of Revenue posted a record $22.9 million in taxes from recreational marijuana in November, following in the footsteps of the record $75.3 million in sales from October, as collections typically lag a month behind sales. With the increase from the previous month’s record of $21 million, the state approached $150 million in revenue generated in the first 11 months of legalization, with another month to go to complete the year.

Legal weed came within $3 million of the revenue generated from liquor taxes, as the state collected $25.7 million from booze sales in November.

Pursuant to the Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation Plan announced by Governor Pritzker on November 17, 2020, all licensed Illinois casino gambling and video gaming operations of all kind are suspended until further notice effective at the conclusion of the gaming day at 11:01pm on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Suppliers of gaming equipment are required to purchase an annual license for $500 or $1,500 for three years. An annual “provider’s fee” of $50 or $150 for three years is imposed on anyone who rents space to be used for a charitable game. Use the 'Tax Rate Finder' to determine the fee. Results from the report will be used by the Illinois Department of Human Services to help direct future strategies to prevent problem gambling and increase access to treatment and services. The tax is imposed on the gross proceeds of pull tabs and jar games. An annual license fee is imposed on operators, suppliers, and manufacturers of pull tabs and jar games. To sell pull tabs or conduct jar games the organization must be licensed by the state. The Illinois Gaming Board is a five-member board, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Through the Administrator and staff, the Board administers a regulatory and tax collection system for riverboat casino gambling and video gaming in Illinois.

That might be the end of the record highs for the time being, however. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported just last week that sales of adult-use cannabis actually declined slightly in November to $75.2 million, even as sales to so-called cannabis tourists from out of state reached another new high. Overall, the state has generated the $150 million of revenue on sales of $582 million.

The Revenue Department also reported that gas taxes reached a pandemic high of $213 million in November, and hotel taxes cracked $10 million for the first time since COVID-19 hit in March. Gaming taxes, however, barely cracked $100,000. Last November, the state recorded $227 million in motor-fuel taxes, $46 million in hotel taxes, and $161,000 in gaming revenue.

CHICAGO (AP) — A state agency has launched a one-year roughly $500,000 study on gambling addiction in Illinois.

Illinois Agency Launches Study Of Gambling Addiction WGN-TV

Results will be used by the Illinois Department of Human Services to help determine future efforts to prevent problem gambling and increase access to treatment and services.

Among other things, researchers will study populations that are vulnerable or marginalized because of race, culture, economic or social disparity. They’ll also look at risk factors leading to a gambling problem.

Bingo Tax & License Fees - Charity Gaming Taxes - Illinois

“This gambling prevalence study is unprecedented in Illinois and will give us a clearer understanding of the prevalence of gambling disorder in the state. Understanding the pervasiveness of gambling disorder will allow us to target communities that may be disproportionality impacted by the expansion of gambling in the state,” IDHS Secretary Grace Hou said in a statement. “The study will also help us to understand where we can make further investments in Illinois communities to support treatment and recovery as well as education for responsible gambling.”

Illinois Department Of Revenue Bingo Tax

Money for the study comes from revenue from Illinois’ gambling tax and money set aside from the 2021 fiscal year budget.