Governor J.B. Pritzker has filled two vacancies on the Illinois Gaming Board. This comes a month after the Governor signed new legislation authorizing a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois. The Board will be tasked with awarding licenses for new casinos, including one in Chicago, and overseeing the rollout of legalized sports betting.
Governor Pritzker named Springfield attorney Charles Schmadeke as the Illinois Gaming Board’s new chairman. He also selected Anthony Garcia, Boeing senior counsel, to fill the other empty seat.
The five-member Board was scheduled to meet for the first time on August 1. This would be the first Board meeting since Pritzker signed the gambling legislation, which also authorizes new casinos in Waukegan, the south suburbs and three other locations, and the addition of slot machines and table games at horse tracks.
Both appointments must be confirmed by the Illinois Senate.
