Public Accountability Report

The Illinois Racing Board (IRB) consists of 11 members appointed to six-year terms by the Governor. The Board is statutorily responsible for the enforcement of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, which governs horse racing, and for the execution of all provisions and purposes under the Act. Each year the Board awards racing dates among the racetrack applicants and establishes an overall racing schedule for both thoroughbred and standardbred race meets, consistent with the best interests of Illinois horse racing and the State of Illinois. The legislative intent of the Act is to stimulate growth within the industry; to produce additional tax revenues and create additional jobs within the agribusiness industry; to ensure that Illinois’ horse racing industry remains competitive with neighboring states; to promote the further growth of tourism; and to ensure public confidence and trust in the credibility and integrity of racing operations and that the regulatory process is maintained.

The Board is authorized to issue up to 25 inter-track wagering location licenses (OTBs). Currently, there are 15 OTBs in operation in addition to the two organization licensees operating at Hawthorne Race Course and a third organization licensee at Fairmount Park. Fairmount Park is being acquired by Accel Entertainment with an expected closing date in December 2024. Accel has shared plans to improve the facilities, increase purse amounts over the next few years, and move forward with the development of a racino starting with a temporary casino expected to open in Spring 2025. As of 2009, advance deposit wagering (ADW) has been allowed in Illinois. ADW licenses are granted to companies providing wagering via electronic means such as internet and phone. Currently, there are six ADWs licensed and operating in Illinois.

As an extension of conducting live racing and wagering, organization licensees are also authorized to offer wagering on races conducted from outside Illinois (interstate simulcasting) and accept and combine wagers from outside Illinois on races conducted in Illinois (interstate comingled pools). The Board is also responsible for the audit and verification of all pari-mutuel horse racing revenues and receipts, and for the collection and disbursement of all fees and taxes generated from pari-mutuel horse racing.

The racing industry in Illinois, as it has across the nation, has suffered severe declines in wagering handle over the last ten years and in resulting state revenues. The IRB's sole funding source is derived from pari-mutuel taxes and other taxes and fees related to the racing industry in the State of Illinois. Even with the limited resources available to the Board to regulate the sport, we have been successful in maintaining the honesty and integrity of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in Illinois. The Board continues to operate and oversee pari-mutuel horse racing without any regulatory controversy while at the same time ensuring the public’s full confidence in the sport of pari-mutuel horse racing.

Permitted race day medication policies and the potential for horse doping is one of the most important responsibilities of regulating pari-mutuel horse racing. As advances in laboratory drug testing continue, trace/residual levels of therapeutic medications are being detected at a level in parts per billion. These minuscule levels may have no pharmacological effect on the performance of the horse, although a medication violation can trigger civil penalties, purse redistributions, and suspensions. As a matter of fairness to the horsemen participating in Illinois racing, and with strong consideration for the betting public’s perception of fair and honest racing in Illinois, the Board has amended a significant number of its medication rules by adopting the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) threshold levels for therapeutic medications. This was accomplished following extensive research by ARCI and the Racing Medication Testing Consortium.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and its nongovernmental anti-doping authority, Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), took over testing of thoroughbred samples in May 2023 under the Anti-Doping and Medication Control program (ADMC). The costs to the state are assessed annually based on calendar year and are paid by the racetracks. The assessment for Illinois in calendar year 2024 was approximately $2 million, and the assessment for 2025 is approximately $1.9 million.

Prior to HIWU taking over thoroughbred testing, our costs for lab testing of samples collected was $573,600 for calendar year 2022. The Board is still responsible for testing during the standardbred meet; we anticipate our costs for lab testing of collected standardbred samples to be $206,000 in calendar year 2024.