Illinois Gaming Board chairman Charles Schmadeke said on 5 June that he had told Governor JB Pritzker he would leave the role on 1 July. He said the decision followed two terms as chair.
The departure creates a leadership change at the regulator overseeing Illinois gambling licences and sports wagering.
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It was reported that Illinois casino revenue totalled $192.7m in July, rising 15% from a year earlier. Two casinos had shifted from riverboats to land-based premises, while slots supplied $147.2m of revenue.
Illinois Representative Daniel Didech filed HB5143 to end the state’s per-bet sportsbook fee from 1 July 2026, according to the report. The bill would amend the fee’s scheduled duration; operators currently pay $0.25 on the first 20 million bets and $0.50 on additional wagers. It would need to pass before the change takes effect.
Illinois lawmakers approved a tax of 25 cents on each of the first 20 million online sports bets placed annually, rising to 50 cents per additional wager, according to the report. The measure is part of the state’s fiscal 2025 budget and is due to take effect on 1 July, pending the governor’s signature, which he has promised. The Sports Betting Alliance opposed the tax; Citizens JMP analysts estimate it could reduce FanDuel and DraftKings’ combined adjusted EBITDA by $80 million in 2026.
Mike Dreitzer made his first public appearance as Nevada Gaming Control Board chair on 26 June, the source reported. He succeeded Kirk Hendrick, who stepped down the previous week after more than two and a half years in the role. Dreitzer previously led gaming-equipment supplier Gaming Arts LLC.
Nevada Gaming Control Board chair Kirk Hendrick gave his farewell at his final meeting before leaving the role at the end of the following week, reportedly after nearly two and a half years in the post. Mike Dreitzer, the outgoing chief executive of Gaming Arts, is due to appear as chair at the board’s July meeting.