Latest news with #MarcusFruchter
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois casinos required to offer human trafficking training
CHICAGO (WMBD) — New administrative rules made by the Illinois Gaming Board will require all casinos within the state to conduct mandatory human trafficking recognition training. The rules will also mandate the development and the documentation of human trafficking training and reporting procedures, as well as posting human trafficking awareness notices. Casino Rule 3000.175 is now effective, following the May 2 approval from the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. The new rule includes the following requirements: All casino employees must complete annual human trafficking training with their initial training being completed within the first three months from the start of their employment. This training will include information on what makes an individual susceptible to human trafficking, the different types of human trafficking, red flags that indicate trafficking as well as agencies that provide services to victims of trafficking. Each gaming licensee must maintain records reflecting this requirement. Casinos must establish and implement employee procedures for documenting, reporting, and responding to suspected instances of human trafficking within gaming and non-gaming areas. Casinos must also provide copies of human trafficking curriculum and protocols to the IGB Administrator. Casinos must post human trafficking awareness notices with hotline telephone numbers and other important information including where to seek help or report instances of trafficking. Notices must be placed in bathrooms, near public entrances, and in other visible locations, consistent with notices developed by the Illinois Department of Human Services in compliance with the Human Trafficking Resource Center Notice Act (775 ILCS 50/10). The full rule is available here.1 'Human traffickers often target casinos and hospitality venues to conduct their illegal activities,' said Marcus Fruchter, the gaming board's administrator. 'By adopting mandatory human trafficking recognition training, establishing minimum requirements for that training and requiring casino operators to implement appropriate reporting and signage protocols, the IGB, while working in partnership with the Illinois State Police and other law enforcement agencies, is taking meaningful steps to combat these heinous crimes.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
06-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Illinois Gaming Board cements ban on certain NFL wagers
Ahead of the Super Bowl, one of sports betting's biggest days, the Illinois Gaming Board made permanent Thursday what had been a temporary ban on certain types of NFL sports wagering. Licensed sports wagering operators will now continue to be prohibited from offering bets relating to player injuries, fan safety, player misconduct, penalties, replay results, officiating assignments, the first play of the game, a player missing a field goal or an extra point, the quarterback's first pass to be incomplete and any other wagers that can hurt consumers, players and game integrity. The board initiated a temporary ban on such bets last October at the request of the National Football League. Despite the NFL's request, the board will not continue to limit betting on non-game day roster decisions, such as the NFL draft and pre-agency signings or trades. Instead, in a modification of the October decision, those types of bets will be prohibited only on game days. If non-game day wagers were found to compromise the integrity of the game, the board would work with the NFL to make its policy include those bets, said Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter. 'That is an issue that we would take head-on, but not something that we're going to include in this particular prohibition,' Fruchter said. Sports gambling businesses that violate the rules could have their license revoked. 'I think it's important for the NFL to maintain the integrity of its sports,' Gaming Board Chairman Charles Schmadeke said. 'It's obviously important for this board to maintain the integrity of sports gaming. I think this proposal accomplishes the goals of both organizations, and I thank the NFL for its efforts.' NFL Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs Jonathan Nabavi, who joined the meeting virtually from New Orleans, said the league supported the board's decision and appreciates 'this open door and the opportunity for that collaboration.' Nabavi said in October that numerous other states, including Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, have already taken action against the negative wagers. The board last year also prohibited betting on red and yellow cards in Major League Soccer games. The state's gaming industry generated over $1.7 billion in state tax revenue from January through November 2024, with sports wagering bringing in over $228 million in tax revenue for Illinois and over $11 million for Cook County, according to the Gaming Board. Sports betting was legalized in 2020 in Illinois. Since 2021, when Illinois took in about $57 million in sports betting tax revenue, that amount has quadrupled for the state.
