Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?

SB 3019 established the fantasy-contest and exchange-wager licensing framework effective 1 July 2026, with the Illinois Gaming Board as the issuing and supervisory authority under the Illinois Sports Wagering Act. Fantasy contests are now a distinct regulated activity class requiring IGB oversight, a minimum participant age of 21, and a ban on single-player formats. Exchange wagers carry their own statutory licensing basis, but a federal court has preliminarily enjoined enforcement of the licensing and criminal provisions of that regime against prediction-market event-contract operators regulated by the CFTC, on the ground that such contracts are likely swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act and the state provisions are likely preempted. The licensing regime for exchange wagers therefore remains formally in force but its application to this category of operator is currently suspended pending the court's final injunction terms, due 29 October 2026.