A recently proposed legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives aims to enhance supervision of the state’s gaming sector by establishing a new role within the Illinois Gaming Board.

House Bill 5742, submitted on Thursday by Democratic Rep. Yolanda Morris, seeks to modify the Illinois Gambling Act to create a gaming oversight officer. Morris serves the 9th Illinois House District in Chicago.

According to the bill, the Speaker of the House would select the oversight officer after consulting with the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. This officer would be tasked with gathering industry data, suggesting improvements to gaming regulations, coordinating regulatory and taxation efforts throughout the state, and advancing diversity initiatives in the gaming industry.

This legislation would also empower the oversight officer to hire staff, with financial support from the gaming board.

The Illinois Gaming Board oversees casinos, video gambling terminals, and sports betting operations statewide. Nonetheless, bets on horse racing fall under the jurisdiction of a different entity, the Illinois Racing Board. Horse racing is currently the sole form of animal racing permitted in Illinois, including events hosted at tracks in Chicago and Fairmount Park Racetrack.

As per state statistics, Illinois boasts 17 operational casinos.