As of today, casino-type games cannot be held in Illinois to raise money for organizations and charity because of a “sunset clause” in the Charitable Games Act.

Steve Bottom, Tax Payer Service representative, said the two-year-old act had a Sept. 1 sunset provision. He said various amendments needed to renew the act were not made in time, so the act was suspended.

Rep. John Countryman, R-DeKalb, said the lobbying parties could not decide between a $5 or $10 betting limit in games. He said the bill was not passed in either house of the General Assembly.

The act could be reconsidered when the legislature reconvenes in November, Countryman said.

Bottom said the Charitable Games Act allowed “Vegas nights situations” to raise money for charities. He said the Illinois Department of Revenue is using the Hoyle game book as a reference in determining which games will not be allowed.

Countryman said the act does not include bingo, so bingo games can continue as usual.

Jeff Cufaude, activities advisor for University Programming and Activities, said that to his knowledge, no groups on campus had scheduled any “casino nights.”

Any organizations in Illinois which earlier in the year had scheduled events after Sept. 1 will not be allowed to hold the events, Countryman said.