Emergency Extension

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is seeking approval for an emergency contract extension with Light and Wonder to maintain the Central Communication System (CCS), critical infrastructure that monitors and regulates approximately 49,000 video gaming terminals operating at roughly 9,000 licensed establishments throughout Illinois. This emergency extension procurement covers the period from April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with a posted date of March 27, 2026 and a due date for submission of April 10, 2026. The CCS is essential statewide infrastructure that tracks and records every financial transaction, including wagers, credits, payouts, and machine performance data used to calculate Net Terminal Income (NTI) for tax purposes, generating approximately $1.1 billion in tax revenue for state and local governments. The extension is necessary to allow for a transition and upgrade phase during which the newly awarded vendor, LNW Gaming, Inc., will deploy entirely new hardware across all 9,000 licensed establishments and implement extensive software development to provide enhanced functionality, scalability, reporting capabilities, security features, and regulatory oversight requirements. During the 15-month transition period, Light and Wonder will continue operating the existing CCS while LNW Gaming simultaneously builds and tests the new system, with transition completion expected by the anticipated date of June 30, 2027, ensuring full operational capability by the mandated deadline of December 31, 2027. The extension was necessitated by significant delays in the competitive procurement process, including cancellation of two Requests for Proposals in 2024 and 2025, a bid protest that extended bid opening dates, and the technical complexity of the mandated transition and upgrade phase, which requires approximately 15 months to complete.

The current contract extension is valued at $36,000,000 (estimated) for Light and Wonder and operates under a no-cost arrangement to the State, with fees imposed on video gaming revenue generated by licensees rather than impacting state or local revenue generation. Light and Wonder is the incumbent vendor, currently operating the existing CCS following an initial 90-day emergency contract executed from January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026 (valued at $7,000,000 estimated). The new vendor, LNW Gaming, Inc., received notice of award on January 16, 2026 and is responsible for developing and implementing the replacement system. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on types of organizations responding are detailed in the procurement notice. The CCS fee structure is uniquely designed as a no-cost arrangement to the State, with all costs covered through fees imposed on video gaming revenue, ensuring continuation of essential statewide gaming regulation and oversight without impacting state or local fiscal resources during the critical transition period.