Hinshaw Partner Charles R. Schmadeke Appointed Chair of the Illinois Gaming Board

The national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is pleased to announce that partner Charles R. Schmadeke has been appointed Chair of the Illinois Gaming Board by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. He joins two other new appointees to the five-member board, which is charged with regulating casino and other forms of gambling in the state of Illinois.

As board chair, Schmadeke will lead efforts to oversee regulation of a significant expansion of gambling options, part of a $45 billion capital plan signed into law by the Governor last June. The expansion will include the development of a new 4,000 employee casino in the City of Chicago, five new casinos located throughout the state, a new racino, the expansion of video gambling machines and slot machines, and the introduction of legal sports wagering.

Schmadeke has a wealth of experience in the public sector, having served as general counsel to the Illinois state comptroller and also as Chief of the General Law Bureau in the Illinois attorney general's office.

"I appreciate the opportunity to work on behalf of the citizens of Illinois to ensure this significant expansion of gaming options in the state is accompanied by a robust regulatory response," said Schmadeke, who also serves as partner-in-charge of the firm's Springfield office. "The gaming board and staff have a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm fully confident that we are up for the challenge."

Read the Governor's press release announcing Schmadeke's appointment