§ 135.01 DEFINITIONS.
   For the purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them respectively.
   GAMBLING DEVICE. Any clock, tape machine, slot machine, or other machines or device for the reception of money or other thing of value on chance or skill, or upon the action of which money or other thing of value is staked, hazarded, bet, won, or lost; or any mechanism, furniture, fixture, equipment, or other device designed primarily for use in a gambling place. A GAMBLING DEVICE does not include:
      (1)   A coin-in-the-slot operated mechanical device played for amusement which rewards the player with the right to replay such mechanical device, which device is so constructed or devised as to make such result of the operation thereof depend in part upon the skill of the player and which returns to the player thereof no money, property, or right to receive money or property.
      (2)   Vending machines by which full and adequate return is made for the money invested and in which there is no element of chance of hazard.
      (3)    Crane game. For purposes of this section, an amusement device involving skill if it rewards the player exclusively with merchandise contained within the amusement device proper and limited to toys, novelties and prizes other than currency, each having a wholesale value which is not more than $25.
      (4)   Redemption machine. For purposes of this section a single-player or multi-player amusement device involving a game, the object of which is throwing, rolling, bowling, shooting, placing or propelling a ball or other object into, upon or against a hole or other target, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
         (a)   The outcome of the game is predominantly determined by the skill of the player;
         (b)   The award of the prize is based solely upon the player’s achieving the object of the game or otherwise upon the player’s score;
         (c)   Only merchandise prizes are awarded;
         (d)   The wholesale value of prizes awarded in lieu of tickets or tokens for single play of the device does not exceed $25;
         (e)   The redemption value of tickets, tokens and other representations of value, which may be accumulated by players to redeem prizes of greater value, does not exceed the amount charged for a single play of the device.
      (5)   Licensed video gaming terminal. Licensed video gaming terminals in currently licensed establishments as put forth in the Illinois Video Gaming Act, and in any rules promulgated by the Illinois Gaming Board.
   INTERNET. An interactive computer service or system or an information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, and includes, but is not limited to, an information service, system, or access software provider that provides access to a network system commonly known as the Internet, or any comparable system or service and also includes, but is not limited to, a World Wide Web page, newsgroup, message board, mailing list, or chat area on any interactive computer service or system or other online service.
   LOTTERY. Any scheme or procedure whereby one or more prizes are distributed by chance among persons who have paid or promised consideration for a chance to win such prizes, whether such scheme or procedure is called a lottery, raffle, gift, sale, or some other name, excluding savings promotion raffles authorized under The Illinois Banking Act, ILCS Ch. 205, Act 5, § 5g, The Savings Bank Act, ILCS Ch. 205, Act 205, § 7008, The Illinois Credit Union Act, ILCS Ch. 205, Act 305, § 42.7, § 5136B of the National Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 25a), or § 4 of the Home Owners’ Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1463).
   POLICY GAME. Any scheme or procedure whereby a person promises or guarantees by any instrument, bill, certificate, writing, token, or other device that any particular number, character, ticket, or certificate shall in the event of any contingency in the nature of a lottery entitle the purchaser or holder to receive money, property, or evidence of debt.
(Am. Ord. 3706, passed 6-11-12)
Statutory reference:
   Similar state statute, see ILCS Ch. 720, Act 5, § 28-2