In mid-July, it was announced that the proposed Illinois Gaming Bill had made a recovery when the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the Appellate Court's earlier decision by a unanimous 7-0 ruling, clearing the way for the law to stand.

As the process moves along, there's now a list making the rounds of things you can do to prepare to complete your gaming license application.  The application process will be a thorough one and require much documentation.  To get your ducks in order now, here's a list of documents you can begin gathering to prepare for your application.

• a recent color passport-quality photograph of yourself
• a copy of the front and back of your driver's license
• a copy of your birth certificate
• if you were enlisted in the U.S. military service and have been discharged, a copy of your DD214
• a copy of your official college transcript(s) 
• a copy of a Use Agreement containing IGB mandated language between the applying entity and an Illinois Video Gaming Terminal Operator applicant
• details of your employment history for the last 10 consecutive years, including summer jobs, internships and any periods of unemployment
• current address of your spouse, children and dependents (including step-children and adopted children), parents (including in-laws and legal guardians). If the individual is deceased, obtain the individual's last address
• details for any business, technical or professional license, permits or certifications you or the applying entity have applied for, held or currently hold, including: (1) each license, permit or certification number, (2) the date the license, permit or certification was applied for, and (3) how long the license, permit or certification was or has been held.
• details of your criminal history, including the date of offense, the arresting or charging agency and the disposition of the charge, along with the disposition date.  This information should be obtained for any instance where you have been fingerprinted, arrested or charged with a crime, even if the charges were dismissed, deferred or changed, and even if the convictions were expunged, sealed or pardoned.
• details of any current or prior civil lawsuit involving you or the applying entity based in part on conduct that could amount to a crime, deceit or fraud, including the parties involved, the date filed, the case number, the location or jurisdiction, the claims involved, the disposition and the date of such disposition.
• details of any currently unresolved lawsuit, administrative action or judgement involving the applying entity, including the parties involved, the date filed, the case number, the court where the lawsuit was filed, the claims alleged, the damages claimed and the identities of all counsel of record.
• details of any legal history related to, or revocation or suspensions of, the applying entity's liquor license, including the arresting or charging agency or party, the disposition of the charge and the disposition date.  This information should include any Illinois Liquor Control Commission "Offer in Compromise."
• Three (3) years of State and Federal tax returns for both you, individually, and the applying entity.
• Three (3) years of Forms W-2 you received from any employer.
• Copies of any Forms W-2 or 1099 issued by the applying entity for the most recent tax year.
• Three (3) years of financial statements (balance sheet(s), income statement(s), and statement(s) of changes in financial position) for the applying entity, plus the financial statements for the period ending one (1) month prior to the date of the applying entity's Video Gaming Application.
• a copy of the by-laws, operating statement, shareholders agreement or partnership agreement of the applying entity
• the Federal Employment Identification Number (federal tax number) for the applying entity.