Executive Order 2026-04

WHEREAS, ethical, effective, and transparent government requires public trust and confidence in the integrity of government agencies and employees, and government employees who use their official positions and access to nonpublic information for personal profit have a corrosive and degrading effect on public trust and confidence in government; and,

WHEREAS, public service should not be a means for personal enrichment and advantage based on access to nonpublic information; and,

WHEREAS, Section 50-50 of the Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/50-50) makes it
unlawful for any current or former elected or appointed State official or State employee to knowingly use confidential information available only by virtue of that office or employment for actual or anticipated gain for themselves or another person; and,

WHEREAS, public trust and confidence in the ethics and integrity of government is undermined when government employees engage in conduct that contravenes Illinois law and is contrary to the State’s best interests; and,

WHEREAS, there is no right under Illinois law to engage in or profit from gambling through contract or otherwise, J&J Ventures Gaming, LLC v. Wild, Inc., 2016 IL 1198760, ¶ 26; and,

WHEREAS, prediction markets that have developed and are proliferating allow consumers to stake money and wager on so-called event contracts covering subjects such as governmental actions, sports, contests and award shows, games, elections, politics, global affairs, and pop culture; and,

WHEREAS, prediction markets and event contracts covering governmental actions, sports, contests and award shows, games, elections, politics, global affairs, and pop culture lack any meaningful regulatory oversight, enforcement or licensure requirements to prevent insider trading and market manipulation, protect patrons, help problem gamblers, restrict access to minors, or detect and deter criminal activity; and,

WHEREAS, the increasing emergence of unregulated and unchecked prediction markets and event contracts covering governmental actions, sports, contests and award shows, games, elections, politics, global affairs, and pop culture harms the public interest and undermines the State’s legal and highly regulated gaming markets; and,

WHEREAS, public trust and confidence in the ethics and integrity of government is threatened when government employees use their official positions and access to nonpublic information for personal profit by participation in prediction markets and events contracts of any kind;

THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, by virtue of the executive authority vested in me by the Illinois Constitution and the laws of the State of Illinois, and in the interest of affirming existing ethical conduct requirements and further protecting the integrity and public trust in Illinois government, hereby order as follows:

1. “State Agency” means any office, department, agency, board, commission or authority of the Executive Branch of the State of Illinois. “State Employee” means any employee, officer, appointee or board member of any State Agency.
2. No State Employee may use nonpublic information derived from their position as a State Employee or gained from their performance of their official responsibilities as a State Employee in conjunction with participation in a prediction market or event contract of any kind.
3. No State Employee may use nonpublic information derived from their position as a State Employee or gained from their performance of their official responsibilities as a State Employee to assist any other person in conjunction with participation in a prediction market or event contract of any kind.
4. Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to contravene any federal or State law or regulation. Nothing in this Executive Order shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency.
5. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
6. This Executive Order shall be effective immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State.

__________________________

JB Pritzker

Governor

Issued by the Governor:  April 21, 2026

Filed with the Secretary of State:  April 21, 2026