Thursday, April 16, 2026 3:12 PM
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Light & Wonder on Thursday announced it has been awarded a new 10-year contract by the Illinois Gaming Board to supply and fully operate its next-generation CONNEXUS Central Communication System for the state’s video gaming market.
The award comes after a public, competitive bid process.
Light & Wonder will deploy its latest CONNEXUS Central Communication System, delivering a modern, scalable platform designed to meet the IGB’s current and future regulatory needs. The solution offers robust enforcement capabilities to ensure the integrity of video gaming within the state, while incorporating state-of-the-art information security processes to protect system integrity and data security.
“This award reflects more than a decade of trusted collaboration with the Illinois Gaming Board and our proven ability to operate one of the most complex regulated gaming systems in the world,” Light & Wonder CEO, Gaming, Siobhan Lane said in a statement. “Our next-generation CONNEXUS Central System provides the security, scalability, and flexibility required to support Illinois’ market today, while positioning the state for future innovation in responsible gaming and cashless technologies.”
Light & Wonder has served as the central system provider and operator for the IGB since the market’s launch in 2012.
“The new Central Communication System will further strengthen our existing regulatory oversight and modernize our technological infrastructure,” said Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “Among other significant enhancements, the new system will enable the IGB’s integration of its self-exclusion program into video gaming and meaningfully advance our commitment to responsible gambling in Illinois.”
The platform will provide regulatory and compliance oversight, support G2S connectivity and ticket-in ticket-out, while improving operational efficiency and enabling future capabilities such as responsible gaming, cashless gaming support, and API integration with the gaming board’s systems.
Rege Behe brings more than 30 years of experience as a journalist to his role as a lead contributor to CDC Gaming. His work ranges from day-to-day industry coverage to deeper features such as the CDC Gaming Roundtables and the “10 Women Rising in Gaming” series.