Illinois' newest Gaming Board chair convenes first meeting in position of authority
New Chair of Illinois Gaming Board Takes Reins Amid Expansion of State's Gaming Industry
Dionne Hayden, a seasoned corporate attorney with over 20 years of experience in corporate investigations, compliance, and strategic risk mitigation, took over as the chair of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) in July 2025. Governor JB Pritzker appointed Hayden to this role, following the resignation of Charles Schmadeke.
Hayden, who has been a member of the IGB since May 2019, is the first woman and first African American woman to be appointed chair of the Board. Her appointment is pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
The IGB is responsible for regulating Commercial Casinos, Igaming, Sports Betting, and personnel within the state. Under Schmadeke's tenure, there was a massive expansion of these gaming verticals, including the legalization of sports betting and an increase of over 16,000 video gaming terminals statewide.
Hayden's appointment comes at a time when Illinois is expanding its gaming industry. The state recently approved new casino licenses such as the Fairmount Park Casino and Racing racino, indicating a growing regulatory workload under her chairmanship.
Prior to her role in the IGB, Hayden worked as an assistant vice president, employee relations at CNA Insurance Company. She also served as senior legal counsel for Allianz, Global, Corporate & Specialty in their Chicago-based North American division. Later in her career, she joined Miller Canfield, PLC. Hayden began her career as a corporate litigator for McGuire Woods, LLP in Chicago.
Outside her professional duties, Hayden is active in her community, serving on the board of a family life center and coaching youth volleyball. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law.
On Thursday, Hayden presided over her first IGB meeting. The meeting, which took place on a Thursday, was held by the Illinois Gaming Board, a governing body within the state.
Chris Altruda, from Casino Reports, was mentioned in the context of the Illinois Gaming Board. However, specific details regarding his involvement were not provided.
Charles Schmadeke stepped down on July 1, 2021. Hayden succeeded him as the chair of the IGB.
[1] Illinois Gaming Board Expands with New Appointments [2] Fairmount Park Casino and Racing racino Approved in Illinois [3] Dionne Hayden Named Chair of Illinois Gaming Board [4] Dionne Hayden: A Profile of the New Illinois Gaming Board Chair
- Dionne Hayden, the newly appointed chair of the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), is expected to oversee an increase in casino-and-gambling activities, including casino-games and sports-betting, as the state continues to expand its gaming industry.
- As the IGB regulatory workload increases due to the approval of new casinos like the Fairmount Park Casino and Racing racino, Hayden might need to address issues related to casino-games, sports-betting, and other gaming verticals, following the approach set by her predecessor, Charles Schmadeke.
