The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology has appointed Kavita Saraf as the inaugural Chief Information Officer supporting the Illinois Gaming Board. In this role, she will lead technology strategy and execution for the Illinois Gaming Board, with a focus on strengthening digital foundations, advancing secure and scalable systems, and enabling data-driven oversight. The appointment gives Saraf responsibility for shaping the technology function behind a key state regulatory body.
Saraf brings more than 28 years of IT leadership experience across government and enterprise environments. Most recently, she served as Deputy Chief Information Officer supporting the Illinois Department of Corrections before taking on this new role at DoIT. Her background spans Fortune 500 organizations and public-sector technology leadership, giving her experience across operationally complex environments.
Why this matters: Creating an inaugural CIO role for technology support to the Illinois Gaming Board signals a move toward more formalized digital leadership in a heavily regulated environment. For public-sector agencies balancing oversight, security, and modernization, appointing a seasoned technology executive suggests a stronger focus on resilient systems, governance, and data-driven operations.
