Sorry Gamblers, Illinois Casinos To Remain Closed
Not only will our state's casinos remain shuttered, but video gaming in Illinois will also stay unplugged until further notice.
This is the pronouncement made yesterday by the Illinois Gaming Board:
"To prevent the further spread of the unprecedented COVID-19 virus and protect public health and safety, the Illinois Gaming Board has extended the suspension of all Illinois video gaming operations at all licensed establishments of any kind and all casino gambling operations until further notice. The health and safety of patrons, gaming industry employees, Gaming Board staff, and all others in Illinois is the Gaming Board’s top priority at this time. The Gaming Board is monitoring developments regarding COVID-19 and will continue to make decisions based on science, public health guidance, and applicable law and rules. The Gaming Board will also continue to update licensees and other stakeholders as new information becomes available."
WGN-TV News:
Illinois Casino Gaming Association executive director Tom Swoik said casino operators are hopeful they’ll be able to restart operations June 1. He estimates the state’s 10 casinos have lost about $100 million during the six weeks they’ve been closed, putting more than 5,000 employees out of work.
“It’ll take several months to see people feeling comfortable to start coming back,” Swoik said. “Everyone’s going to be very, very cautious.”
Swoik said the casino industry is considering new sanitation criteria in the wake of COVID-19, including sneeze guards between spaced-out slot machines, player limits at table games and prohibiting the touching of cards.
This was the announcement two weeks ago: