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Illinois casinos are now allowed to reopen at 9 a.m. on Wednesday as the second half of a challenging 2020 gets underway.
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) announced that casino and video gaming activities will resume on July 1st, starting next week.
According to Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter, a collaborative plan has been implemented by the board in partnership with the governor’s office, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
The video and casino gaming industry have worked closely with the IGB to create best practices that prioritize safety within gaming environments. This collaboration follows guidance from the IDPH, DCEO, and the CDC. We appreciate their partnership and dedication to reopening operations in Illinois while upholding the safety and integrity of gaming.
The closure of casinos statewide on March 16 was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a significant disruption to American life.
The closure took place a week after sports betting began in the state. The initial retail sportsbook in Illinois opened at Rivers Casino Des Plaines, located near Chicago, on March 9.
Some casinos will open later than 9 a.m.
Illinois entered phase four of its reopening plan on Friday, which permits the reopening of museums, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, and other businesses with capacity restrictions in place for safety.
On Wednesday, all 10 casinos in Illinois are scheduled to reopen, but some may not begin operations at 9 a.m.
The Argosy Casino in Alton will open its doors at 10 a.m.
The Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria will be opening at 11 a.m.
The Rivers Casino in Des Plaines and the Hollywood casinos in Aurora and Joliet will start operating at noon.
What to expect at Illinois casinos
The Illinois Gaming Board released guidelines on June 9 for reopening operations, highlighting the importance of implementing essential safety measures.
Below are some of the primary regulations outlined by the Illinois Gaming Board:
- Keep a 6-foot distance for social distancing.
- Limited to 50% capacity.
- No poker rooms.
- Employees and patrons are required to wear masks at all times.
- No buffet services.
- Entry requires temperature checks.
- No table games.
- No valet parking services.
Furthermore, each casino had to submit a reopening plan to the gaming board for approval prior to reopening.
Online sportsbook goes live
Despite the closures, there has been a continuous stream of gambling news coming out of Illinois.
This month, BetRivers became the first online sportsbook in the state to launch without requiring in-person registration. The sportsbook is linked to Rivers Casino Des Plaines.
The pandemic caused the launch of a sportsbook by Argosy Casino Alton to be postponed.
