As of February 28, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that face coverings are no longer required in most household settings in Illinois.
The Illinois casinos are expected to be thrilled by the announcement, as the absence of mask requirements in their establishments is likely to attract more customers. The new rules will go into effect on Monday.
Masks may still be required in schools with grades K-12, as well as in public transportation and other high-risk areas such as healthcare facilities.
Here is a retrospective on the obstacles casinos encountered in attempting to operate at maximum capacity while navigating the limitations enforced by the pandemic.
Illinois experiences its second closing
In November 2020, Pritzker declared that casinos and VGTs would be closed, along with movie theaters and domestic recreation facilities. Retail stores were also subjected to power restrictions.
This came after casinos had been shut down since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in March 2020 and had just reopened in July 2020. Casinos in Illinois were operating at either 25% or 50% capacity, depending on the region.
After the summer of 2020, cases began to increase again in November, leading Pritzker to mandate that businesses close and turn off their lights.
Games start to reopen.
Based on their COVID-19 positivity rates, certain regions may be eligible to transition from Tier 3 to a lower tier and receive better health and safety designations, as announced by Pritzker in January 2021. Areas with lower case counts were granted higher grades, allowing them to reopen public spaces with fewer restrictions compared to regions in lower tiers.
The reopening of three casinos was made possible by Par-A-Dice Casino in Joliet, Harrah’s Metropolis in Southern Illinois, and Jumer’s Casino and Hotel in Northwestern Illinois. Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, previously known as Bally’s Quad Cities Casino and Hotel, is located in Rock Island.
In the week following the reopening of these casinos, seven more establishments also began welcoming customers.
An additional step toward normality
In May 2021, the Prairie State entered the penultimate phase of reopening businesses.
The capacity limits have been raised to 60%, with individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer included in the capacity count due to the widespread availability of vaccines.
Fully vaccinated individuals can participate in indoor or outdoor activities without a mask, as stated by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, regardless of the number of attendees at the event. However, the decision to enforce mask requirements will ultimately be at the discretion of each respective company.
At the end of May, all 10 Illinois casinos had chosen to follow Walensky’s advice and remove mask mandates for fully vaccinated customers.
Games are operating at full capacity.
In June 2021, Illinois entered phase 5, allowing establishments, locations, and activities to operate without restrictions. Casinos were also allowed to remain open 24/7.
Some casinos offered complimentary drinks to individuals who could provide proof of vaccination.
Retracting a move
In August 2021, the Land of Lincoln implemented mandatory indoor face covering regulations, potentially requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face covering.
Mandatory vaccinations are implemented.
In December 2021, Cook County required proof of vaccination to be shown before entering any domestic entertainment venues and dining establishments. This mandate also applied to domestic health facilities.
This only affected Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.
How this decision will affect casinos and gambling
As online sportsbooks in Illinois continue to achieve high revenue and handle numbers, the decision to allow bettors to enter retail facilities without masks is likely to attract even more patrons.
