Eight casinos in Illinois have reduced their hours and capacities in reaction to a possible second surge of Covid-19 positive test results.
Only two casinos, Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria and Jumer’s Casino in Rock Island, haven’t altered their hours because they are in a different region of the state than the eight casinos that were swept in under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan. The plan also encompasses as many as 36,000 video gaming machines in eateries and taverns, which can continue to be open but just can’t sell food or drink.
The casinos affected have also discontinued indoor food and beverage service, with only curbside and carryout and outdoor dining continuing.
They were following new rules issued by the Illinois Gaming Board that changed the hours for most casinos to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with 25 percent capacity. Most casinos have been operating at 50 percent capacity since reopening this summer after being closed for almost four months.
Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter praised the casino operators: “I want to thank our industry licensees at casinos, video gaming locations and our terminal operators for their efforts to comply with COVID-19 mitigation efforts and to take reasonable and common-sense steps to keep themselves, their employees and their patrons safe during this very challenging time.”
The other effect the licensing of new casinos in Waukegan, the South suburbs, Rockford and downstate Williamson County by as much as six months. The original deadline to issue licenses was this week, but Fruchter’s staff was delayed in reviewing and processing the applications by the pandemic.
