Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Question of the Day

Posted in:

Illinois

Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

Riverboat casinos in Illinois want to remain open for business around the clock.

The Illinois Casino Gaming Association is asking state regulators for the OK to operate 24 hours a day. Currently, no casinos are open more than 22 hours.

The Illinois Gaming Board has scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 19 in Chicago to consider the request.

QUESTION: Do you support the Gaming Association’s request? Explain your answer in comments.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 1:54 am

Comments

Absolutely. If they think they can make a buck, they should be able to be open 24/7/365. It’s not as though society reaps some irreplaceable benefit from shutting them down for two hours a day.

Next stop — let car dealers be open on Sunday.

Comment by South of Sherman Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 6:42 am
It really doesn’t matter to me so I suppose it’s OK. I’ve never been to a casino (outside of Las Vegas) at 4:00 AM. Do they really stand to bring in that much revenue at that time of night?

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 8:18 am
Yes. I always thought it was goofy that they closed for 2 hours. It reminds me of the diner in Easy Money with the sign that says “Open 23 Hours” and Rodney Dangerfield and Joe Pesce manage to get there at the only hour it was closed.

I expect Aaron Jaffe to oppose this and worry about mob influence if we let casinos stay open for 120 more minutes per day.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 8:30 am
Meh, 24-hours seems to be the casino business model. Okay by me.

I’d imagine if I were at a slot machine in Metropolis at 4 a.m. I might want to re-think my life choices.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 8:47 am
No problem. If I can flush my money down the toilet 24 hours a day why should this be any different?

Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 8:50 am
22 hours… 24 hours… what’s the difference?

Comment by Statey McGrady Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:02 am
Having been in one river boat casino in my life and having watched the regulars go thru the motions while playing multiple slots at once, I wondered what they do with the 2 hours the casino is closed? Maybe they smile - I certainly saw no evidence of that while they were tending the machines. Maybe they don’t since it may break the juju.

We need all the revenue we can get. I say we should open the casinos up in another dimension - the chronosynclastic infundibulum would be perfect. Like a cosmic money multiplier!

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:29 am
=== 22 hours… 24 hours… what’s the difference? ===

Right.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:54 am
Yes!

1) Better for staff, as everybody can work more consistent 8 hour shifts in a 24-hour operation

2) Slightly more tax revenue if they’re open longer.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:06 am
Might as well… Is there a time limit on video poker, seems the gas station ones might be able to be open 24 hours a day.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:14 am
Seems like the train has left the station.

The 22 hour rule was a fig leaf anyway.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:27 am
Seems reasonable.

One wonders why it wasn’t reasonable in the 1990s when they were first established??

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:28 am
More hours to fleece the poor..yeah great idea.

Comment by Empty Suit Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:35 am
Oneman hit it on the head there is no limit on the video poker. So if you can gamble 24/7 at a truck stop why punish the casinos. I believe the reasoning for the 2 hour break was the hope the Gambling addicted would realize they should stop in that 2 hours. Don’t think it worked.

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:43 am
Nothing wrong with the proposal, it should be approved

Comment by downstate hack Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 11:36 am
I don’t particularly care.

Comment by Joan P. Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 11:38 am
It’s the latest repeal of regulations enacted in the early 90s to assure wavering legislators that addiction would be discouraged. It’s akin to repealing the ban on happy hours because someone who wants to get drunk in a hurry can find other ways to do it anyway.

Comment by reformer Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 11:41 am
Yes, more hours = more tax revenue.

Comment by pensioner Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 11:57 am
Doesn’t matter what you think, Jaffe was against it before and still is against it.

Comment by DE Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 12:09 pm
What’s the point anymore? In the beginning the boats went on 2 hour “cruises.” Then the boats stayed docked and the hours expanded. It’s silly to tie gambling to “boats” now. It only serves to limit casinos to communities on water. Why not stop the charade and allow regular casinos?

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 12:15 pm
we should tax them at a higher rate and then let them be open for 24 hours..

Comment by Mmmmmmm Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 12:24 pm
Yes, it will employ more people, now three shifts.
Also it will accommodate people who work odd hours.
And if it creates more jobs, and brings in more tax dollars that is a good thing.
I am sure people who live near these establishments may not like around the clock traffic.

Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 1:24 pm
I really don’t care, but one would think they would need those 2 hours a day to clean the boat, repair the broken machines and restock, etc..

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 1:48 pm
Approve, I mean it isn’t like we don’t need the cash.

Comment by anonymouse Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 2:58 pm
Wordslinger@8:47- That’s hilarious!!

Comment by anonymouse Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 3:00 pm
Only if they give slots & video poker to the Horse Race Tracks.

Comment by BIG R. Ph. Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 3:46 pm
Approve the proposal. Apparently, ALL of Illinois’ surrounding States with casinos already allow it–so why not us? After all, I’m doubtful (though I don’t KNOW) that most or all of Illinois’ casinos are open for the 22 Hour Period now, plus it would provide at least a couple more hours of at least $OME revenue for whatever crazies WANT to be out there in that ever-popular 4 or 5 am to 6 or 7 am time slot (whenEVer they close shop these days)at whatever Il. casinos WANT to be open the extra time–and, besides, why give all of our bordering States’ casinos that financial advantage? GO for it…!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 7:44 pm
24 hour casino gambling will mean more money lost by gambling addicts. These are the people who are being targeted by the casinos when they ask for 24 hour gambling. Some gamblers will only go home when the casinos close. How can we not care.

Comment by Ruby Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 7:48 pm
No way.

Not without first allowing IL racetracks to have slots and table games and passing cannabis legislation similar to what was done in Colorado minus quantity restrictions.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:46 pm
Yes. Let them stay open 24/7.

Comment by mokenavince Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:56 pm