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Gaming to resume on July 1

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Illinois

* Illinois Gaming Board…

Statewide casino and video gaming operations were indefinitely suspended on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic’s impacts, Gaming Board staff across all division have remained at work performing the agency’s functions.

Among other tasks, the Gaming Board has continued its work to implement the provisions of last year’s landmark gaming expansion law, including the analysis and investigation of 10 new casino applications and two new racetrack gaming applications, the launch of online sports wagering, expanded video gaming, and essential rulemaking activities.

The Gaming Board has also been at work planning for the safe, fair, orderly and consistent resumption of statewide public casino gambling and video gaming operations. Guided by public health metrics and safety considerations, and in close consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Governor’s Office, the Gaming Board issued Resumption Protocols to guide casino and terminals in their resumption planning. The Resumption Protocols were released on June 9, 2020 and are available on the Gaming Board’s website.

Each casino and terminal operator has now provided to the Gaming Board a Pandemic Resumption Plan that will guide their operations when gaming can resume on Wednesday July 1, at 9:00 A.M.

“The Gaming Board worked with the Governor’s Office, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to develop a gaming resumption process that protects the public health of patrons and employees, while restarting gaming activities in meaningful way,” said Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter. Video gaming and casino gaming can both resume operations on July 1, 2020 at 9 AM. Fruchter continued, “The video and casino gaming industry have worked cooperatively and professionally with the IGB to develop best practices that create the safest possible environment for gaming, while adhering to IDPH, DCEO, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) guidance. We appreciate their cooperation and work toward the mutual goal of a resumption that protects the safety and integrity of Illinois gaming”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 25, 20 @ 3:03 pm

Comments

what are the capacity limits for the casinos?

Comment by Altgelds Ghost Thursday, Jun 25, 20 @ 3:25 pm
Covid still here. Bad move jb

Comment by Help Thursday, Jun 25, 20 @ 4:02 pm
“Illinois Gambling - now featuring two kinds of gambling.”

Comment by Roadrager Thursday, Jun 25, 20 @ 4:05 pm
thank you for opening up a fun, safe activity so we can get back to some entertainment.

Comment by Tom Thursday, Jun 25, 20 @ 4:50 pm
I’m not sure if this is the smartest decision but I’d like to see what the risk mitigation plan is for casinos and what capacity restrictions might apply. Folks aren’t really in and out of casinos quickly. They tend to be there for hours and when we consider viral loads in indoor spaces this could be disastrous.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 25, 20 @ 5:09 pm
Missouri gaming has been up and running for a few weeks. Is there any useable data from their experience yet?

Comment by Bemused Friday, Jun 26, 20 @ 9:10 am
“Missouri gaming has been up and running for a few weeks. Is there any useable data from their experience yet?”

Yes: The vast majority of people leave the casinos and video gaming operations with less money than when they entered.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Jun 26, 20 @ 1:16 pm