A Glance At When Illinois Casinos Could Potentially Reopen Their Doors

Illinois gamblers are uncertain about when casinos will reopen in the state, especially after learning that Missouri casinos may be opening on June 1st.

What is the answer? It is unknown.

The Missouri Gaming Commission originally approved the opening of casinos on May 15, but the decision was postponed in order to coordinate with the reopening dates set by local government officials, as reported by KMOX-AM radio station.

Illinois casinos near the St. Louis area, including Casino Queen and Argosy Casino Alton, do not have a specific reopening schedule at this time.

Illinois’s economical impact is considerable.

During an interview with NPR news station WBEZ-FM, A.D. Quig, a government and politics reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business, expressed that the ongoing closure of casinos has negative implications for state and city budgets, as well as future planning, due to its economic repercussions.

Quig reported that, to date, casinos have lost more than $100 million in revenue. This figure does not account for expenses related to the virus. As a result, the state has missed out on around $50 million in casino tax revenue, while local communities that host casinos have lost $10 million.

Quig further explained that the losses were exclusively from casinos and did not include any money spent on video games or sports betting.

What is the strategy of Missouri & rsquo?

Missouri’s 13 casinos must make adjustments to promote social distancing, including reducing the number of slot machines and table games available to players.

In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, all casino employees will be required to wear masks and adhere to strict hygiene protocols. It has not been determined yet whether customers will also need to wear face coverings.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has announced a decrease of around $55 million in casino tax revenue due to the closure of the state’s casinos, including riverboat casinos, since March 17th in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is Illinois on the verge of opening gambling? & nbsp,

Currently, there is no set date for the reopening of gambling establishments in Illinois.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has recently introduced a five-phase plan called “Restore Illinois”, which allows gatherings of 50 people or less during the fourth phase.

Quig explains that Phase Four, also known as regeneration, permits gatherings of up to 50 people. However, this restriction is subject to change depending on updated information and guidance.

Watching how casinos adjust to this situation will be intriguing as they carefully plan strategies to enhance safety. This involves installing plastic barriers between gaming areas and enforcing hand-washing protocols.

Nevertheless, since many of these casinos can accommodate over 50 people, I anticipate that they will not fully reopen until Phase Five, which may not occur until a vaccine is created.

The opening of casinos in Missouri could have a negative impact on Illinois, especially for Casino Queen in East St. Louis. Competitors such as Lumiere Place in St. Louis and River City Casino in Lemay, which are only a short drive away, may draw business away from Casino Queen.

In her NPR interview, Quig emphasized that those in the casino industry prioritize profits and are actively working on developing strategies to guarantee the safety of both customers and their 5,000 employees.

Illinois has reported 4,234 murders and 96,485 cases of COVID-19 as of May 19. Laboratories have conducted a total of 603,241 tests.