Illinois Casinos Will Reopen Wednesday

As the second half of a troubled 2020 begins, Illinois casinos are permitted to reopen starting 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Last week, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) declared that casino and video gaming would resume on July 1.

Marcus Fruchter, the Gaming Board Administrator, stated that the board has implemented a collaborative plan in conjunction with the governor’s office, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

The video and casino gaming industry have collaborated professionally with the IGB to establish best practices that ensure the safest environment for gaming. This is in accordance with guidance from the IDPH, DCEO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are grateful for their cooperation and shared commitment towards resuming operations in a way that safeguards the safety and integrity of gaming in Illinois.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought much of American life to a halt, leading to the statewide closure of casinos on March 16.

The closure occurred a week following the initiation of sports betting in the state. The first retail sportsbook in Illinois was launched at Rivers Casino Des Plaines near Chicago on March 9.

Some casinos will open later than 9 a.m.

On Friday, Illinois transitioned into phase four of its reopening plan. This phase allows various businesses including museums, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and others to reopen their doors, albeit with capacity restrictions for safety.

All 10 casinos in Illinois are set to reopen on Wednesday, but not all of them will start operating at 9 a.m.

The Argosy Casino in Alton is set to open at 10 a.m.

The Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria is set to open at 11 a.m.

The Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, along with the Hollywood casinos in Aurora and Joliet, will commence operations at midday.

What to expect at Illinois casinos

On June 9, the Illinois Gaming Board issued protocols for resuming operations, emphasizing necessary safety precautions.

The following are some of the main rules provided by the Illinois Gaming Board:

• Maintain a distance of 6 feet for social distancing.
• Limited to 50% capacity.
• No poker rooms.
• Masks must be worn at all times by employees and patrons.
• No buffet services.
• Entry requires temperature checks.
• No table games.
• No valet parking services.

In addition, every casino was required to present a reopening plan to the gaming board for approval before they could reopen.

Online sportsbook goes live

Even with the closures, there has been no shortage of gambling news emerging from the Land of Lincoln.

BetRivers initiated the first online sportsbook in the state this month. The sportsbook, which is connected to Rivers Casino Des Plaines, was launched without the necessity for in-person registration in the state.

The launch of a sportsbook by Argosy Casino Alton was put on hold due to the pandemic.