Gaming Board Sets Stage For Illinois Casinos To Reopen

There is yet no specific date or time frame for when gaming establishments in Illinois will start welcoming visitors again. However, the approval of an opening strategy for Illinois gambling is a crucial initial step.

The details of the plan were revealed to the public by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) on Thursday. The timing implies that the state’s 10 casinos may reopen later this month.

Information about the opening of the Illinois game

IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter clarified that Illinois residents should not misconstrue the initiation of procedures as a guarantee of casinos and racing venues opening.

According to Fruchter:

“The schedule and prerequisites for such a recommencement will be dictated by metrics and public health advice. They will occur under Governor JB Pritzker’s ‘Restore Illinois’ plan.”

The regulations resemble those established for the resumption of games in various states. For example, social distancing rules may mandate games to limit their maximum capacity to 50% of the fire code.

The game board may impose requirements on Illinois casinos to keep amenities such as self-service buffets and attendant services shut. The board might also enforce the wearing of face masks and regular temperature checks for casino employees.

The IGB allows casino providers to independently decide on a range of issues. These encompass the pace of improved cleaning processes, methods to achieve floor distancing, and the mandate for casino patrons to wear masks.

Various casino operators have consciously exceeded safety standards in different states. Two examples of this at IL casinos include the installation of plexiglass barriers at desks and reduced seating.

At its meeting on Thursday, the IGB took action at land-based bookmakers on that matter. The legal environment for sports betting in the state is undergoing changes.

IGB approves seven registration requests.

All residents of the state who possessed sports betting licenses until Thursday merely had temporary credentials. Some of these were successfully converted by the IGB during its appointment.

The state gaming board universally approved the four-year master licenses of seven entertainment facilities. Prior to the closure of IL games on March 16, most of these facilities were not yet operational. They are designed for gambling.

• Alton Argosy Casino
• Victoria’s Grand Casino
• Aurora Hollywood Casino
• Hollywood Casino in Joliet
• Des Plaines’ River Game
• Queen Casino
• Hotel like a Blackjack line of stones.

Illinois residents and visitors will be unable to place legal bets until casinos reopen. Despite Gov. Pritzker suspending the requirement for in-person registration, no sports betting apps are currently accepting online bets in Illinois.

It’s unlikely that the situation will change soon. Online casino operators are still waiting to receive vendor licenses from the IGB. Furthermore, BetRivers, the online version of Rivers Casino in DesPlaines, has not announced a specific launch date.

If these health and safety regulations are implemented immediately, gambling could potentially reopen by June 26. In his strategy to resume position, Pritzker has incorporated these measures into Phase 4 and has marked that day as the earliest possible entry into this phase.

Phase 4 does not explicitly refer to off-track betting locations and video lottery switch rooms. The final, fifth stage of the reopening does mandate that OTBs and VLT spaces must remain closed until Pritzker fully lifts his order.

If these practices are announced and the preparation time becomes crucial, casinos will have the opportunity to get ready. However, residents of Illinois should not expect to be able to visit brick-and-mortar casinos on June 26.