The Illinois Gaming Board has introduced a raft of restrictions at licensed gaming venues in two of the state’s regions – four and seven – in order to combat a resurgence of COVID-19. The measures will impact hours of operation and food and beverage services and force the wearing of masks for customers and staff.
With immediate effect, all licensed gambling operations at the Hollywood Casino Joliet and Harrah’s Casino Joliet will be restricted to within the hours of 8am to 11pm daily, and casino occupancy will be reduced during the mitigation period from 50% of fire code capacity to 25% of fire code capacity.
Food and beverage service is suspended inside casinos, while outdoor service, curbside and carryout is permitted. Masks must be worn at all times inside the casino. Congregating around table games, carnival games and EGDs is prohibited. Existing social distancing, sanitizing and other mitigation protocols and measures in approved Casino Pandemic Resumption Plans remain in effect.
Also with immediate effect, all video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in Region 7 (Kankakee and Will Counties) will be limited to the hours of 8am to 11pm daily – with no exceptions.
Food and beverage service in the gaming area is suspended, while curbside and carryout is permitted. Masks must be worn at all times inside the video gaming area. Congregating around video gaming terminals is prohibited and there is a one person per video gaming terminal limitation.
Beginning at 5pm on September 1, food and beverage service is suspended inside the DraftKings sportsbooks at Casino Queen and Argosy Casino Alton. Outdoor service, curbside and carryout is permitted.
Current mitigation measures will remain in effect so that casino operation will remain restricted to within the hours of 8am to 11pm daily, and casino occupancy will remain at a reduced level from 50% of fire code capacity to 25% of fire code capacity. Masks must be worn at all times inside the casino. Congregating around table games, carnival games and EGDs is prohibited.
Also effective as of 5pm on September 1, food and beverage service in video gaming locations in Region 4 (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington Counties) is suspended. Outdoor service, curbside and carryout is permitted. All video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in Region 4 will be limited to the hours of 8am to 11pm daily – with no exceptions. Masks must be worn at all times inside the video gaming area.
Again, congregating around video gaming terminals is prohibited and there is a one person per video gaming terminal limitation. Existing social distancing, sanitizing and other mitigation protocols and measures in approved Terminal Operator Pandemic Resumption Plans remain in effect.
Failure to comply with these mitigation efforts could, said the board, subject licensees to discipline, up to and including license revocation.