Licensed gaming operations at all Illinois Casinos and Video Gaming locations were authorized to resume operations at 9:00 AM on July 1, 2020. The Board is continuously monitoring developments in connection with the COVID-19 public health crisis and will update licensees and the public as warranted.

Region 4 in the Metro East (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington Counties has exceeded IDPH criteria that trigger additional mitigations to combat a resurgence of COVID-19 and prevent uncontrollable spread. As detailed in the July 15 Restore Illinois resurgence plan, new mitigations will be applied if a region's positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8% for three consecutive days, as it has in Region 4.

Beginning at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2020, all licensed gambling operations at the Hollywood Casino Joliet and Harrah's Casino Joliet will revert back to the Restore Illinois Phase 4 mitigation efforts. This means that Food and beverage service is no longer suspended inside casinos. Additionally, the capacity limit is increased from 25% to 50% of the fire code capacity per the Phase 4 Restore Illinois guidelines. 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.

Beginning at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2020, all video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in Region 7 (Kankakee and Will Counties) will revert back to the Restore Illinois Phase 4 mitigation efforts. The change back to Phase 4 guidelines for video gaming operations hours will be accomplished through the Central Communications System. Food and beverage service in the gaming area is no longer suspended. 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. Existing social distancing, sanitizing and other mitigation protocols and measures in approved Terminal Operator Pandemic Resumption Plans remain in effect.

Beginning at 5:00 PM on September 1, 2020, food and beverage service is suspended inside the DraftKings 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 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily, and casino occupancy will be 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. Existing social distancing, sanitizing and other mitigation protocols and measures in approved Casino Pandemic Resumption Plans remain in effect.

Beginning at 5:00 PM on September 1, 2020, 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. Current mitigation measures will remain in effect, so that all video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in Region 4 will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily - with no exceptions. 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. 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 subject licensees to discipline, up to and including license revocation.

IDPH will continue to track the positivity rate in Region 4 over a 14-day monitoring period to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigation should remain in place. If the positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5 percent over a 14-day period, the region may return to the original Phase 4 guidance or a modified version as appropriate. If the positivity rate averages between 6.5 percent and 8 percent, the new mitigations will remain in place. If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8 percent after 14 days, more stringent mitigations will be applied to further reduce spread of the virus, which can include the closure of bars and dining.

For more information please see the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website.