Gamblers in Illinois may soon be able to visit riverboat casinos again.
At a press briefing Wednesday, Gov. J. B. Pritzker announced that all 11 regions in the state can begin lifting Tier 3 restrictions if they meet set metrics on Jan. 15.
“We are watching closely in this incubation period post-Christmas and New Year’s,” Pritzker said. “I am cautiously optimistic as there are some early signs that some regions have made real progress.”
Illinois closed its gaming industry in mid-November due to a surge in coronavirus cases. The 10 riverboat casinos in the state and 37,459 video gaming terminals at 7,135 locations including bars, taverns, restaurants and truck stops, were forced to close. It was the second forced shutdown of gaming establishments in Illinois due to the pandemic.
The Tier 3 restrictions also limited grocery stores to 50% capacity, and health and fitness centers and personal care stores to 25% capacity.
Pritzker stated that Illinois didn’t experience a post-Thanksgiving increase in COVID-19 cases, and that state officials are monitoring any possible upticks after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
On Jan. 15, two weeks after New Year’s Day, regions in the state that have a test positivity rate of less than 12% for three consecutive days; more than 20% ICU and hospital beds available; and declining COVID-19 hospitalizations in seven of the previous 10 days; will be able to move from Tier 3 to Tier 2.
