Illinois Cash-losing casinos ask regulators for 24-hr days

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Allowing Illinois casinos to operate 24 hours a day would boost revenues, backers say, but opponents contend it would also eliminate one of the last controls over addicted gamblers.

Illinois Gaming Board members listened to testimony Tuesday about a request to allow the state’s nine casinos to operate 24 hours a day. Currently, casinos must close for at least two hours a day.

Casinos say they are facing revenue declines because of a weak economy and Illinois’ new ban on smoking in public places.

“Increasing hours will lead to increasing revenue,” said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Assn. Through the first quarter, state casinos revenues have declined by more than 10% per month from year-earlier figures, he says. Opponents say shuttering casinos forces compulsive gamblers to quit, even if only for a short time.

Good luck to Illinois casinos.