When Will Slot Machines Open In Illinois?

When Will Slot Machines Open In Illinois
Illinois casinos and video gaming locations set to reopen July 1 Chicago-area gamblers will soon have some places to place their bets. The Illinois Gaming Board announced Thursday casinos and video gaming operators across the state can reopen at 9 a.m.

Wednesday, with capacity limits, social distancing and other required measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. Customers can expect some elbow room, face masks and the scent of sanitizers wafting through their favorite gambling establishments. The gaming board developed a “gaming resumption process that protects the public health of patrons and employees, while restarting gaming activities in a meaningful way,” administrator Marcus Fruchter said in a news release.

Casino and video gaming operations were suspended March 16 as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a statewide stay-at-home order for everything but essential businesses. Illinois is set to enter Phase 4 of its reopening plan Friday, with museums, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses able to reopen their doors — with capacity limits.

Under the gaming board restrictions, Illinois casinos will be limited to 50% capacity, with six-foot social distancing required at all table games, slot machines, sportsbooks, restaurants and other common areas. Poker rooms, buffet services and valet parking will not be allowed to open. Each of the state’s 10 casinos has provided a reopening plan to the gaming board.

Patrick Skarr, a spokesman for Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, said the state’s busiest gambling facility would reopen at noon Wednesday. “Our guests can expect increased cleaning, social distancing and mask wearing by every team member and customer on the floor,” Skarr said Friday.

The safety and enjoyment of our customers and staff is our top priority.” Penn National Gaming, which operates the Hollywood Casinos in Joliet and Aurora, is also planning to reopen both casinos at noon Wednesday.
We have been working closely with the Illinois Gaming Board, state and local leaders, and public health officials to finalize comprehensive reopening protocols and new health and safety precautions,” Jeff Morris, a Penn National Gaming spokesman, said Friday.

Harrah’s Joliet will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday, with all employees and guests required to wear face coverings. with similar capacity restrictions June 15. The state’s more than 7,400 video gaming terminals are allowed to resume operations on July 1, board spokesman Joe Miller said.

Rivers Casino became the first casino to offer, launching its at last week. This story has been updated to correct the number of video gaming terminals allowed to resume operations in Illinois July 1.

: Illinois casinos and video gaming locations set to reopen July 1

Are slots open in Illinois?

Latest Illinois Gambling News and Updates – UPDATED: November 2022 Online casino games remain illegal, as per the latest Illinois gambling laws. Although betting online within the state is thriving, there haven’t been any significant developments with regards to gaming sites.

However, don’t let the latest news get you down.
Illinois gambling laws are such that you can still play video slots and lottery games online,
Sweepstake sites such as Chumba Casino are available in the state.
This means you can purchase sweeps coins (onsite tokens) or use welcome bonuses and other promos to get free credits.

In fact, it’s because you can get free sweeps coins that these Illinois casinos don’t contravene state or federal laws. Put simply, sweeps coins don’t have any real-world value but they can be redeemed for prizes, This, combined with the fact you don’t need to buy sweeps coins (because you can get them for free using promos), means these Illinois online casinos comply with US sweepstakes laws.

What time do slots open in Illinois on Sunday?

Illinois COVID – 19 Phases and Tier Mitigations Summary – Current Illinois COVID – 19 Region by Phase and Tier Mitigations (subject to change) Phase 4 : Click here to view details.

Region 3 (West Central): Counties include Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Mason.
Region 5 (Southern) : Counties include Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson.
Region 6 (East Central): Counties include Iroquois, Ford, DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence.

Tier 1 Mitigation: Click here to view guidelines.

Region 1 (Northern): Counties include Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, DeKalb, Carroll, Ogle, Whiteside, Lee and Crawford.
Region 2 (North Central): Counties include Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Grundy, Mercer, Knox, Henderson, Warren, McDonough, Fulton, Stark, Marshall, Peoria, Tazewell, McLean, Woodford, Livingston and LaSalle.
Region 7 (South Suburban): Counties include Will and Kankakee

Tier 2 Mitigation : Click here to view guidelines.

Region 4 (Metro East): Counties include Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, Washington, Monroe and Randolph.
Region 8 (West Suburban): Counties include Kane and DuPage.
Region 9 (North Suburban): Counties include Lake and McHenry
Region 10 (Suburban Cook): Suburban Cook County
Region 11 (Chicago): City of Chicago

For more information on Illinois Regional COVID-19 Resurgence Criteria and the Restore Illinois Plan, please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website. Accel is also here to help. If you have any questions or issues with a machine, dividers, or Illinois Gaming Board relaunch protocols, contact your Relationship Manager or our Call Center at (888)-972-2235.

January 21, 2021: Please see below for Region 7 relaunch information as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health’s latest Regional COVID-19 Resurgence update. Region 7 (South Suburban – Will and Kankakee Counties) has moved out of Tier 3 mitigations! Video Gaming will go live in Region 7 tomorrow, January 22 at 8:00 a.m.

Scientific Games plans to begin turning machines on at 8:00 AM and plans to do so with a rolling start. They anticipate having all machines live by 12:00 PM tomorrow. Please m ake sure your machines remain powered to help expedite the relaunch process.

Region 3: (West Central) – Counties include Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Mason.
Region 5: (Southern) : Counties include Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, Williamson
Region 6: (East Central) – Counties include Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence.

Tier 1 Mitigation : Click here to view Tier 1 mitigation guidelines.

Region 1: (Northern) Counties include Jo Davies, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, Dekalb, Carrol, Ogle, Whiteside, Lee, Crawford
Region 2: (North Central) Counties include Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Grundy, Mercer, Knox, Henderson, Warren, McDonough, Fulton, Stark, Marshall, Peoria, Tazwell, McLean, Woodford, Livingston, Lasalle
Region 7: (South Suburban) Counties include Will and Kankakee

Tier 2 Mitigation : Click here to view Tier 2 mitigation guidelines.

Region 8: (West Suburban) – Counties include Kane and DuPage.
Region 9: (North Suburban) – Counties include Lake and McHenry
Region 10: (Suburban Cook) – Suburban Cook County
Region 11: (Chicago) – City of Chicago

Tier 3 Mitigation: Click here to view Tier 3 mitigation guidelines.

Region 4 (Metro East) – Counties included Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, Washington, Monroe, Randolph

For more information on Illinois Regional COVID-19 Resurgence Criteria and the Restore Illinois Plan, please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website. Accel is also here to help. If you have any questions or issues with a machine, dividers, or IGB relaunch protocols, contact your Relationship Manager or our Call Center at (888)-972-2235.

Region 3: (West Central) – Counties include: Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Mason.
Region 6: (East Central) – Counties include: Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence.
Region 8: (West Suburban) – Counties include: Kane and DuPage.
Region 9: (North Suburban) – Counties include: Lake and McHenry
Region 10: (Suburban Cook) – Suburban Cook County

The Accel team is closely monitoring Region 4 (Metro East) and Region 7 (South Suburban). We will continue to send communication as we receive updates from the Illinois Gaming Board. Scientific Games plans to begin turning machines on at 8:00 AM tomorrow and plans to do so with a rolling start.

They anticipate having all machines live by 12:00 PM tomorrow.
To be clear, Terminal Operators had no input as to the order of activation.
Please make sure your machines remain powered to help expedite the relaunch process.
Accel is ready to help! If you have any issues with a machine, dividers, or any other IGB relaunch protocols, contact our Call Center at (888)-972-2235 immediately.

We are committed to helping you welcome players back safely. We are looking forward to another successful relaunch beginning tomorrow morning! January 17, 2021: Today, T he Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Region 2, North Central Illinois (Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford), has met the metrics to move into Tier 1 mitigations, which will allow limited indoor dining.

January 16, 2021: Update – Illinois Region 5 becomes the first region to meet requirements to move into Tier 1 mitigations! Additional details can be found in the NBC article here, January 15, 2021: Today, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the immediate lift of Tier 3 mitigations for Illinois COVID Region 1 (Northwest Illinois), Region 2 (North-Central Illinois), and Region 5 (South Illinois).

With the lift of Tier 3 mitigations, Regions 1, 2, and 5 are eligible to resume Video Gaming starting tomorrow, Saturday, January 16 at 8:00 AM. To read the full details of today’s announcement, please click here,

Region 1: North – Counties include: Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago.
Region 2: North-Central – Counties include: Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford.
Region 5: Southern – Counties include: Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Williamson.

In order to ensure safety of employees and guests, the Illinois Gaming Board has mandated the following guidelines for locations in Tier 2 mitigations:

Video Gaming will be available from 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily.
Food and beverage service inside the gaming area is still suspended – outside service, curbside and carryout is permitted.
Masks must be worn at all times inside the video gaming area.
Congregating around video gaming terminals is prohibited – 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.

The Accel team is also closely monitoring the regions that did not meet the criteria needed to move out of Tier 3. We will continue to send communication as we receive updates from the Illinois Gaming Board regarding new eligible regions. In the meantime, make sure your machines remain powered to help expedite the relaunch process.

As we prepare for Video Gaming to go live tomorrow in Region 1, 2 and 5, we want to assure you that Accel is ready to help around the clock. If you have any issues with a machine, dividers, or any other IGB relaunch protocols, contact our Call Center at (888)-972-2235 immediately. We are committed to helping you welcome players back safely.

Additionally, please be aware that Scientific Games plans to begin turning machines on at 8:00 AM tomorrow and plans to do so with a rolling start. They anticipate having all machines live by 12:00 PM tomorrow. To be clear, Terminal Operators had no input as to the order of activation.

We are looking forward to a successful relaunch beginning tomorrow morning! January 14, 2021 : Accel is excited to announce that the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has indicated Video Gaming can resume in regions that qualify for Tier 2 Mitigations on Saturday, January 16 at 8:00 A.M. We are expecting to learn which regions qualify for Tier 2 Mitigations from Governor J.B.

Pritzker tomorrow afternoon (Friday Jan 15) and will keep you updated as soon as we have additional information. In the meantime, make sure your machines remain powered to help expedite the relaunch process, We want to assure you that Accel is ready to help around the clock.

If you have any issues with a machine, dividers, or any other IGB relaunch protocols, contact our Call Center at (888)-972-2235 or Relationship Manager immediately. We are committed to helping you welcome players back safely. We are looking forward to a successful relaunch beginning Saturday morning! January 6, 2021: Today, Governor J.B.

Pritzker announced that beginning Friday, January 15th, a region can move out of Tier 3 mitigations if it reaches certain metrics outlined on the Illinois Department of Public Health website. Additional details can be found in the NBC article here, Although Tier 2 mitigation does allow Video Gaming Terminals to be turned on with reduced hours, we currently have not received any indication from the Illinois Gaming Board as to when VGT gaming will resume in each region.

We will send further communication as soon as we hear a definitive relaunch date.
As of today, 7 of the 11 regions would be eligible to move to Tier 2 mitigations based on the criteria on the Illinois DPH website.
Regions 4, 5, 6, and 9 (St.
Clair/Madison, Randolph/Monroe, Clinton, Southern IL, Effingham, Champaign, Decatur, Lake, and McHenry counties) currently do not meet the criteria.

Please be sure your machines remain powered on to help expedite the relaunch process whenever the Illinois Gaming Board allows for your region to go live. November 25, 2020: Please see below for important updates from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission regarding license extensions, product returns and delinquency lists.

All licenses with a renewal date of March 31, 2020 or after are automatically extended to March 31, 2021 (this action superseded the Commission’s prior license extension action through December 31, 2020).
No renewal fees or late fees will be charged until March 31, 2021 (renewal fees will be charged if you renew before March 31, 2021).
Click here to read the full renewal extension details.

Delinquency List:

Licensed distributors and licensed retailers may negotiate payment plans to pay an existing debt on a sale or sales of wine and spirts occurring between October 1, 2020 and November 15, 2020.
Click here to view guidelines for the permitted payment plans.

Retail to Distributor Alcoholic Liquor Returns:

Alcoholic Liquor Returns are authorized for COVID-19 impacted product only purchases and deliveries made on or after October 1, 2020 and on or before November 15, 2020.
Retails shall request an Alcoholic Liquor Return no later than December 15, 2020.
Alcoholic Liquor Returns are authorized for beer, wine, and spirits in the original case and untapped keg only.
Click here to read the full details on Alcoholic Liquor Returns.

Accel is here to assist your location any way we can. Please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] for help or with any questions you may have. We are happy to help! November 23.2020: Once again, the State of Illinois is entering another wave of restrictions.

Of course, your first priority should be staying healthy and safe, but we want to do our best to provide resources for supporting your small business during these hard times. Please check out our latest blog here. If you are an existing Accel Entertainment partner, please reach out to us at [email protected] for more personalized help.

November 18, 2020: Following the Governor’s Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation announcement yesterday, the Illinois Gaming Board has issued a special notice that video gaming at all licensed locations throughout Illinois will be suspended at 11:01PM on THURSDAY 11/19/2020.

To start, you will receive your scheduled gaming revenue share payment on 11/24/2020
Next, our collectors will be removing all cash from VGT terminals and redemption terminals as recommended by the IGB to ensure the safety of your location. Please contact your Relationship Manager regarding ATM functionality.
During this pause in gaming at your location, Accel will be permitted to install equipment and update software, including higher max bet/max win titles. For us to perform these projects, all video gaming equipment must remain plugged in and powered on.

According to the Tier 3 Mitigations, the earliest these measures will be reviewed is 14 days from this Friday’s shutdown. Unlike the shutdown this past spring, VGTs may be brought back live on a region by region basis. Please continue to do your part to help decrease your region’s COVID numbers by following IDPH guidelines.

These are unprecedented times in our industry. We are here to help. We will continue to update you and pass along any new information as it becomes available. November 17, 2020: Today, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the State of Illinois will enter Tier 3 coronavirus resurgence mitigations starting Friday, November 20.

To read the full details on Phase 3 mitigations, please click here,

Beginning the night of November 19 th at 11:00 pm, we expect Scientific Games to begin disabling VGTs across the State.
Once your VGTs are turned off, they will remain disabled until further notice.

We will pass along more specifics as soon as provided by the Illinois Gaming Board. We understand that this news is hard to take and that your business has already been through a great deal. We will keep the lines of communication open and pass along any new information to you as it materializes.

This is the time for us to lean into our partnership. We will get through this together and continue to assist you in whatever ways we are allowed. November 6, 2020: T he Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program that was developed by Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to provide economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19 is now accepting applications for a second round of funding,

A total of $220 million will be made available for small businesses of all types in Illinois. The second round of BIG will also focus on businesses downstate, in disproportionately impacted areas, and for heavily impacted industry and regions – representing businesses that have been unable to reopen or operating at a severely diminished capacity since the spring.

$60 million for Heavily Impacted Industries, such as movie theatres, performing arts venues, concert venues, indoor recreation, amusement parks, and more.
$70 million for Disproportionately Impacted Areas, defined by zip code for communities that are most economically distressed and vulnerable to COVID-19. A map of DIAs is shown at the bottom of this page,
Over $100 million for Downstate Communities
Apart from the $60 million for heavily impacted industries, the following types of businesses will be prioritized:
businesses directly affected by regional mitigations implemented by state or local governments,
independently owned retail,
tourism- and hospitality-related industries, and more.
Loan Forgiveness for Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan recipients Grants will go to businesses that have received loans or remain on the wait list and the program will sunset.

Businesses outside these categories are also eligible to apply and receive funding but may be reviewed later than priority business. All grant application decisions will be received within four to six weeks of application submission. For more information, please visit: Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website.

November 2, 2020: The Illinois Gaming Board has instructed Scientific Games to implement COVID mitigations limiting gaming hours in Regions 2 and 6 to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily. Region 2 (Rock Island, Henry, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Grundy, Mercer, Knox, Henderson, Warren, McDonough, Fulton, Stark, Marshall, Peoria, Tazwell, McLean, Woodford, Livingston and LaSalle Counties) will take effect on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

Video Gaming Terminals will be disabled at 11:00pm on Wednesday. Region 6 (Champaign, Macon, Vermilion, Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland and Lawrence Counties) will take effect on Monday, November 2, 2020.

Video Gaming Terminals will be disabled at 11:00pm on Monday. With the Gaming Board’s newest instructions, all 11 of Illinois health care regions will now be operating under enhanced mitigation rules. We know this is an unprecedented time for Illinois video gaming locations. Please continue to follow all COVID mitigation protocols to ensure the health and safety of patrons and staff.

For more information, please see the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website, October 30, 2020: Please see the important information regarding COVID-19 mitigations in Region 3 (Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Greene, Hancock, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, and Scott counties) from the Illinois Gaming Board below.

Beginning Sunday, November 1, 2020, food and beverage service in video gaming locations in Region 3 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 3 will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily – starting at 11:00 PM on Sunday.

Regions 1,4,5,7,8,9,10 are also under mitigation protocols and they will remain in effect. All video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming in mentioned Regions will be limited to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily, including truck stops. As a reminder, the Illinois Gaming Board is requiring masks to 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.
For more information please see the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website,

October 29, 2020 : Beginning Saturday, October 31, 2020, COVID mitigations limiting gaming hours to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily will take effect in Region 9 (McHenry and Lake Counties). All Video Gaming Terminals will be disabled at 11:00pm on Saturday. From the Illinois Gaming Board: In all regions under mitigation protocols, m asks 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. October 27, 2020: The Illinois Gaming Board has instructed Scientific Games to implement COVID mitigations limiting gaming hours in Regions 4 and 10 to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily.

Region 4 (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington Counties) and Region 10’s (Cook County outside of the city of Chicago) limited gaming hours will take effect on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. All Video Gaming Terminals will be disabled at 11:00pm on Wednesday Current mitigation measures in Region 1, 5, 7, and 8 also remain in effect.

All video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming in mentioned Regions will be limited to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily, including truck stops. For more information, please see the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website, October 21, 2020: The Illinois Gaming Board has instructed Scientific Games to implement COVID mitigations limiting gaming hours in Regions 5, 7 and 8 to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily.

Region 5 ( Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White, & Williamson Counties) will take effect on Thursday, October 22, 2020. Video Gaming Terminals will be disabled at 11:00pm on Thursday.

Regions 7 and 8 ( Will, KanKankee, DuPage, and Kane Counties) will take effect on Friday, October 23, 2020. Video Gaming Terminals will be disabled at 11:00pm on Friday. As a reminder, all video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in these Regions will be limited to 8:00am – 11:00pm daily, including truck stops.

October 2, 2020: Please see the important information regarding COVID-19 mitigations in region 1 (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago Counties) from the Illinois Gaming Board below. Beginning October 3, 2020, food and beverage service in video gaming locations in Region 1 (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago 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 1 will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily – with no exceptions.
August 25, 2020: Please see the information below from the Illinois Gaming Board regarding Covid-19 resurgence mitigation measures for region 4 in the Metro East (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St.

Clair and Washington Counties) and Region 7 in Northeastern Illinois (Kankakee and Will Counties). Accel is working with legislators and our governor to support allowing video gaming terminals to remain in operation during this period. Region 4 in the Metro East (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St.

Clair and Washington Counties) and Region 7 in Northeastern Illinois (Kankakee and Will Counties) have 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 and Region 7.

Beginning at 11:00 PM on August 26, 2020, all video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in Region 4 and Region 7 will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily – with no exceptions. The cessation of video gaming operations during the non-gaming hours will be accomplished through the Central Communications System.

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.
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 track the positivity rate in Region 4 and Region 7 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, August 19, 2020: Beginning at 11:00 PM on August 18, 2020, 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.

Region 4 includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties. The cessation of video gaming operations during the non-gaming hours will be accomplished through the Central Communications System. All licensed gambling operations at the Draft Kings at Casino Queen and Alton Argosy casinos will be similarly restricted to the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily, and casino occupancy will be reduced during the mitigation period from 50% of fire code capacity to 25% of fire code capacity.

Failure to comply with these mitigation efforts could subject licensees to discipline, up to and including license revocation. Region 4 has exceeded the Illinois Department of Public Health criteria to [prevent a resurgence of COVID-19. IDPH will 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 will return to Phase 4 mitigations under the Restore Illinois Plan. 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 indoor bars and dining.

Accel is in contact with legislators and our governor in support of allowing video gaming terminals to remain in operation during this period. For more information please see the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), website here, June 25, 2020: We have just received word from the Illinois Gaming Board that VGT gaming will relaunch statewide on Wednesday July 1 at 9:00 AM.

You may view a copy of the press release HERE,
While we all shared your hope that VGT gaming would go live at the start of Phase 4 on June 26th, we are excited to have an official go live date.
Thank you for all your support in advance of relaunch.
Our collective work to meet the IGB’s resumption protocols will allow us to return safely.

If any new information becomes available we will keep you informed as we work towards Wednesday’s relaunch. June 15, 2020: T he “Restore Illinois” metrics designed by Governor Pritzker continue to improve and suggest that Illinois will advance to Phase 4 later this month.

The IGB is on record stating that video gaming will not return before the State enters Phase 4, which can happen at the earliest on Friday, June 26.
The IGB released protocols for resumption of video gaming operations this week viewable by clicking HERE (Video Gaming protocols are addressed starting on page 6).

Accel Relationship Managers will be reaching out or visiting partner establishments to determine the proper course of action per the IGB guidelines. Accel wants to ensure our partner locations are ready to open once as soon as permitted by the IGB. Closer to our re-opening date, we will also provide a PPE kit for each location that will include IGB approved products to promote a clean and safe gaming environment.

Installing empty cash cans in VGTs to expedite their return to operation
Eliminating any repair or maintenance issues at our locations
Created and printed signage for all locations to ensure compliance with IGB protocols
Revamping our marketing efforts as well as improved our proprietary Accel Loyalty Engine (sweepstakes software) to help our locations reach, engage, and reassure our players
Sourced PPE, Dividers, and cleaning supplies to comply with IGB regulations

Please know that the Accel team is committed to our partnerships and is doing everything we can to prepare for future success together. We are ready to help you welcome our players back safely as soon as the IGB permits. June 12, 2020: Yesterday, the Illinois Gaming Board (“IGB”) conducted its first board meeting since January and we continue to gain more information on the return of video gaming in Illinois.

The Restore Illinois metrics designed by Governor Pritzker continue to improve and suggest that Illinois will advance to Phase 4 later this month. The IGB is on record stating that video gaming will not return before the State enters Phase 4, which can happen at the earliest on Friday, June 26. The IGB released protocols for resumption of video gaming operations this week viewable by clicking HERE (Video Gaming protocols are addressed starting on page 6).

Accel will partner with you every step of the way to ensure a successful re-opening when the IGB permits. Our Relationship Managers will be visiting your location over the next two weeks to assess how we may comply with the IGB re-opening protocols. Closer to our re-opening date, we will also provide a PPE kit for your location that will include approved products to promote a clean gaming environment.

Accel will also be completing a Pandemic Resumption Plan for the State that details our safety and sanitization procedures that will allow for a successful re-launch of video gaming. June 3, 2020: Over the past few nights, our nation experienced protests and gatherings that sadly turned violent in too many instances.

Accel stands with all of our partner establishments to use our combined efforts and resources to negate any damage to residents or to property. We will continue to closely monitor protest gatherings near our partner locations and will proactively communicate any relevant information we receive. Update June 1, 2020: Please see the FAQ document from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission on Restore Illinois Phase 3 guidance. This guide contains useful information on outdoor service regulations, steps to apply for a special use permit for outdoor service, as well as other helpful information as we enter Phase 3.

As you know, video gaming is still suspended by the Illinois Gaming Board until further notice.
You can access the guide HERE,
Update May 22, 2020: Governor Pritzker announced that restaurants and bars will be allowed to re-open with outdoor seating as soon as Friday, May 29.
If you need help preparing to re-open your outdoor dining area please call (888) 972-2235,

Don’t forget to make sure your internet is connected Update May 18, 2020: The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released its first phase of long-awaited guidance to assist borrowers and lenders with calculating and applying for the forgiveness of loans issued by the SBA under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The PPP application and instructions are available here,
The application and instructions provide direction to PPP borrowers on a variety of issues and set forth specific instructions on how to calculate loan forgiveness amounts under the PPP.
The application and instructions provide clarity on a number of open items, but additional guidance and regulations will be coming to further assist borrowers and lenders.

SUPPORT MAIN STREET – Help Bring Hospitality Back Sooner and Safer Please join Accel and Support Main Street Illinois to help bring Illinois hospitality back sooner and safer. Please take a few moments to help us get our message to our state decision makers. Update May 1, 2020: In response to Governor Pritzker’s extension of the “Stay at Home” order, the Illinois Gaming Board has extended the suspension of statewide video gaming and casino operations until further notice. A copy of the Illinois Gaming Board’s press release can be read here,

Update April 27, 2020 : On Thursday, April 23, Governor Pritzker extended the “Stay at Home” order with minor modifications until Saturday, May 30.
Click here to read about the extension.
We continue our on-going discussions with the Illinois Gaming Board (“IGB”) and our trade association regarding re-launch plans.

Please know we are ready to resume operations as soon as we get the green light from the IGB. In other news, the President signed into law an additional $484 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) that includes more funding for small businesses.

Amendments were made to the federal PPP which could benefit many establishments. All legalized and regulated small businesses are now considered eligible for PPP funds if they meet all of the other requirements. This is welcome news because the percent of revenue derived from legalized gaming is no longer considered.

As a reminder, here are a couple state assistance programs that may still be available to many of you. State Assistance Programs Illinois has made available a couple options for small business grants ( free money ) and loans ( need to pay back ). Full details on all of these options can be found by clicking here ; and are summarized below:

Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund – Businesses with fewer than 50 workers and less than $3m in revenue can apply to receive a low interest loan up to $50k with a 5 year repayment. There will be no payments for 6 months to support your business. Access the application here
Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program – Local governments can apply on behalf of businesses with 50 employees or less in downstate and rural counties across Illinois to secure grants (free money) of up to $25k for working capital (rent, payroll and accounts payable). Please check to see if your business is in an eligible area. If you are eligible, you need to work with your local governments. Application information is available here,

If you have any questions or would like help trying to apply for any of these grant or loan programs, send an email to [email protected] with your phone number and availability and we’ll have somebody work with you to complete the process.

Update April 22, 2020 : On Tuesday, April 21, the Senate passed a measure that would inject an additional $300 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The House is expected to vote on the bill on Thursday and it is widely expected to pass.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department recently updated their rules for small gaming companies for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Formerly, small businesses could only apply if their gaming revenue was 33% or below. That threshold has now been raised to 50%. Please click here to view the additional clarification by the SBA and Treasury. We know that these relief programs provide some help, but fall short of covering all who are in need, Update April 15, 2020: The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department updated their rules for small gaming companies for the Paycheck Protection Program. Formerly, small businesses could only apply if their gaming revenue was 33% or below.

That threshold has now been raised to 50%. Please click here to view the additional clarification by the SBA and Treasury. We know that this provides some help but falls short of covering all who are in need. Here at Accel, we are doing everything we can to assist our partner locations during this unprecedented time.

If you have any questions or would like help in applying for loan programs, send an email to [email protected] with your phone number and schedule availability and an Accel representative will reach out to help you work through the process.

We also wanted to share a new grant program for employees. Partnering with The Greg Hill Foundation, Samuel Adams has launched the Restaurant Strong Fund. The Restaurant Strong Fund is offering $1,000 to restaurant workers in 20 states, including Illinois. If you know of any employees struggling during this time, we encourage you to send them the application.

Please click here to view. Update April 14, 2020: On Monday, April 13th, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded $14 million in small grants to over 700 bars, restaurants, and hotels.12,000 businesses applied for funding. In the central region, the first region to announce grants, Accel is pleased to see 19 of our partner location owners received this critical funding.

If you have any questions or would like help in applying for this loan program, send an email to [email protected] with your phone number and schedule availability and an Accel representative will reach out to help you work through the process. Update April 13, 2020 : Please see the highlights below from the April 8 release from the Illinois Gaming Board (“Gaming Board”).

The Gaming Board is extending April licensee renewal fee due dates to ten (10) days after the Gaming Board resumes statewide video gaming operations. A copy of the Gaming Board’s press release in its entirety can be read here, Illinois Gaming Board Notice: The Illinois Gaming Board (the “Gaming Board”) is issuing this guidance to Video Gaming Licensees regarding payment of license renewal fees during the Statewide Video Gaming Suspension Period in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic (the “Suspension Period”).

Prior to the Suspension Period, renewal fees for April licensees were due on or before March 31, 2020. Video Gaming Rule 570 provides that a license expires unless the renewal fee is paid prior to the license expiration date. In recognition of the hardships caused by this unprecedented public health crisis, the Gaming Board has extended the March 31, 2020 renewal fee payment deadline.

Renewal fees are now due ten business days after the Gaming Board resumes statewide video gaming operations. Additionally, and to further alleviate the burdens caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Gaming Board also suspended billing through at least April 30, 2020.

During the Suspension Period, the Gaming Board will not initiate any enforcement actions or assess any penalties for unpaid license fees that came due during this period. Update April 2, 2020: There are a variety of aid options available to those who have been affected by COVID-19. Please see some of these resources below.

Clicking here you will find a fact sheet for the CARES ACT Paycheck Protection Program from the United States Treasury Department. This program allows businesses under 500 employees to obtain forgivable loans (free money) to pay their payroll costs, mortgage interest expense, rent and utilities.

Loan amount can be up to 125% of 2 months of your average 2019 monthly payroll costs
- For example, if your average monthly payroll was $10,000 you can receive a loan for up to $25,000
You can use the loan to pay for payroll costs, and most mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs over the 8 week period after the loan is made
The loan is due in 2 years and has a fixed interest rate of 0.5%
All payments on the loan, including interest and principal, are deferred for 6 months
You can request that your loan will be forgiven (do not need payback) if you use at least 75% to cover payroll costs
- You also must maintain or bring back your staff by June 30th 2020 to the same level it was before February 15th, 2020
- To request forgiveness, you must submit a request to the lender which is servicing the loan with documentation of your payroll and usages of the loan
No personal guarantee or collateral is required for the loan
The loan is administered through approved SBA lenders

Three documents to help you with the loan application process (please click to view):

Loan Application
Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet
An Approved List of SBA Lenders

If you have any questions or would like help in applying for this loan program, send an email to [email protected] with your phone number and availability and we’ll have somebody work with you to complete the process. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is offering $500 to restaurant industry employees financially impacted by COVID-19, whether through a decrease in wages or loss of employment. Grants from the fund will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to individuals that meet the eligibility criteria.

To apply for aid, please click here, The Coronvirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a package of measures introduced to help lessen the impact felt from the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many different programs contained in the CARES act, and this webinar focuses on those that pertain to business owners and independent contractors.

Please view this informational webinar here, Update March 31, 2020: In response to Governor Pritzker’s extension of the “Stay at Home” order, the Illinois Gaming Board has extended the suspension of statewide video gaming and casino operations until April 30, 2020. State Assistance Programs Illinois has made available a few options for small business grants (free money) and loans (need to pay back). Full details on all of these options can be found by clicking here ; and are summarized below:

When can you gamble in Illinois?

CLegal-Age Gambling Opportunities and Restrictions

State	Lottery	Casinos and Slot Machines
Illinois	18	18/21
Indiana	18	21
Iowa	18	21
Kansas	18

Whats the most you can win on a slot machine in Illinois?

How do I play a VGT? – If you’ve ever played a slot machine at an Illinois casino, you’ll be a quick study on a VGT. Operating most of the gaming machines is essentially identical. After you place your wager appropriate to the game you’re playing at the time, you’ll press a button to start the game.

The computer inside determines the result of your play based on the operator’s algorithm and then displays that result on the screen. You can play for as long as you like, although there are state rules about maximum wagers and wins. The maximum amount you can wager on one play is $4, State law restricts the maximum cash award for a single play to $1.19,

Some games feature progressive jackpots, meaning the prize pool grows as players play but do not win. The state maximum for a cash payout of that type of prize is $10,000, Individual operators can offer bonus prizes relative to their specific locations, however.

Which casino has the loosest slots in Illinois?

by Frank Legato – It has been a dozen years since Casino Player first gave recognition to the casinos that had shown themselves to be the most generous in the nation. It was 1994 when the magazine first issued awards to the casinos with the ” loosest slots,” Welcome to the 13th edition of our annual ” Loosest Slots ” awards.

This is where we tell you the casinos and regions in North America that have, for the past year, given their players back the highest percentage of the money put into their slot machines. As we do every year, we first mark the occasion with the story of how the awards—and the concept of “loose slots”—got started.

Players, in fact, began referring to slots as “loose” or “tight” in response to information first published by Player. Shortly after the magazine published its first issue in 1988, our editors decided to take the information publicly reported by regulatory agencies (only two at the time, in Nevada and New Jersey) on slot “hold” or “win”—the percentage of slot wagers kept by the casino as profit—and presenting it in a way that would be useful to slot players.

CP took the reported hold percentages and reversed them to show the “payback percentage”—the percentage of slot wagers returned to the players in jackpots.
The regulatory agencies reported the information to the public every month, so we began publishing monthly charts showing slot payback in Nevada and Atlantic City.

The charts grew as the industry grew, to include every new riverboat and Native American jurisdiction as their payback numbers became public. Before long, players were referring to casinos with low slot paybacks as “tight.” Generous casinos inevitably became known as having “loose slots.” It didn’t take long for the casinos to get over their initial misgivings about having their generosity logged by a magazine, and to start considering “loose” as a potential marketing hook. And, when Player began tallying up each year’s actual payback numbers for annual “Loosest Slots” awards, the awards themselves became badges of honor, to be shouted from billboards and advertisements. Annual calculations of the loosest slots by casino and jurisdiction are recognized as a much better gauge of casino payback policy than examining the charts from any single month.

It takes several months for slots on the floors to reach payback numbers similar to their theoretical settings. One month’s actual numbers will often reveal short-term aberrations—such as a single-month percentage exceeding 100 percent, for instance, if there happened to be several large jackpots. Four or five months offer a much more accurate picture of slot payback, and a year’s worth of actual numbers gives a fairly accurate picture of a casino’s payback policy.

The numbers you find in the following pages will show you where the loosest slots are in 2006, based on the percentage numbers reported over the past 12 months. Before we give you this year’s highlights, there are questions that our readers always ask concerning this subject which we feel should be addressed up front.

First, a word on the nature of payback percentage: It is a long-term number that does not reflect the odds of any one player of winning or losing in the short term. A 100 percent payback percentage does not mean you win every time. It means that, over time, that machine will return as much in jackpots as it takes in wagers.

The flip of a coin is 100 percent payback. Over time, it will come up heads as many times as it comes up tails. Next, the percentage numbers reflect both regular slot and video poker percentages. The casinos are not required to separate video poker percentages from slot percentages in their reports to the state regulators, so this is viewed as proprietary information.

However, as our video poker experts have reported time and again, the casinos with the highest overall percentages are almost always the same casinos with the highest-returning video poker pay tables. Nevada and a few other jurisdictions publicly report their percentages by region rather than individual casino.

In the case of Nevada, the sheer number of casinos makes individual casino listings impractical, so the state breaks the numbers into regions including Reno/Tahoe in the north, and six sub-regions of Clark County in the south—Las Vegas Strip, Downtown, Boulder Strip, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, and Balance of County.

Next, it is possible that the jurisdiction in which you play is not included in the listings—particularly if the casinos you frequent are Native American casinos. Not all casinos are required to report their hold percentages publicly, and if they are not required to make those numbers public, the casinos view the percentages as proprietary information, and will not reveal them to us or anyone else.

Finally, no, pennies are not yet broken out in our payback percentage charts. The penny phenomenon hit the slot business so quickly that the regulatory agencies have not yet caught up. Though they are probably played by at least as many players as choose the nickel denomination, the agencies have not yet broken their payback numbers out of the “Other” category that includes dimes, half-dollars and two-cent denominations.

We can only report and analyze what is made public. When penny numbers are made public, you will have them. A New Day So who gets the crown as having the loosest slots in 2006? Not who you may think. This year’s survey reveals some firsts. For the first time in more than a decade, our survey shows that the loosest slots in America are not in Nevada, and that the loosest slots in Nevada are not in Clark County.

For years, we have been reporting the loosest slots in the nation can be found in the locals casinos surrounding Las Vegas—in the northeast suburbs (“North Las Vegas” on the charts), along the Boulder Strip, and in other off-Strip areas of Clark County.

A survey of percentages for the past 12 months shows that the loosest slots in the nation are in Illinois, at the Casino Queen riverboat casino in East St. Louis. Casino Queen has been in the Top 3 in our survey before. This year, the riverboat casino hotel beats them all, returning 95.13 percent of all slot wagers to players in jackpots over the past 12 months.

Casino Queen was the only place in the nation to record overall slot payback percentage for the year that exceeded 95 percent. Congratulations to these folks for giving more back to players than anyone else. No.2 on our Loosest Slots list was in Nevada, but not in the Las Vegas Valley.

This year, the second-loosest slots in the nation—and the loosest in Nevada—are in the Reno/Tahoe area, with 94.96 percent of wagers returned to players. That was enough for Reno to squeak by our third-place finisher nationwide, the Boulder Strip—the group of properties along Boulder Highway in southeast Las Vegas that includes Sam’s Town, Boulder Station and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder.

There were few surprises elsewhere in our survey this year. In Atlantic City, Borgata turns in the highest payback again—the third Loosest Slots award in the resort’s three years of existence—returning 92.51 percent of wagers. Close behind were Trump Plaza at 92.25 percent and Trump Taj Mahal at 92.15 percent.

Everywhere else, there were repeat winners: President in Missouri; New Orleans in Louisiana; Cripple Creek in Colorado; Mohegan Sun in Connecticut; Casino Queen in Illinois; Argosy in Indiana; the Gulf Coast in Mississippi; Prairie Meadows in Iowa; and Lac-Leamy in Quebec.
A few tidbits within the numbers: Although failing for the second year in a row to reach our top three (after six years as Number One), North Las Vegas does have the loosest dollar slots in the nation, returning a hefty 96.49 percent of wagers to players last year.

The highest annual payback number on our chart was 97.25 percent, returned by $5 slots at the Lakeside Casino Resort in Iowa. The “lowest loosest” number was 89.22 percent, returned by nickel slots at Foxwoods. As always, our Loosest Slots results are certified by the Ventnor, NJ, accounting firm Rimm, Lavinsky, Horowitz and Pollard LLC.

To all of our Loosest Slots winners, congratulations from Casino Player.
You have proven you know how to give slot players a fair shake.
Atlantic City 5¢ Borgata 90.74 Trump Marina 90.33 Trump Taj Mahal 89.93 25¢ Harrah’s 92.63 AC Hilton 92.19 Showboat 92.18 50¢ Harrah’s 94.15 Trump Plaza 93.02 Trump Marina 92.40 $1 Trump Taj Mahal 93.98 Trump Marina 93.35 Bally’s Park Place 93.23 $5 Trump Plaza 95.77 Trump Taj Mahal 95.15 AC Hilton 94.80 Overall Borgata 92.51 Trump Plaza 92.25 Trump Taj Mahal 92.14 Connecticut 5¢ Foxwoods 89.22 Mohegan Sun 89.20 25¢ Foxwoods 91.00 Mohegan Sun 90.21 $1 Foxwoods 92.44 Mohegan Sun 92.13 $5 Foxwoods 94.34 Mohegan Sun 93.76 Overall Mohegan Sun 91.48 Foxwoods 91.46 Colorado 5¢ Cripple Creek 93.54 Black Hawk 93.16 Central City 92.84 25¢ Black Hawk 94.99 Cripple Creek 94.99 Central City 94.64 $1 Central City 95.53 Cripple Creek 95.30 Black Hawk 95.27 $5 Black Hawk 95.83 Cripple Creek 95.46 Central City 94.53 Overall Cripple Creek 94.29 Black Hawk 94.15 Central City 94.04 Illinois 5¢ Casino Queen 93.18 Alton Belle 92.72 Jumer’s Casino 92.31 25 Cent Alton Belle 95.03 Casino Queen 95.02 Jumer’s Casino 94.94 $1 Casino Queen 96.25 Alton Belle 95.39 Harrah’s Joliet 95.29 $5 Alton Belle 97.14 Casino Queen 96.94 Empress Joliet 95.81 Overall Casino Queen 95.13 Alton Belle 94.11 Grand Victoria 93.83 Indiana 5¢ Caesars 90.47 Belterra 90.24 Argosy 90.17 25¢ Trump 93.64 Belterra 93.42 Caesars 93.32 $1 Argosy 94.70 Trump 94.58 Majestic Star 93.95 $5 Argosy 96.55 Trump 96.36 Caesars 95.40 Overall Argosy 93.32 Caesars 92.53 Belterra 92.44 Iowa 5¢ Mississippi Belle 2 93.00 Diamond Jo 92.29 Prairie Meadows 92.06 25¢ Diamond Jo 94.48 Isle of Capri Bettendorf 94.29 Mississippi Belle 2 94.07 $1 Prairie Meadows 95.76 Argosy of Sioux City 95.58 Rhythm City 95.28 $5 Lakeside 97.25 Argosy of Sioux City 96.45 Isle of Capri Marquette 96.25 Overall Prairie Meadows 93.69 Diamond Jo 93.20 Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino 93.08 Louisiana 5¢ New Orleans 91.24 Baton Rouge 91.07 Shreveport/Bossier 90.03 25¢ New Orleans 93.03 Baton Rouge 93.03 Lake Charles 91.99 $1 New Orleans 94.66 Baton Rouge 94.22 Shreveport/Bossier 93.76 $5 New Orleans 95.83 Baton Rouge 95.25 Shreveport/Bossier 93.78 Overall New Orleans 92.78 Shreveport/Bossier 92.40 Baton Rouge 92.25 Mississippi 5¢ Coastal Region 92.23 South River Region 91.76 North River Region 90.38 25¢ Coastal Region 94.34 South River Region 93.39 North River Region 92.76 $1 South River Region 95.70 Coastal Region 95.23 North River Region 95.20 $5 North River Region 95.94 South River Region 95.80 Coastal Region 95.69 Overall Coastal Region 93.76 North River Region 93.33 South River Region 93.15 Missouri 5¢ Harrah’s N.

KC 92.22 Ameristar St Charles 91.44 Mark Twain 91.29 25¢ Isle of Capri KC 93.98 President 93.88 Argosy Riverside 93.75 $1 President 95.63 Argosy Riverside 95.63 Isle of Capri KC 94.85 $5 Argosy Riverside 97.23 President 96.63 Isle of Capri KC 96.36 Overall President 93.25 Isle of Capri KC 92.63 Argosy Riverside 92.62 Nevada 5¢ Mesquite 93.81 Boulder Strip 93.50 North Las Vegas 93.15 25¢ Boulder Strip 96.32 North Las Vegas 96.24 Balance of County 95.08 $1 North Las Vegas 96.49 Boulder Strip 96.17 Reno 95.84 $5 Laughlin 96.31 Balance of County 96.25 Reno 96.01 Overall Reno 94.96 Boulder Strip 94.95 Balance of County 94.91 Quebec 5¢ Charlevoix 91.41 Lac-Leamy 90.78 Montreal 90.70 25¢ Montreal 91.59 Lac-Leamy 91.57 Charlevoix 91.08 $1 Lac-Leamy 94.38 Montreal 93.78 Charlevoix 93.52 $5 Lac-Leamy 95.23 Montreal 94.85 Charlevoix 94.24 Overall Lac-Leamy 92.76 Montreal 92.57 Charlevoix 92.3

Is it better to play slots during day or night?

Why Do People Believe Certain Days and Times Are Better for Gambling? – Casino games are for entertainment, and their payouts are random, so there’s no specific time of the day or week where you’ll experience more wins. Many gamblers believe in superstitions surrounding luck and winning on certain days at the casino.

Hitting the casino on Fridays after 6 p.m. will increase payouts: Some gamblers believe they will win more on Fridays after 6 p.m. because casinos start to fill up with people at this time. A myth is that slots increase their payouts to encourage people to spend more. Payouts are higher throughout the weekend: Many gamblers believe payouts are higher on Saturday and Sunday due to a higher turnout during the weekend so that casinos can encourage more spending. Gambling on Mondays increases the chances of winning: Another common misconception is that since people leave the casino on Sunday evening or Monday morning, slots will pay higher on Monday evenings to keep people in the casino. Past frequencies determine future winnings: Many gamblers believe future winnings depend on the results of past turns. For instance, some might think that if the roulette result has been red for the last 20 turns, the probability of it being black on the following turn increases. However, the likelihood of earning red and black is the same no matter the color that showed up frequently before the turn.

Most of these common gambler fallacies result from people believing casinos change their gaming systems to get people to spend more. The reality is that casinos cannot change every single one of their gaming systems to offer more wins or payouts on certain days or prevent gamblers from winning with the press of a button.

What is the best slot machine to play to win?

FAQs –

What percentage do slots pay out? Each slot machine will pay out at a different percentage depending on its return-to-player percentage. Generally, slot machines pay out somewhere between 74% and 99% What slot machines have the highest payout percentage? The Ugga Bugga slot machine game has the highest payout percentage, at 99.07%. The second highest is Mega Joker by NetEnt, with a 99% RTP. Jackpot 6000 by NetEnt and Uncharted Seas by Thunderkick come in second and third, with RTPs of 98.8% and 98.6%, respectively. In fourth place is Blood Suckers at 98% RTP, also by NetEnt. Starmania by NextGen takes fifth place, with an RTP of 97.87%. What casino has the best slot payouts? Record-breaking payouts on slots have all occurred in Vegas casinos, such as The Mirage, The Freemont, and The Excalibur. We recommend players visit casinos that offer a huge variety of slot machine games to find one they enjoy and might payout. The Bellagio in Vegas, for example, has 2,300 slot machines. Can casinos control slot machine payouts? While a slot machine has a chip that controls its payout percentage, casinos operate these chips on computer systems. A casino can control the payout percentage of slot machines by adjusting their RTP, but this is also regularly inspected and regulated by independent gambling authorities. Is it better to bet max on slot machines? Whether playing online slots or on slot machines, players should max bet if they can afford it. Slot payouts are exponentially higher when making the maximum bet compared to the minimum bet. This means when a winning payline lands, players can receive a much bigger jackpot.

What percentage do slot machines pay out in Illinois?

Theoretical Payouts and Return Statistics in Illinois – Illinois has established theoretical payout limits of 80% and 100% over the lifetime of a slot machine. Further, the IGB provides monthly return statistics for Video Gaming, Get Your FREE Guide Revealing In January 2022, the statewide average player win percentage was 91.7% for all VLT at retailers. The Mill on Route 66

Do casinos tighten slot on weekends?

Slot machines are not programmed to pay out less on the weekends. The results on slot machines are all random so there is no certain time period that they will be paying out more wins.

Do slot machines hit in the morning?

What are Slot Games? Online slot games are, in general, the computerised version of the slot machines found in casinos, which the players gamble too, for winning the jackpot cash prizes! Compared to the land-based casinos, the online slot games are more in demand as they offer more variety of highly defined games to their customers.

The significant online difference between them is the presence of a higher number of reels and pay lines in the online slot casino games.
You can find lots of high paying slots in all casinos across Cambodia,
Casino games have shown us hefty bettors, all day and all night! So, when the question comes, whether slot hits in the morning, the answer is- IT DOES! You can play slot games anytime you want! Whether it be early morning, late noon, or midnight, online slot games will always be at your disposal! Discarding all superstitions aside is all a matter of luck when it comes to online slot games! There have been cases when people have played and places their bets during peak hours and STILL LOST, while people who randomly pooled in their resource, without any regard for the time, had HIT THE JACKPOT! The Relation with Time If you are a person who wants to play in the hustle-bustle of the game, when the casinos are crowded, you usually prefer you play during the evening and night hours! Offline slot games have the disadvantage of not being able to provide gamers with their desired slot machines.

Hence, online slot games to the rescue! You can play whichever slot machine you want to, without having to wait in line! If you wish to a lesser crowd, mornings are the best timing! Check more about casino games on Gclub Media, Online slot gaming- How is it more reliable? The critical thing to note is that there is almost a negligible scope of infringement or hacking in online casino slot gaming.

Gclub ( คาสิโนออนไลน์จีคลับ in Thai language) Betway Ruby Fortune Bet Casino LeoVegas Spin Casino Jackpot City Casino Europa Casino SCR888 Casino Play Zee

All the above mentioned have the best online slots available to avid players with a winning rate from 96.15 % to 98.26%! Answering the main question again, it is all a matter of luck and none of the subject relating to superstition! Online Slot games have broken the barriers of the land-based casino games providing their potential customers with what they want, when they want and wherever they want! John Fosdyle is the founder of Web Casino Star,

He is a 36-year-old programmer who enjoys golf, cookery, and drone photography.
He is tech-savvy and smart, but can also be very nerdish from time to time.
He has a degree in computing and obsessed with creating new tech projects and eating pizza.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE FLICKERS: Nigerian Army: Timelines Of Lies And A Million Skulls In Ogun’s Shrine THE Yoruba anticipate the fate of Mrs.

Aishat Mohammed. Aftermath the murders, horrendous plunder and arson on the city of Lagos about two weeks ago, Mohammed was one of the captives of the law. Or lawlessness. Gagged like sardines in a can among about 500 persons paraded and labeled culprits of the spillover from that notorious Black Tuesday, Mrs.

Mohammed’s tale was gripping, grisly but a Nigerian everyday encounter. From her narrative #EndSARS: After The ‘Powerless Masses’ Spoke What has the country’s political leadership learnt from the EndSARS protests that rocked the nation and drew global attention to Nigerians’ sufferings and mis-governance of their country? KUNLE ODEREMI reports on the take-away from the EndSARS protest and the attendant fallouts, amid public suspense on government’s #EndSARS: How Nigeria Lost Trillions Despite Warning IT has emerged that the #EndSARS protest which snowballed into a major cycle of crises could have been avoided, had Nigerian authorities heeded the prediction of international researchers carried out months back.

Illinois slots scam proof

Both the federal and state governments are still counting the enormous losses in destruction to public and private investments during the protests, which have been projected to be in trillions of Restructure Nigeria Now Or Risk Break-Up — Southern Leaders Tell Buhari Again AS agitations for the restructuring of the country continue to take the front burner, some southern leaders on Saturday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the 2014 National Conference report to save the country from an impending break-up, saying the country is currently bleeding on all

How do you know when a slot machine is near Jackpot?

By Frank Legato – It’s one of the most-asked questions among slot players : Which machines are due to hit? Or, how do I tell when a machine is due? Or, which machines are the best to play, right now? These are not only among the most-often questions asked in letters to this and other player magazines; they are questions asked at casinos across the country, to slot attendants and floor managers: “Where are the hot machines?” Despite all that has been written about the workings of the modern slot machine, there is still a prevailing notion among players that these questions can be answered—that attendants can give you a hot tip on a machine that’s about to hit; that some outward signs visible on a slot game can show that a machine is close to a jackpot. The Internet “systems” are all scams, and the notions about machines being “due” are misguided. The reason is that a slot machine’s computer is constantly selecting new results—results that have nothing to do with what the machine did three spins ago, four hours ago, for the past week or for the past year.

It all comes down to our old friend: the random number generator.
A slot machine’s computer contains what is basically a digital duplication of physical reels.
Before the early 1980s, the probability of hitting jackpots, and their likelihood on any give spin, was tied to how many symbols and blanks—known as “stops”—were on each physical reel.

The old electro-mechanical slots had 22 stops on each reel. By logging the symbols that landed on each reel, it was possible to perform calculations that would give you the odds of a jackpot landing on a given spin. That all changed, however, with computerization of the process.

For casinos, the problem with physical stops was that the odds of hitting the top jackpot could only be as long as the number of stops on each reel would allow.
The use of a random number generator allows “virtual” reels—a computer simulation of reels containing as many symbols as the programmer desires.

Numbers in the program represent each stop on each reel. If the programmer wants a low-paying or non-paying symbol—say, a blank—to appear more often, it is duplicated in the program so the random number generator selects it more often. Thus, instead of 22 stops per reel, you may have 60 stops, hundreds of stops—as many as the programmer wishes, while staying within the odds limits set by the state.

This is why odds can no longer be calculated through a formula involving the number of symbols on physical reels.
The 22 symbols visible to the player no longer represent the slot machine’s probabilities.
They display the symbols that can lead to combinations, but there is no way for the player to know how many numbers correspond to those symbols.

The more of them the computer considers there to be on a reel, the more likely it will be selected by the RNG. The All-Important RNG The random number generator in a slot machine is just what the name indicates—it is a software program that generates numbers at random, from the list of numbers entered to represent each reel stop.

The RNG generates more than a hundred sets of numbers every second, and it generates them continuously, even when the slot machine is idle. This is why each result is independent of every other result on a slot machine. The random generation of numbers is continuous, and no one sitting at a machine can predict which of the numbers the RNG will have generated at the instant you push the spin button.

When you push the spin button, the computer takes a snapshot of the numbers generated that instant by the RNG, and translates it into a reel result. An instant before you push the button, the RNG is generating an entirely different set of numbers; an instant later, yet another set.

No one looking at the slot machine can predict the number it will choose next. This is why a slot machine can never be said to be “due” to hit a jackpot. It is also why those systems you find on the Internet will never work. One system circulating the Internet says that one can watch for “patterns” on the reels of a traditional-style slot machines for clues as to when the next spin will be a jackpot, and adjust your bet accordingly.

Another actually tells the player to watch the reels on a traditional slot machine for wiggling. Bet a single coin until you see the reels wiggle, then bet the max because the wiggle means a jackpot is coming. These gimmicks are all nonsense. No “pattern” formed by symbols in the pay window—an “X” formed by bar symbols, for instance—is indicative of what will come next.

And, “wiggling” reels may mean that the slot machine is old and in need of repair, but nothing else.
The physical reels are only there to do what the computer tells them to do.
They are display mechanisms.
They do the same thing as a video screen—communicate to the player the result at which the computer’s RNG has arrived.

Tips from Attendants Many players still feel that a slot attendant or other floor person who is in one location all day can tell them which machines are “hot”—in other words, which machines are about to pay off. They will throw the employee a tip to identify a hot machine.

It is a waste of money.
Even if a certain machine has been paying off all day, this is no indication it will continue to pay off tonight.
A slot machine’s cycles are not predictable.
The only thing an attendant or floor person can give you is historical information.
The sole place this historical information may be useful on a slot floor is a progressive bank—one that has been in place in the same location for a long time.

The useful historical information an employee can give you here is the level at which the progressive jackpot has hit on that game. If it is substantially above that, other players who are familiar with the link will give that bank of slots more play than normal—the “jackpot fever” phenomenon.

Jackpot fever pushes more coins through the game.
With more changes for one of those machines to generate the winning combination, it is more likely it will hit.
More likely, but not guaranteed.
And that is the vital part of my message: Even if a progressive is higher than ever before, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s definitely going to hit soon.

It could go higher, and even higher—and wait until well after your bankroll is gone.

Are slot machines allowed in Chicago?

Per Illinois gambling laws, locals are permitted to own slot machines as long as they are at least 25 years old from the present date.

Are there 18+ casinos in Illinois?

The Prairie State is home to a prolific number of riverboat casinos, horse racetracks, and Illinois 18+ casino gambling venues. Since the beginning of the 1800’s before its statehood, the Prairie State was abundant with riverboat casinos tugging along the Illinois river as many early settlers and immigrants from Europe brought the knowledge and tools to gamble with them.

Eastern ocean states began cracking down on gaming stating that it was just another vice, which sent game enthusiasts toward the west. Horse racing became another Prairie State favorite as racetracks began opening in Chicago during the early 1830s. Misconceptions on the types of individuals who gambled caused the gaming industry to turn south nearing the turn of the century.

Prohibition was the last nail in the coffin and permanently sent all legal forms of gambling out the door, leaving gamblers to seek gaming underground. Mob figures and families flourished, and it wasn’t until 1927 that Illinois finally began legalizing minor forms of gaming, starting with pari-mutuel sports wagering on horse races.

Today available forms of gambling within the Land of Lincoln are as follows: riverboat casino gambling, lottery, and scratch-off sales, charitable gambling in the form of bingo, raffles, pull-tabs, jar games, and casino nights, and pooled sports betting wagers on horse races.
To further explain available gaming options within the Land of Lincoln, we created this in-depth IL gambling guide to cover information on state-specific minimum gambling ages, historic gambling and gaming legislation, and legal online entertainment for IL players 18+.

Residents may be aware of available gaming, but few may know the history behind Illinois’ gaming industry and the laws that have affected today’s gaming availability. Many states within the US contain casinos and permit various forms of gambling, however, residents who choose to visit neighboring states or out of state visitors to IL should be aware of the differing laws pertaining to 18+ casinos within America,

Can you play casino games in Illinois?

Is gambling legal in Illinois? – Yes, casinos, horse racing, lottery gambling and charitable gambling have been legal in Illinois for many years. Bill SB 690 adds online and retail sports betting to this list. Gov. JB Pritzker signed this bill in June 2019.

Can you gamble in Illinois right now?

Illinois sports betting timetable – As mentioned earlier, the first bet was taken in Illinois on March 9, 2020, at Rivers Casino, and days later the Argosy Sportsbook also opened its doors. But both sportsbooks did so as the U.S. began dealing with the coronavirus crisis, and less than a week later, retail casinos and sportsbooks were shut down indefinitely.

BetRivers launched its mobile site on June 18. After casinos in Illinois were allowed to reopen July 1, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, and both Hollywood Casinos joined the retail mix in August, with DraftKings Sportsbook also launching its mobile sports betting app on Aug.19, 2020. FanDuel, PointsBet, and William Hill followed with online products soon after.

The first retail licenses were issued in June 2020, putting online registration on track for March ’22, given the parameters of the 18-month “penalty box.” Online registration officially went into affect on March 5, 2022 – 2 years to the week that the state accepted its first retail wagers.

What time can you play slots?

What Is the Best Time to Go to the Casino? – Again, there’s no magical time that will provide higher payouts during the day. However, if you know you’d enjoy the casino at certain times, like off-peak hours, go during mornings for a more tranquil mood. Pros and cons of hitting the casino during the morning vs. evening include:

Pro of morning gambling: Like attending the casinos on weekdays, the morning (or anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.) should typically be less packed if you need a relaxing space to gamble. Con of morning gambling: While there are 24-hour casinos that might offer table games at all times, many will have specific opening hours set later in the day. If you like table games, the morning can be inconvenient since most might not be open yet. Pro of evening gambling: Most table games will be open until late night or early morning. Many gamblers prefer hitting the casino after midnight or around 2 a.m when there’s less traffic and increased chances of betting against high rollers. Con of evening gambling: Like going to the casino on weekends, expect more packed tables and slots during peak evening hours and fewer games available to play.

Is Illinois gambling Open?

COVID-19 Gaming Information – Under the Restore Illinois framework for Phase 5, all business types, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, seated spectator events, among others, are allowed to operate at full capacity since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State’s progress in reaching the Phase 5 stage of reopening also allows the outdoor mask requirement to be lifted in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance.
In Phase 5, industry and activity-specific guidelines for operation provided by DCEO are discontinued.
All businesses and activities previously subject to DCEO guidelines are allowed to resume normal operations.

DCEO and IDPH are recommending key steps business owners and venues should follow to promote COVID-19 safety going forward. Read the recommended Phase 5 guidance, For more information on guidelines published in previous phases in the State’s reopening framework and track numerous public health metrics, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH),

Does Illinois have slot machines?

Summary of Illinois Slot Machine Casino Gambling – Illinois slot machine casino gambling consists of ten commercial casinos, one casino resort, one proposed casino, and 41,000+ VLT electronic gaming machines at 7,000+ local businesses such as bars, restaurants, and other licensed non-casino locations. Book Your Consultation