Hollywood Casino Has Bolingbrook's Thomas Kraft Arrested

JOLIET, IL - Thousands of people will flock to Joliet Hollywood's Casino this week. They will laugh. They will smile. Some of them will win lots of money, and chances are, they won't have the same humiliating experience that Bolingbrook resident Thomas Kraft Jr. recently had.

On Tuesday, the Joliet Police Department revealed that Kraft, who lives in the 100 block of Bolingbrook's Queenswood Road, was arrested last week at 777 Hollywood Boulevard on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

The incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m., according to deputy chief of police Ed Gregory. According to Joliet police, the 55-year-old Bolingbrook man had been gambling at the casino and playing cards when he suddenly grew angry at one of the Hollywood dealers. Other customers became uncomfortable and Hollywood's security staff intervened, police said. "They say that the patrons and visitors became alarmed at Mr. Kraft's yelling obscenities at the card dealer and by his actions," Gregory said.

The Hollywood Casino security staff moved in and removed Kraft from the casino parlor. Joliet police were summoned to the casino. Kraft was charged with a misdemeanor crime. He was released from custody on a compliance ticket, meaning he wasn't taken to the Will County jail.

Kraft was given a court date of Jan. 8.

It remains to be seen whether Hollywood Casino will take additional sanctions against Kraft. Both Hollywood Casino and the Harrah's Casino in downtown Joliet regularly issue ban letters to unruly guests who cause disturbances or commit crimes at their gaming facilities.

Image via Joliet Patch Editor John Ferak