Coronavirus Joliet: 2 Large Casinos Now Shutdown

JOLIET, IL — Harrah's Casino & Hotel and its competitor, Hollywood Casino Joliet, are now officially closed to guests for at least two weeks amid concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus in Illinois. The closure of both casinos is certain to have a negative impact on the city of Joliet's revenue stream for however long it lasts.

Monday also marked word of Will County's first confirmed coronavirus case.

Hours earlier, downtown Joliet's Harrah's casino, normally a hub of daily activity, was reduced to an empty valet parking lot. Harrah's large parking decks were practically empty as well. Signs along North Joliet Street now alert passersby that Harrah's is temporary closed for business.

The adjacent 10-story hotel is also shut down. On Friday night, the Illinois Gaming Board ordered all 10 of the state's casinos to close for 14 days in response to the new coronavirus crisis.

As Joliet Patch has previously reported, Harrah's Joliet and Hollywood Casino Joliet have historically been two of the city's top 10 largest employers, dating back to when they opened in the 1990s. Combined, the two casinos currently generate between $17 million and $18 million in annual revenue for the city of Joliet's operating budget.

When Joliet Patch drove to Hollywood Casino on Monday, a security guard was stationed along the long entrance way into the casino. Hollywood Casino is along Route 6 between Joliet and Channahon in close proximity to Interstate 80.

Hollywood's security guard told Patch he was not allowing any motorists to drive further toward the casino. For the next two weeks, Joliet's Hollywood casino, plus its dining restaurants and its hotel for guests will stay closed, he added.

Last August, Joliet Patch reported that Harrah's Casino, the downtown Joliet casino, was the city's seventh largest employer in 2009 with 1,100 employees. Today, Harrah's has fallen to No. 9 with 782 employees.

In 2009, Empress Casino ranked fourth Joliet's largest employer. Today, Empress is called Hollywood Casino & Hotel Joliet and it doesn't crack the city's Top 10, though it still employs several hundred people.

Meanwhile, Illinois' number of coronavirus patients jumped by 27 since Saturday, with a total of 99 patients statewide who have tested positive.

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