Rivers Casinos Boots Patrons After Security System Fails
Patrons were evacuated from an Illinois casino this weekend after a computer systems failure caused a security system outage, Chicago’s local NBC affiliate reported.
“I was in there playing roulette and everything seemed to be going fine and the guy just walked up, the pit boss, and said this is going to be the last spin. So naturally everybody just started throwing money on the table,” remarked Rivers patron Mike Ashpole.
Many customers unable to cash out
Customers who were gambling in the casino at the time of the security system failure were quickly ushered out, many before they were able to cash out their chips. The casino remained closed for a period of time overnight, however it re-opened in the morning.
Representatives for Rivers assured patrons that the chips could be cashed in at any time and would never expire.
“I saw a guy in yellow run by the [blackjack] table and then he said all of a sudden, last hand and everyone’s out. I didn’t get cashed out so I have my chips,” commented Luke Kovarik, another casino customer who was ushered off the property.
Kovarik added, “They said that the reason they’re shutting it down is that they have no more surveillance. The eye in the sky was down.”
Property a smash success in its short history
Despite this weekend’s technical snafu, the Rivers Casino, which is located just a short distance from the city of Chicago in the municipality of Des Plaines, has proven to be a financial success since it opened just about two years ago.
Rivers, which dealt its first hand on July 18, 2011, took in $417 million in revenue, pre-tax, in 2012, this according to a recent report by Crain’s Chicago Business. By contrast, the Grand Victoria Casino, located about an hour’s drive west of the Windy City in Elgin, Illinois, earned about $212 million during the same period, also before taxes.
Rivers Casino is the newest casino in Illinois, which has ten land-based gambling properties in total. The property has not only been credited as quickly rising to be a competitive force in the Illinois gambling industry, but also a popular entertainment venue, as well.
By all reports, evacuation was orderly
Following the incident, there were no reports of injury or disorder as the casino worked to clear the property of all its guests. This lies in contrast to the stampede that occurred just last weekend at a Wisconsin casino following a shooting on the casino floor.
In that case, a Milwaukee-area man shot a woman in the leg following a dispute in the casino. According to many who were present at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino at the time of the shooting, the casinos’s security team did not appear to be in control of the situation, with many patrons scrambling to the exits in what was described as an extremely disorderly fashion.
It was reported this week that the suspect in that case has been released from jail after posting bond.
