Layoffs a good bet after Empress Casino fire

March 21, 9:26 AMChicago Casino ExaminerClay Champlin

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$50 million up in smoke. It took nearly a a day to put out a fire that destroyed the pavilion at Joliet's Empress casino, which was undergoing a massive renovation. While the casino floor was unharmed it remains closed. Owners Penn National Gaming said they would get it up an running as soon as possible.

The Empress competes with a Harrah's riverboat just a few miles away. Being out of business for a day is long enough to lose customers. Couple that with a declining economy and no ability to bring in big name draws to the pavilion and it looks like the 850 Empress employees may have just rolled snake-eyes.

When casino revenue plunges, so does the employment rate in the surrounding community. Usually, it begins with the support industries (like dry cleaners, florists, food suppliers) that do a lot of business with casinos ultimately accounting for most of their revenue. Then city jobs are cut. Civic budgets are largely based on casino profits. Which will take a bigger hit with a casino floor shuttered indefinitely. Casino employees are the next to go: If no one is working, no one is gambling. Last night, Empress General Manager Frank Quigley couldn't say when the gaming floor would be back in operation.

On a recorded message he gave his word to workers that PNG would do their "best to take care of all of you," but didn't tell them if and when they'll get paid. He confirmed the pavilion was totally destroyed and announced plans to build a new one. He urged employees to call the number daily for updates.