JOLIET, Illinois – As reported by the Illinois Herald News: "An enthusiastic report on the Empress Casino Thursday was dampened a bit by questions about recent layoffs.

"Empress management, city officials and other community leaders extolled the value of having the casino in Joliet during a formal request for a renewal of its operating license.

"The Illinois Gaming Board heard the Empress' case for license renewal during a regular monthly meeting at the Joliet casino. A vote on the license could come at the board's July meeting.

"While board members praised the Empress for an excellent presentation on the good being done by the casino, they also had questions about 19 layoffs.

"The layoffs came this week as the Empress drops several table games and replaces them with slot machines, which require fewer workers…"