Illinois gamblers could try their luck around the clock under a proposal regulators are weighing to allow the state's 10 casinos to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Illinois casinos are allowed to stay open for a maximum of 22 hours a day, but the gambling industry is pushing a plan to let them stay open the other two hours as well.

Supporters argue that the change would level the playing field for casinos after the state legalized 24-hour video gambling at truck stops and add that it would put Illinois casinos in line with those in neighboring states. Opponents contend that nonstop betting would create a dangerous situation for gambling addicts who could end up sitting in front of a casino table or machine for days.

The Illinois Gaming Board is scheduled to hear arguments, pro and con, next week during its monthly meeting, though an immediate decision is unlikely.

In 1990, Illinois became the second state to legalize riverboat casinos, but it has never allowed 24-hour gambling. While several casinos have asked regulators to extend operating hours in recent years, those requests have been repeatedly rejected.

"We've tackled this issue every once in a while and in the past have voted it down," Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe said. "But if people want a hearing, we'll listen to what they have to say and try to give them an answer as soon as possible."

As it stands now, each casino can set different hours that must be approved by gambling regulators. While operating hours may differ, no casino can stay open for more than 22 hours a day. That means some casinos shut down for just two hours each morning, while others may close their doors for several hours longer.

For example, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines closes each day from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., while the Hollywood Casino in Aurora is closed from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Hollywood Casino in Joliet and the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin close from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. daily.

The latest effort to allow round-the-clock gambling is being led by the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, which represents six of Illinois' 10 casinos. Executive Director Tom Swoik said the group asked the Gaming Board to reconsider its ban to help boost profits for casinos that have struggled in recent years.

Swoik notes that casino revenues across Illinois have dropped steadily since 2007, with the exception of Rivers Casino, which has led the state in bringing in cash since first opening in mid-2011. Swoik argues that extending hours could help casinos recover lost money and prevent gamblers not ready to quit from crossing state borders during the period when Illinois casinos are closed. Missouri, Indiana and Iowa allow casinos to operate around the clock.

Swoik said Illinois already allows 24-hour gambling after recently legalizing video machines at truck stops, contending the state could bring in more tax revenue by allowing round-the-clock betting at casinos. That's because casinos' revenues are taxed at a sliding scale that tops out at 50 percent, versus a flat 30 percent tax for video gambling machines.

"We'll hire more people, plus the state will make more money and we will make more money," Swoik said.

But gambling opponents say the move would do away with one of the few protections for problem gamblers — being kicked out of the casino at closing time.

Anita Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems, said the move would further water down gambling rules that are already weaker than promised when lawmakers first legalized riverboat gambling.

Back then, the legislation gained momentum with the promise that gamblers would not be able to lose more than $500 at a time. But through what was billed as an inadvertent error, the final bill contained no wagering loss limits.

Gambling opponents looked for a silver lining, pointing to time limits on riverboat cruises that restricted the amount of time gamblers could wager. But those rules soon fell to the wayside when lawmakers approved dockside gambling in 1999.

Bedell said that leaves just two avenues of defense for addicts: a voluntary self-exclusion program that gamblers must sign up for, or closing time at the casino.

"Our concern is that some gamblers will not go home until the casino closes," Bedell said. "This isn't just extending gambling by a few hours, it's making it nonstop and some people will stay two, three, four days without stopping."

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