Check out the thread below.

http://www.thechipboard.com/cgi-bin/tcb/tcb.pl?noframes;read=286283

It said there that Harrah's Joliet was charging the $5 fee. Under the new budget signed back in July by Governor Blagojovich the casinos are now required to pay $5 for every patron that enters the property. Some casinos, like Hollywood in Aurora, are absorbing that cost for their club card holders and A GUEST. I was just at Hollywood a couple weeks ago and My girlfriend and I were waved through. All casinos, I believe are charging the fee, for non-members, I believe. I have not heard of any that are eating the cost in light of the fact that the budget also raised gaming taxes from 50% to 70%. That tax increase has also led to reduction of facilities like closing of buffets, lounges or restaurants, completely or during certain hours, closing the casino earlier to eliminate a shift of employees etc. Hollywood closes from 4am to 10:30(?)am. I don't know what hours Harrah's is running. They (Hollywood) shut the machines off cold at 3:30. They also charge $50 for entry to the poker room and are charging for water and non-alcohol drinks. With the club card though, drinks (water and non-alcohol) are still free. I believe Illinois Law forbids giving away alcohol for free. I don't know if Harrah's is charging an added entry fee to play poker. You might want to call ahead to find out.

Also, you may want to be prepared to pay for parking. Another expense that used to be absorbed by the casinos is now being charged in order to maintain revenues. Hollywood comps many of those fees or a portion of them to card members. Free for Self $3 for Valet. Without card, $2 Self $5 Valet. I am only pointing out the Hollywood numbers as an example of what you might expect. I seem to recall that they took the lead in sending letters to customers and formulating these new practices, fees, hours etc. Shortly after I received my letters from Hollywood, I recall reading somewhere that Harrah's and, it may have been Empress were going to follow with Hollywoods lead. Grand Victoria in Elgin is the only one that is doing something different. I don't know about fees etc. but they are continuing with their longer hours of 8am to 6am.

If you have a Total Rewards card you might check to see if they are offering similar benefits where many of these new fees may not apply to you.

Personally I have never been to Harrah's Joliet or East Chicago so I don't know what they are charging. Good luck and have fun.