Fire-damaged casino hopes to open within 90 days

Owners of the fire-damaged Empress Casino in Joliet say they hope to reopen within 90 days.

But a spokesman for the Wyomissing, Pa.-based parent company of Empress, Penn National Gaming, says the owners won't set a specific opening date until they've fully assessed the damage. That could take weeks.

Friday's fire started in a pavilion area. But the main part of the Egyptian-themed gambling barge saw only minor damage.

Based on 2008 figures, the Empress could be losing more than a half million dollars a day.

Gaming board reports show the casino made $184 million in gambling revenue last year. That's around $500,000 a day.

But company spokesman Eric Schippers says the casino carries business-interruption insurance that should ease the financial burden.