Fairmount Park Casino & Racing Debuts Live Table Games in Collinsville Expansion
Fairmount Park Casino & Racing in Collinsville, Illinois has rolled out live table games as part of a targeted expansion that shifts away from electronic versions and toward a more traditional casino floor experience, and this move comes right as the venue prepares for its 2026 live racing calendar that runs Tuesdays and Saturdays from May through October.
Details of the $3 Million Upgrade
Accel Entertainment, the company that owns the property, invested three million dollars to replace electronic table games with staffed versions of blackjack, roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em, and I Luv Suits, while the project also creates roughly thirty-five new positions for dealers and floor staff. Observers note that the change positions the racino to draw stronger evening crowds because live dealers and real-time play tend to extend visitor stays and increase table-side activity throughout the night.
The timing aligns with the start of thoroughbred racing in May 2026, giving the casino a full slate of live action both on the track and at the tables on race days. Data from similar venues shows that combined racing and gaming offerings often lift overall attendance, and Fairmount Park Casino & Racing appears to follow that pattern by scheduling the table-game launch to coincide with the longer racing season.
Support for Thoroughbred Operations
Alongside the gaming floor changes, the property has added five hundred thousand dollars to its purse structure for the 2026 meet, and this increase is intended to attract higher-quality fields and more competitive racing. Those who follow Illinois racing circuits point out that larger purses can improve the quality of horses entered, which in turn can generate greater interest from bettors and spectators who stay for both the races and the new table games.
Because the live tables operate in the same facility as the racetrack, visitors can move easily between betting windows, grandstand seating, and the gaming pit on race evenings. This integration lets the casino leverage existing infrastructure while the new dealer positions fill out the evening schedule even on non-race Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Job Creation and Operational Changes
The thirty-five positions created by the expansion cover dealer training, table supervision, and pit management, and Accel Entertainment has indicated that local hiring will be prioritized. Research on gaming expansions in the Midwest indicates that such roles often provide steady evening and weekend shifts, which can appeal to workers seeking flexible schedules around other employment or family obligations.
Electronic table games that previously occupied the space have been removed, freeing floor area for the physical tables and associated equipment. This physical reconfiguration also required updates to surveillance systems and dealer stations, ensuring compliance with Illinois gaming regulations that govern both racing and casino operations at combined facilities.
Visitor Experience on Race Nights
Guests who arrive for the May through October racing schedule now find live dealers at multiple stations during evening hours, and the presence of real-time games offers an alternative to slot machines or self-service terminals. People who have visited similar racinos in other states often report that live tables create a more social atmosphere, and the Collinsville venue appears designed to capture that dynamic while the thoroughbreds run outside.
Because racing continues only on Tuesdays and Saturdays, the live tables provide a consistent draw on those evenings even when attendance fluctuates with weather or competing events. The casino can therefore maintain staffing levels and operational momentum across the full racing calendar rather than scaling back between meets.
Conclusion
The launch of live table games at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing represents a clear step in the venue’s ongoing development as a combined racing and gaming destination. With the three-million-dollar investment, new dealer positions, and an added five hundred thousand dollars in purses, the property has aligned its gaming floor with the 2026 racing season that begins in May. Observers tracking Illinois gaming trends will watch whether the changes produce measurable lifts in attendance and handle as the season progresses through October.