Located at 3000 South River Road, adjacent to the Tri-State Tollway at the northwest corner of Devon Avenue and River Road, the 140,000-square-foot casino opened in 2011 in Chicago's northwest suburb, minutes from O'Hare Airport and nestled among several luxury hotels, including the Hyatt Rosemont, Courtyard by Marriott Chicago O'Hare, Hampton. This new legislation would legalise licensed casino operators in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Williamson County, and in various locations in Lake County. Those who support the gambling expansion proposal hope local players will remain in the state to gamble, which would boost the local economy. Six new casinos, along with legalized sports betting, are coming to Illinois after Senate lawmakers approved a massive gambling expansion bill Sunday. Pritzker has already announced his. The new gambling expansion law approved in Illinois includes the construction of six new casinos across the state, including one in Chicago. Where that casino will be located remains undecided at this point, but speculation is already underway. The site and time-to-completion of the new Chicago casino remain shrouded in mystery at this early stage. CHICAGO — Casinos in Illinois will reopen Wednesday as part of Phase 4 of the coronavirus reopening plan. Illinois casino and gaming have been suspended since March 16, 2020, but the Gaming.

Today, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed off on a $45 billion capital plan for the state. This plan lays out the framework for a new Chicago casino and resort to be constructed. Not everyone feels this is a good idea, though.

Some of the state’s most powerful gambling groups feel there are too many regulations and restrictions for a casino in the Windy City to thrive. Today, we’re looking into why Pritzker is allowing this new casino. We’ll also discuss the potential issues this casino may face in the future. Let’s get into it!

Illinois’ Laws Towards Land-Based and Online Casinos

Gambling has taken place in Illinois for decades. In the mid-1900s, lawmakers in the state decided to crack down on the gambling industry, forcing all casino establishments to close their doors. Illinois went through a gambling dry spell during this time, where most forms of gambling took place in small, illegal venues under the table.

In 1991, a new law was passed here that allowed casinos to operate, as long as they are located on riverboats. A number of these river casinos quickly began operating with varying degrees of success.

Over the past decade, Illinois offered gaming licenses for three casinos to operate on land here. Overall, there are now 10 casinos in the state. The industry has continued to grow, and more casinos are on the horizon.

Illinois’ laws towards online gambling are pretty lenient. Officials here have not yet taken the steps to regulate internet casino gambling, yet a huge number of amazing Illinois online casinos are available right now. It’s likely that these sites will become regulated in the near future.

Illinois Capital Plan Opens Doors for a New Chicago Casino

Lawmakers in this state have been working hard to draft a new state capital plan. Governor J.B. Pritzker officially signed the plan today, which will help to “fix what’s broken in Illinois.” It includes a plan to reconstruct roads, bridges, schools, and add a number of new gambling establishments throughout the state.

Pritzker calls the bill “the most comprehensive reconstruction effort in this state’s history.”

“Together we passed the largest, most robust capital plan in this state’s history,” Pritzker said. “We’re investing $45 billion over 6 years to fix what’s broken and repair what’s needed.”

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This $45 billion dollar plan allows a new Chicago casino. The casino will offer 4,000 gambling options. Other casinos throughout the state will have their limit on games raised from 1,200 to 2,000. Five more casinos will also be constructed in Waukegan, Rockford, Danville, Williamson County, and another unnamed city in Cook County.

A new “racino” will also open somewhere in Cook Country. It will be the first new horse race track to open in Illinois since 1946.

So why are some of the state’s top gambling officials claiming the Chicago casino will be a flop?

Major Casino Operators Staying Out of Chicago

On the surface, it’s extremely exciting to hear a new Chicago casino is coming. Looking at the details of the plan, however, gives an explanation of why so many companies are choosing to avoid this area. This casino will give up two-thirds of its revenue to the city and police and fire pensions.

Tim Wilmott, CEO of Penn National Gaming Inc., believes the high tax rate and numerous restrictions will negatively affect the casino. He also states that with more casinos spread around the state, the Chicago casino will struggle to gain a foothold in the market.

“An already saturated market is going to get a lot more supply,” Wilmott said in an interview. “It’s going to make the Chicago casino a very difficult investment to make,” he said.

Some of the biggest casino companies in the US seem to feel the same way. The Las Vegas Sands claims it’s not entering the Chicago market. Caesars, which recently merged with Eldorado Resorts, hasn’t shown much interest either.

There is also discussion that the casino in Chicago be constructed in an economically-struggling part of the city. With all things considered, maybe this casino won’t be “big city gold-standard” that the governor wants it to be.

How do you think the new Chicago casino will do? Make sure to stay tuned for updates on the situation as they come out!

The Oct. 28, 2020, deadline for four new Illinois casino license decisions has come and gone. And none were handed out at Thursday’s special Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) meeting.

Instead, eight applicants will amend their license applications. Those are:

• 815 Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Casino Rockford (Rockford License)
• CDI-RSG Waukegan, LLC d/b/a Rivers Waukegan Casino (Waukegan License)
• Full House Resorts, Inc. d/b/a American Place (Waukegan License)
• Lakeside Casino, LLC d/b/a North Point Casino (Waukegan License)
• Southland LIVE, LLC d/b/a Southland Live (South Suburban License)
• South Suburban Development, LLC (South Suburban License)
• Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort, LLC (Williamson County License)
• Wind Creek, LLC (South Suburban License)

A Danville license is also up for grabs, but Haven Gamingwithdrew its application in July. The Wilmot family now holds principal interest but has yet to submit its materials to the IGB.

By law, the IGB has a year to rule on a casino application from the date it receives one. But if it doesn’t meet that deadline, it can hold a special public meeting or give a written explanation for an extension.

IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter said on Oct. 27 that the board provided a written explanation for the delay to pending applicants.

He also said that the Rockford, Williamson County, Waukegan and South Suburban applicants could reasonably expect to have a decision within six months, which would set the new deadline at the end of April 2021.

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The 2019 Illinois Gambling Actgreen-lit six new casinos in Illinois. The sixth, which will be located in Chicago, is moving even slower than the others.

Frustration mounting among casino applicants prior to IGB meeting

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There were plenty of rumblings before the special meeting about applicants’ frustration with the slow-moving process.

In August, State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, and Kristi DeLaurentiis, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, wrote a letter to the IGB urging them to speed up the process.

“We respectfully remind you that this south suburban license is long overdue and a decision delayed is a decision denied,” DeLuca and DeLaurentiis wrote. “COVID-19 cannot be allowed to serve as a reason for inaction. The deadline as set forth in the statute is approaching and the future of nearly a million residents rests in your hands.”

In a September board meeting, Fruchter appeared to point the finger back at the applicants, saying the following:

“The staff’s already substantial work is made more complicated when applicants and existing licensees neglect to provide timely, complete answers, documents and disclosures or responses to any other board requests. Most make timely and accurate disclosures, but the ones that don’t gum up the works for everyone.”

Illinois has 10 operating casinos

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At the moment, Illinois has 10 open casinos. They are:

• Argosy Casino Alton
• DraftKings at Casino Queen
• Grand Victoria Casino Elgin
• Harrah’s Joliet
• Harrah’s Metropolis
• Hollywood Casino Aurora
• Hollywood Casino Joliet
• Jumer’s Casino & Hotel
• Par-A-Dice Casino
• Rivers Casino

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That list will grow at some point, but key stakeholders can’t be thrilled with the 2019 bill’s implementation thus far.