Illinois Casinos In Chicago And Rockford Making Progress

This week has been a productive one for the upcoming Illinois casinos, Bally’s Casino Chicago and Hard Rock Casino Rockford, as they have made significant strides towards their grand opening.

Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln, already offers a variety of casinos for gamblers. However, more casinos are expected to open soon, with a total of 12 casinos projected to be operating in the state by 2025.

However, there is still work that needs to be completed before the new gaming operators can officially open for business.

Advisory council formed for Bally’s Chicago

The Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, has announced the formation of a council to gather input from the community regarding the development of Bally’s casino. The casino is set to open a temporary location in River North before transitioning to its permanent spot in River West.

The group known as the Community Advisory Council is made up of neighborhood residents, community groups, and experts in the casino industry.

Three groups will oversee the council.

• The Department of Planning and Development in Chicago.
• The Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement.
• Chicago Department of Transportation.

Jennie Huang Bennett, Chicago’s chief financial officer, will also be involved in overseeing the council’s activities.

Lightfoot issued the following statement in a press release regarding the Community Advisory Council:

Since the inception of the casino establishment in Chicago, my administration has been dedicated to ensuring that our residents have the opportunity to express their thoughts and concerns. We are creating a Community Advisory Council to serve as a tangible platform for this vital participation. This will allow stakeholders from all backgrounds to have a substantial impact not only during the planning and construction phases, but also post-casino completion.

Lightfoot and the Community Advisory Council stressed the significance of working together with the River North and River West communities throughout the construction phase. Several groups are actively working to minimize the adverse impacts on the neighborhood. The River North Residents Association raised 42 concerns about Bally’s current proposal in early August.

Bally’s Chicago still needs licensing

Bally’s is still awaiting approval to begin construction on the temporary casino planned for the Medinah Temple in River North.

Bally’s proposal is currently under review by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). If approved by the IGB, Bally’s will be required to obtain endorsement from the planning and zoning committee in Chicago.

Bally’s is planning to open a temporary casino in spring 2023, pending approval of all necessary permits. The permanent casino is scheduled to be built at the current site of the Chicago Tribune newsroom and printing plant, and is expected to open in early 2026.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford gets work permits

A city official in Rockford has confirmed that construction on a permanent Hard Rock Rockford casino will begin next week.

A spokesperson for Hard Rock provided this statement to 13 WREX.

We have obtained approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to begin site work. The City of Rockford has also issued a permit in accordance with this approval. We are continuing to work closely with the Gaming Board to complete the necessary steps to receive full approval, allowing us to proceed with the construction of our permanent facility.

Hard Rock officials have not provided a confirmed timeline for the grand opening of the permanent casino. In the meantime, the temporary casino known as Hard Rock: An Opening Act is currently open to the public until the construction of the permanent location is finished.