Danville City Council OKs Casino Plans, Illinois Gaming Board Now On Deck

Written By Derek Helling on August 25, 2020 – Last Updated on March 10, 2022

One step closer to becoming a reality is one of the six potential new casino gaming facilities in PrairieState. A significant hurdle was recently cleared by a group of Danville gaming developers.

The designs of the potential casino owner in Danville have been approved by the City Council. The next crucial step is to obtain approval from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).

What & rsquo, is in the casino plans for Danville?

The primary interest holder in Danville Development, which has a tentative agreement with the city, is the Wilmot family of Rochester, NY.

Despite this, the Wilmot family has a history of being involved in the casino industry. They sold their ownership in the del Lago Casino in New York about a year ago. Additionally, the Wilmot family owns Wilmorite Construction.

Wilmorite will oversee the design of the proposed game at the original Morris Flamingo inventory on Eastgate Drive, as anticipated. The Wilmot family intends to invest approximately $100 million to fully launch the facility.

The Wilmot family will receive exclusive ownership of the game and the 11.54 hectares of land where the inventory is located as a result of their investment. They intend to independently oversee the management of the property.

The costs include a $600,000 payment for potential drainage issues on the site. Wilmorite has informed the committee of their intention to begin construction in the spring and complete the first phase by the end of the following year, subject to regulatory approval.

The first stage will concentrate on the entertainment section of the facility, utilizing tactics such as:

570 parking areas
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The casino currently has 500 slot machines and 10 gaming tables, with plans for expansion once the developer completes the initial phase of development.

During the second phase, the game floor was expanded by an extra 15,000 square feet, transforming the facility into a comprehensive destination with hotels, convention spaces, and additional restaurants.

It was surprising to find that a retail sportsbook was not included in the second phase of the expansion. However, in order to compete in the market, it may be necessary for the new game to consider incorporating one.

With a mind begin across the state line, contest

In May, the Indiana Gaming Commission and the City of Terra Haute, IN approved a new casino. It takes just over an hour to travel from Danville to Terra Haute.

The most recent projections indicate that the hospital is expected to begin operating in September 2021. If this occurs, the launch of the new Danville game may also take place at the same time.

The Wilmot community highlighted the importance of maintaining business communication across state borders and emphasized that any development would be done safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, all of these proposals are currently in the preliminary stages. The Wilmots are now tasked with convincing the IGB, a more doubtful entity, to approve their plans. The state agency had previously denied a proposal for a casino in Danville.

Earlier this year, Haven Gaming was strongly criticized by the IGB for not providing enough information in their submission and not complying with state statutes. As a result, Haven withdrew their application last month.

The Wilmot family is drawing on their past casino expertise in the hopes of achieving success where Haven failed. However, any additional delays in the development of a new gaming facility in Danville could put their future casino at a disadvantage compared to the recently opened blackjack in Terra Haute.