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

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

One move closer to being a reality is one of six possible brand-new casino gaming establishments in PrairieState. A preliminary but important obstacle was just removed by a set of Danville game programs.

The Danville City Council has given the green light to the designs of the prospective casino owner. However, the next and more crucial phase is to secure approval from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB).

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

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

Nonetheless, the Wilmot family has had previous involvement in the casino industry. Roughly a year ago, they divested their stake in the del Lago Casino located in New York. The Wilmot family is also the proprietor of Wilmorite Construction.

As expected, Wilmorite will supervise the design of the proposed game at the original Morris Flamingo inventory on Eastgate Drive. The Wilmot family plans to invest around $100 million to fully open the facility.

In return for their investment, the Wilmot family will gain exclusive possession of the game and the 11.54 hectares where the inventory currently resides. They plan to manage the home on their own.

The expenses encompass a $600,000 payment to address possible drainage issues on the site. Wilmorite has notified the committee that they plan to commence construction in the spring and aim to finish the first phase by the end of the subsequent year, pending regulatory approval.

The initial phase will focus on the facility’s entertainment area with strategies that include:

    17, 000 square feet of gaming area

  • 570 parking areas
  • Steakhouse reviewed by Cafe and food judge

The casino’s offerings consist of 500 slot machines and 10 gaming tables. Expansion plans are in place once the developer finishes the first phase of development.

In the second phase, the game floor was set to expand by an additional 15,000 feet. It was during this phase that the facility transitioned into a full-service destination, equipped with hotels, convention spaces, and extra restaurants.

Surprisingly, there were no plans for a retail sportsbook in the second phase of the expansion. However, if the new game wants to be competitive in the market, it may be essential.

With a mind begin across the state line, contest

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

The latest estimates suggest that the hospital will commence operations in September 2021. Should this happen, the new Danville game andrsquo might also launch simultaneously.

The Wilmot community expressed its awareness of the significance of sustaining business dialogue across state lines. They also underscored that development would be safely carried out during the COVID-19 crisis.

However, all these plans are still tentative at the moment. The Wilmots now face the challenge of persuading a potentially more skeptical entity, the IGB. This state agency has previously rejected a set of casino plans for Danville.

Earlier this year, the IGB harshly criticized Haven Gaming & rsquo, alleging that both their submission and compliance with the rules lacked sufficient information as per state statutes. Haven withdrew its application last month.

The Wilmot home appears to be banking on its previous casino experience to succeed where Haven did not. If there are further delays in constructing a future game in Danville, it could potentially place the future casino at a disadvantage compared to the new blackjack in Terra Haute.

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Helling Derek

Derek Helling, a 2013 University of Iowa graduate, is a leading writer for PlayUSA and the manager of BetHer. His coverage focuses on the intersections of sports, business, and the law.

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