Hard Rock Rockford Will Be The Next New (Temporary) Casino In Illinois

After the Illinois Gaming Board ( IGB ) approved plans for a temporary casino at an old restaurant site last week, the Hard Rock Casino Rockford is one step closer to receiving an official license.

Rockford Mayor Tom McNamaraissued a statement on Friday:

& ldquo, We are the first game to start building out of the six that were approved in the game development costs in 2019! This is a significant motivation! & rdquo,

Is the casino industry in Illinois gaining steam?

The 2019 gaming package allows for six new casinos in Illinois to be built. The designated regions are:

• Rockford
• Waukegan
• County of Williamson
• Danville
• Chicago
• South neighbourhoods

In February, the IGB found Hard Rock Rockford “preliminarily suitable” for a license. Earlier this month, Walker’s Bluff Casino in County of Williamson earned preliminarily suitability, too.

But, in general, the new Illinois casino process has moved at an extremely slow pace. Hard Rock Rockford is the furthest along of any new casino project.

Construction could start as early as next week, according to State Senator Dave Syverson( R-Rockford ). Syverson has criticized the IGB for its slow-moving method and has been a vocal champion of the Hard Rock Illinois job.

& ldquo, Knowing that it will have such a positive economic impact locally, I have worked to bring this project to fruition for more than 20 years. It is very satisfying to see this project gain genuine momentum after so much time. & rdquo,

Syverson said the temporary Hard Rock Casino site could operate for up to two years. According to the Rockford Register Star, construction of the temporary location is expected to takeabout three months.

The IGB initially denied Hard Rock’s temporary casino application in April. The gaming board learned that the owner of Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, the site of the temporary casino, was involved in a previously undisclosed shooting incident in 2020.

Project designer 815 Entertainment bought the building to fix the problem.

What information is available about Hard Rock Casino Rockford?

The permanent casino will cost about $310 million to construct and will be located at the intersection of State Street and I-90.

Less than a mile separates That & rsquo from the temporary facility. A Hard Rock Live entertainment venue and 64, 000 square feet of gaming area will be included in the continuous game.

Additionally, Hard Rock has promised to give Rockford’s gaming revenue at least$ 7 million annually. Over 1, 000 full – and part-time work should be generated by the new Illinois game overall.

As it stands, Hard Rock Rockford is without a doubt the front-runner to be the next game constructed in Illinois.

a competition with the Wisconsin game

In late March, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers approved a $405 million casino planin Beloit. Rockford is just about 20 miles away from Beloit.

As a result, there will be competition between the two games for customers. Opening initially could therefore be a major long-term benefit.

Therefore, Syverson expressed his hope that the Beloit blackjack news would act as a wake-up call andrdquo for the IGB. Additionally, he added:

& ldquo, People will become accustomed to visiting a casino like that if Wisconsin outperforms us and opens the game, which will make it more difficult to bring them home. & rdquo,

We’re never sure if a Wisconsin game motivated the IGB to work more quickly. In any case, Friday was a major time for Rockford’s Hard Rock Casino.

The IGB had a reason to act because it most definitely wouldn’t want Wisconsin to reduce any potential tax revenue. As things stand, the Hard Rock’s temporary casino appears to be the reason it will go to market second.