Illinois Casinos In Chicago And Rockford Making Progress

Future Illinois casinos, Bally’s Casino Chicago and Hard Rock Casino Rockford, have had a busy week, making substantial progress towards their opening.

Gamblers in Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln, already have a wide selection of casinos spread throughout the state. However, additional casinos are set to open in the near future. It is predicted that by 2025, there will be a total of 12 casinos operating in Illinois.

There is still work to be done before the new gaming operators can open their doors, though.

Advisory council formed for Bally’s Chicago

Chicago’s Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has declared the establishment of a council with the goal of collecting community feedback about the construction of Bally’s casino. The casino plans to initially open a temporary site in River North before launching its permanent location in River West.

The Community Advisory Council is the name of the group, which consists of neighborhood residents, community groups, and casino experts.

The council will be overseen by three groups:

• Planning and Development Department of Chicago.
• The Community Engagement Office of the Mayor.
• Chicago Department of Transportation.

Chicago’s chief financial officer, Jennie Huang Bennett, will also assist in supervising the council.

In a press release about the Community Advisory Council, Lightfoot made the following statement:

Ever since we started the process of establishing a casino in Chicago, my administration has been committed to giving our residents the chance to voice their opinions and concerns about it. We’re setting up a Community Advisory Council to provide a concrete platform for this critical involvement. This will enable community stakeholders of all types to make a significant contribution not just before and during, but also after the construction of the casino.

Lightfoot and the Community Advisory Council emphasized the importance of collaborating with the River North and River West communities during the construction process. Various groups are already striving to decrease the negative effects on the neighborhood. In early August, the River North Residents Association voiced 42 concerns about the present proposal from Bally’s.

Bally’s Chicago still needs licensing

Bally’s has not yet received clearance to start building the temporary casino it intends to establish at the Medinah Temple in River North.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is presently scrutinizing Bally’s proposal. Upon approval from the IGB, Bally’s would then need to secure endorsement from the planning and zoning group in Chicago.

Bally’s intends to open a temporary casino in spring 2023, provided it can clear all required hurdles. The permanent casino is planned to be constructed at the existing location of the Chicago Tribune newsroom and printing plant, with an anticipated opening date in early 2026.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford gets work permits

A Rockford city official has announced that construction on a permanent Hard Rock Rockford casino is set to commence next week.

This statement was given to 13 WREX by a spokesperson for Hard Rock:

We have received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board to start site work. Correspondingly, the City of Rockford has issued a permit that is in line with this approval. We are still collaborating with the Gaming Board for the remaining process to gain full approval, which will permit us to build our permanent facility.

Officials from Hard Rock have not yet given a definite schedule for the opening of the permanent casino. In the meantime, the temporary casino location, Hard Rock: An Opening Act, is open to the public until the construction of the permanent site is completed.