I Visited The Temporary Casino In Waukegan, And Here’s My Review

From the outside, The Temporary by American Place appears to be a huge hay barn. However, upon stepping inside, this newest casino in Illinois surpassed my expectations.

I embarked on a journey to The Temporary in Waukegan on a late March Wednesday afternoon to experience it firsthand. Living in Chicago, the drive was smooth and easy. It was roughly an hour’s drive, directly along I-94.

While visiting, I had a conversation with two Milwaukee residents who also shared their positive experience of the effortless drive. Therefore, The Temporary, the interim location for American Place’s permanent casino expected to open in 2025, has already met the criteria of easy accessibility.

Let’s examine how it performed in the crucial areas: the gaming options and the in-casino atmosphere.

A slot player’s paradise

The Temporary is a haven for slot machine enthusiasts, boasting close to 1,000 slots spread across the venue. Even on crowded days, chances are you’ll be able to find your favorite slot machine available.

During my visit, the place was perhaps 20% occupied, hence there was an abundance of available slot machines.

Nonetheless, I’ve never been one to play slot machines; they’ve always been outside of my comfort zone. So, when I found myself in front of one at The Temporary, I felt quite out of my element. Fortunately, there were plenty of staff on hand to guide me towards games suitable for beginners.

An employee by the name of Steven generously directed me and explained the basics of slot games. Regrettably, Steven did not bring me any luck as I swiftly lost all the money I put into the machine. However, I am not blaming Steven for this.

The Temporary also boasts 50 table games, although only around a third of them were in operation when I was there. The minimum table bet was $15, and the casino provided all the classic games such as craps, roulette, blackjack, among others.

Regrettably, The Temporary does not currently host an IL sportsbook. However, this is expected to change by the close of 2023.

Circa Sportsbook and Full House, the owner and operator of the casino, are in a partnership and are presently awaiting licensing approval from the Illinois Gaming Board. Once they receive this, they will open a sportsbook at The Temporary and launch a mobile sports betting app in Illinois.

Are too many slots a bad thing?

The only critique I have for the Temporary’s gaming selection is the cramped spaces resulting from accommodating nearly 1,000 slot machines. Despite the Temporary being a large establishment, the abundance of slot machines has made the walkways within the casino quite congested.

I found it unproblematic when I visited as the casino wasn’t crowded. However, I could envision it getting somewhat cramped in specific sections during peak hours.

Apart from that, I was impressed by the gaming options provided by The Temporary.

The atmosphere was upbeat and lively

I really enjoyed the ambiance at The Temporary, largely due to its ‘day at the lake’ theme which was inspired by its close location to Lake Michigan. Waukegan Municipal Beach is also conveniently just a 15-minute drive away.

A massive six-canoe chandelier hangs over a roughly 40-seat bar positioned in the middle of the casino. Additionally, each barstool is equipped with its own video poker screen.

Canoe paddles and leafy forestry decorations hang from the ceiling throughout The Temporary. The unique blend of a lake day and a Vegas-style casino atmosphere is quite enjoyable.

Cleanliness and dining options

The Temporary was incredibly clean, to the point where one could potentially eat off the floors (although I wouldn’t actually suggest doing so).

Customers didn’t leave trash at the slot machines, nor were there crumpled bet vouchers or dust accumulating on less popular slots. Every area of the casino, bathrooms included, was clean and free from any dirt or mess.

The variety of dining choices was somewhat restricted. Only one out of three restaurants at The Temporary was operational, while the remaining two seemed to be undergoing work. The sole open eatery was L’Americain, offering buffet-style American food.

I conversed with several guests who were not satisfied with the food choices and cautioned that it was not worth the cost, so I heeded their advice.

Additionally, two Airstream trailers were transformed into food trucks, serving up basic options like hot dogs, paninis, sandwiches, beer, and coffee.

The Temporary is worth a visit

In general, my experience at The Temporary was pleasing. The place was easy to reach, well-maintained, and the personnel were amicable. The ambiance was lively and there was a wide array of games to choose from.

Definitely consider visiting to see for yourself. The casino is set to improve once the Circa Sportsbook and restaurants commence operations.