Rivers Casino Near Chicago Unveils $87M Expansion Plans, Includes Poker Room

Des Plaines’ Rivers Casino has significant development plans in mind.

Last week, Rivers Casino submitted its expansion plans to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and the city of Des Plaines. If approved, the 78,000-square-foot expansion will feature a two-story addition, a poker room, and an increased number of slots and table games.

Rivers Casino would make room for an extra 725 seats and gaming positions. As a result, the Illinois game would be the first to hit the state law’s maximum limit of 2,000 game positions.

The proposed $87 million expansion also includes a new restaurant and a 10,000 square foot activity room.

Rivers Casino, which had the highest revenue of any Illinois casino last year, is owned by Rush Street Gaming and ChurchillDowns Incorporated.

Corey Wise, the senior vice president and general director of Rivers Casino, stated:

“The most popular gaming destination in Illinois is Rivers. Despite our growth, we remain focused on earning our customers’ loyalty. We were the first gaming establishment to open a physical location to expand our gaming floor. BetRivers was the first sportsbook to open in the state, providing fans with their first mobile sports betting option. Once completed, we will be the first gaming establishment in Illinois to offer 2,000 gaming positions to our customers.”

The plans require authorization from IGB, and zoning needs authorization from the city of Des Plaines.

If the game plans are approved, the design can commence in the spring and be completed by the beginning of 2022.

GregCarlin, the CEO and co-founder of Rush Street Gaming, stated:

This proposed expansion will enable us to enhance our guest experience with additional entertainment and dining options, more gaming opportunities, and the much-anticipated poker room. We have consistently offered our visitors top-notch experiences. As the economy reopens, we’re excited to elevate our services and provide an even more memorable experience.

Illinois may see the arrival of new games

Currently, the most popular game in Illinois is Rivers, and it’s expected to remain so for some time.

The 2019 gaming expansion bill has allowed for the construction of six new casinos in the Land of Lincoln.

The IGB has preliminarily found the Hard Rock Casino Rockford suitable, and it is just one step away from receiving final approval.

That said, the most significant competition for Rivers would probably be the future downtown Chicago casino included in the gaming expansion.

Though the downtown Chicago casino in Illinois is likely to take several years to materialize, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has been slow in evaluating applications. Furthermore, downtown Chicago does not appear to be near to submitting the required materials.

Waukegan, Danville, and Williamson County, which are southern cities, would be the locations of the other casinos.

Did Rivers benefit from an Illinois online blackjack as well?

The concise answer involves training. However, it may be most beneficial for Rivers Casino.

Last week, State Rep. Bob Rita submitted a bill related to online casinos. This will become a major continuous subject in the Illinois gaming industry going forward.

The bill incorporated a six-month registration period in person, comparable to the short-lived one seen with Illinois sports betting.

The implementation of the plan will be advantageous for Rivers due to its popularity and location. It will remain the closest game to the downtown area until a new game is constructed, given its position just outside of Chicago.

Undoubtedly, these development plans had improved the experience of first-time visitors at Rivers Casino.