Illinois Gaming Board Chops South Suburban Casino Applicant List In Half, 2 Bids Remain

Written By Joe Boozell on October 20, 2021 – Last Updated on December 8, 2021

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) has chosen two South Suburban casino candidates.

The last two proposals were submitted by South Suburban Matteson and Wind Creek LLC Homewood East Hazel Crest. The committee voted on Southland LIVE LLC and Southho-Chunk Entertainment LLC Lynwood during the IGB meeting on Wednesday.

The anticipated vote on Wednesday finally arrived after three out of four teams applied for a game license back in October 2019. Though the procedure had been moving slowly, it is now gaining momentum.

Both candidates can choose to present their cases to the committee on October 28, but it is not required for them to give a lecture.

We expect the IGB to make a final decision on the south suburban and Waukegan casinos by mid-January. Furthermore, there are still two applicants in contention for the Waukegan casino license.

On Wednesday, the committee deliberated on matters concerning the southern suburbs. Here is the information we have on the remaining two candidates.

Then there were two individuals for casinos in South Suburban.

The southern residential permit will be awarded to either South Suburban Matteson or Wind Creek Homewood East Hazel Crest.

Here is a brief evaluation and review of each bid:

Casino Matteson in South Suburban

Being a dedicated follower of the Choctaw Nation
Will there be a temporary casino? Yes, there will be.
The Lincoln Mall, which used to be located in Matteson near Interstates 57 and 30, has now become a permanent fixture.
The main features include a hotel, indoor spa and pool, indoor golf, a multi-purpose event center, fine dining, and a showcase of various cultural traditions.

The job will result in the creation of 609 permanent positions, while the entertainment area could consist of 123,000 square feet and accommodate 1,300 slots and 42 table games.

We are unsure of the cost to construct a betting facility, unlike Wind Creek.

East Hazel Crest / Wind Creek Casino Homewood

As a passionate supporter of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
Will there be a temporary casino? Not at this time.
Area Continuity: Located at the intersection of Interstates 80 and 294, close to properties in East Hazel Crest and Homewood.
The costs for development totaled $440 million.
Other amenities include a sky club, dining options, bars, and luxury four-diamond hotels.

The Wind Creek project aims to open a casino, which is expected to generate 800 permanent job opportunities.

Despite being smaller than the Matteson game, the casino would still have a gambling area of 69,190 square feet. It would accommodate 56 board games and 1,350 gaming machines.

Homewood / East Hazel Crest is situated approximately six miles to the northeast of Matteson.

Important game timeframe in Chicago is approaching

The deadline for submitting proposals for the Chicago casino license is Friday, October 29th.

Initially scheduled for August, the deadline was extended by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to allow bidders more time to assess the project. It appears that the license has not generated significant interest, as multiple major gaming companies have stated their intention not to participate.

It is known that Rush Street Gaming has shown interest in registering. They recently decided to withdraw their offer to purchase the Waukegan game certificate.

There is a possibility that another major player in the gaming industry could enter the competition. Jim Allen, the chairman of Hard Rock, has stated that the company is considering the opportunity. While this may not be the most assertive declaration, it is more positive than statements from other company leaders.

It has been more than twenty years since Illinois first legalized gambling expansion, and we are now beginning to see significant growth and progress.