What’s Next For Remaining South Suburban, Waukegan Casino License Bidders

Written By Joe Boozell on October 22, 2021 – Last Updated on December 8, 2021

There are two remaining bidders for both the South Suburban and Waukegan casino licenses. The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) narrowed down the list for the South Suburban license from four to two on Wednesday.

The North Residential certificate is being pursued by Wind Creek LLC in Homewood East Hazel Crest and Matteson, while Full House Resorts and Lakeside Casino LLC are vying for the certificate in Waukegan.

The challenging process has been evident to many, as several creation teams applied for licenses in October 2019 but have not received a response two years later.

With that being said, we now have a clear timeline for the decision-making process of the IGB. The next phase in the application process is expected to take place in the near future.

South Suburban candidates may provide to IGB on October 28.

Wind Creek and South Suburban Matteson will present their cases at a meeting scheduled by the IGB on Thursday.

Marcus Fruchter, the administrator of the IGB, stated this year that the presentations are complimentary. However, it is advisable for every group to seize the opportunity to strengthen their position in a fiercely competitive bidding process such as this.

In the past year, both groups received good news. The IGB had the opportunity to send three contenders to the final round, but ultimately decided to only send two. This decision is expected to increase the chances for the remaining bids.

Between now and the beginning of January: Last proposals

Waukegan has decided not to hold a meeting like the one on October 28 for southern cities due to fewer applicants. However, applicants from Waukegan and southern areas must still submit their final proposals to the board by the end of January.

During these meetings, board members pose questions to the participants, and some of the most recent suggested amendments may provide valuable insights in response to those queries.

First January: Last decision’s preliminary deadline

At a board meeting in September, Fruchter stated that the IGB would reach a final decision on each license six months after the consultant was hired on July 9 to evaluate the applicants.

Aside from selecting the winning bids, the IGB will also evaluate the preliminary suitability of the winners. However, this is not the final step in the process.

An essential step in the IGB approval process is the initial suitability assessment. The suitability determinations for Rockford and Williamson County were not finalized until after we had acquired information about the bidder’s identity.

After obtaining a suitability finding, the only thing left is to obtain final approvals. Once a casino is deemed acceptable based on their plans to open temporary facilities, they can begin construction.

After a lengthy period of development, the Waukegan and south suburban casinos are now making significant progress in their respective processes.