Illinois Casino Walker’s Bluff Remains On Track To Open In 2023

The construction of Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Williamson County is progressing as planned, with a grand opening set for some time in 2023.

In June 2021, the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) granted a “preliminarily suitable” ruling to Walker’s Bluff, thereby approving the opening of a new casino in Illinois.

In December, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Sen. Dale Fowler traveled to southern Illinois to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of the casino’s construction.

Construction is expected to take a minimum of 14 months. Walker’s Bluff has not yet specified an exact month for the casino resort’s opening in 2023.

Illinois casino construction crew has made considerable progress

Workers were close to completing the framing for the hotel as of last week, while the paving of streets and parking lots had also commenced. Additionally, the construction of a water tower near the gaming facility is almost finished.

The project is being oversealed by Baxter Construction. An aerial photograph captured by Baxter indicates that the frame and foundation of the casino have been established.

The original plan was to carry out the construction of Walker’s Bluff in several phases. However, Dan Kehl, the CEO of Elite Casino Resorts, declared that the entire project will now be completed without interruption.

“The revised construction schedule enables us to debut the casino, hotel, spa, and all our exclusive Elite amenities earlier. This will provide an impressive first experience for new patrons at the new Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort.”

Elite Casino Resorts, a gaming operator, operates three locations in Iowa and is soon launching a casino resort in Nebraska, in addition to Walker’s Bluff.

What Walker’s Bluff has in store for patrons

The Walker’s Bluff resort will be situated on a 38-acre site in Carterville, a town located at an equal distance from Kentucky and Missouri. The casino resort will cover a total of 190,000 square feet, including all the amenities it plans to provide. The estimated cost of the project is around $147 million.

The following specific entertainment options are available for both bettors and casual patrons:

• Various styles and denominations of 650 slot machines.
• 14 table games
• VIP Suite featured in Sportsbook
• Video poker
• 116-room hotel featuring suites
• This resort area provides amenities such as massages, beauty salons, manicure/pedicure services, saunas, ice rooms, and lounge rooms.
• Retail store featuring products from local vendors and craftsmen.
• Pool and tiki bar
• A steakhouse and a sports brew pub, both restaurants,
• The Casino Show Lounge will host local and regional entertainment every weekend.
• An Event Center designed to host headline entertainment, but also adaptable for weddings, large in-person gatherings or web-based meetings.

The development of Walker’s Bluff is expected to generate tax revenue and boost tourism in Williamson County. Additionally, it is poised to create approximately 1,100 job opportunities for the local community.