American Place Casino In Waukegan Inching Closer To Opening

The latest casino in Illinois, located in Waukegan, seems to be on track for a December opening. However, a definitive opening date has not been confirmed yet.

In September, executives from The Temporary by American Place Casino, which is owned and operated by Full House, revealed that construction had been delayed due to supply chain problems and complications in the approval process. As a result, the opening has been rescheduled for December.

It was previously anticipated that the IL casino, situated in the Lake Michigan town, would open in October.

Full House announced on Monday, during its third quarter results, that product and systems testing at the Waukegan temporary site is set to begin before this month ends.

Full House Resorts CEO, Daniel R. Lee, specifically stated that workers are currently completing the decor and getting ready to install slot machines this week.

“Lee said, “We anticipate that our entire slot floor will be installed and prepared for testing before November ends.”

He also noted that the “complex process” typically spans several weeks, which is the reason for the company’s uncertainty regarding the opening date.

“Like any new casino launch, we have a comprehensive checklist to finish before we can receive our initial patrons. Consequently, although the company anticipates that the casino will be operational within the next quarter, the exact opening date remains undetermined,” said Lee.

Circa sportsbook to launch with American Place opening

Importantly, the collaboration with Full House at the Waukegan facility provides the opportunity for Circa to introduce its sportsbook app in Illinois. Upon its launch, Circa will join the ranks as the eighth sports betting operator in Illinois, alongside:

• DraftKings
• Caesars
• BetMGM
• PointsBet
• BetRivers
• FanDuel
• Barstool

In addition to the Circa Sportsbook, the temporary Waukegan casino will also provide:

• 1,000 slot machines
• 50 table games
• Various dining options are available including three sit-down restaurants, additional food choices, and a spacious bar.

The permanent American Place casino, which is valued at $400 million, is set to open in Waukegan in 2025.

It will feature:

• 1,640 slots
• 100 table games
• A permanent sportsbook
• 1,500-seat entertainment venue
• Initially, The Mansion will consist of 20 rooms designed in a ‘villa-style’. In the second phase, a hotel with 150 rooms will be included.

Full House Resorts also takes pride in offering a luxurious experience for players and operates casinos in Mississippi, Indiana, Nevada, and Colorado.

The city situated between Chicago and Milwaukee is expected to gain over 400 jobs with the opening of the new casino.

“Lee stated that the casino will be the sole one in Lake County, Illinois. He added that the county, which is one of the richest in the U.S., has an estimated population of around 700,000.”

Third quarter results for Full House

Examining the figures, Full House reported a net loss of $3.6 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30. This loss was due to increased development costs, compared to a net income of $4.6 million in 2021.

Revenue in the third quarter was $41.4 million, which is a 12% decrease from the $47.2 million earned during the same period last year.

Furthermore, Full House has plans to launch a casino in Colorado named the Chamonix Casino Hotel in the middle of 2023.

Lee stated, “Upon completion, Chamonix will stand as one of Colorado’s larger casino hotels and the most opulent and largest in Cripple Creek, the main casino hub for the Colorado Springs market. Located approximately an hour away from nearly one million residents of the Colorado Springs metro area, and two hours from about four million Denver residents, Cripple Creek is ideally situated.”