For years, gamblers in southern Illinois have been anticipating the debut of Walker’s Bluff casino. This casino project has been making waves in the state since the massive gaming expansion bill was signed into law in June 2019. This same expansion also legalized sports wagering alongside casino operations.
The 2019 law, which added changes to the Illinois Gambling Act, brought considerable changes to the state’s landscape. It authorized the construction of 6 new casinos, including 4 racinos, online and retail sports betting, as well as an expansion of video gambling. These measures were designed to not only stimulate economic growth but also enhance the gambling and entertainment options available for residents and tourists.
As part of the gambling expansion bill, Williamson County was granted 1 of 6 casino permits. Unlike other casinos, including the temporary Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, Walker’s Bluff opted to bypass the construction of a temporary casino. Instead, it proceeded directly with the construction of its permanent facility.
The Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort promises not only gambling entertainment but also economic growth in the region. This new casino consists of an array of amenities with a great focus on job creation, infrastructure funding, and of course, a boost to the local economy. In particular, this facility is expected to provide job opportunities to at least 300 locals.
Proceeds from the gambling expansion were designated, in part, to supply funding for The Rebuild Illinois project. The Rebuild Illinois project is the state’s multi-year capital improvement program aimed at repairing and constructing new roads, bridges, and government buildings statewide.
According to the expansion bill, each newly opened casino in Illinois is required to contribute a 1-time fee to the Rebuild Illinois fund within 30 days of operation.
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The road was full of challenges
The realization of the $147 million Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort project in southern Illinois was a labor of love spanning several years. Cynde Bunch and her late husband David played a monumental role in this endeavor, initially launching an upscale restaurant and general store with the same branding in 2008.
The land that the casino has been constructed on had been in Cynde’s family for generations. While Elite Casino Resorts LLC still maintains the majority ownership and operation of the casino and resort, Cynde retains a partial ownership stake.
In a significant development for the gaming industry in Illinois in 2021, the Illinois Gaming Board approved a key change in the casino license application submitted by Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort. It was this decision that paved the way for the construction of a permanent gambling facility in Williamson County.
According to Dan Kehl, CEO of Walker’s Bluff project partner Elite Casino Resorts, several challenges prevented the construction of a temporary casino. For instance, challenges were cited relating to setting up infrastructure in the rural site where the casino is situated.
One exciting aspect of Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort project was the inclusion of a retail sportsbook in its plan. After applying for a master sports betting license, the casino soon found its sportsbook partner. This marked a departure in how Elite Casino Resorts operates sports betting in Iowa, where the group manages both its retail sportsbooks.
A dream realized: Casino finally opens its doors
In a grand celebration attended by several attendees, Governor JB Pritzker finally opened the state’s 14th casino at the scenic rural estate just outside of Carterville. Walker’s Bluff is now the 4th casino to open its doors since the gambling expansion law of 2019. This luxurious resort features 50 slot machines and table games, a hotel, restaurants, a full-service spa, and a 1,200-seat event center.
Like all newly opened casinos in the state, Walker’s Bluff is expected to contribute to the Rebuild Illinois project within 30 days of opening. The Illinois Gaming Board confirmed that Walker’s Bluff casino’s contribution amounted to an impressive $25.3 million. According to Governor Pritzker’s office, these funds have already been allocated to various projects across southern Illinois.
Some of these projects include investments in Southern Illinois University Carbondale and John A. Logan College in Carterville. The launch of Walker’s Bluff Casino follows the debuts of the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, which welcomed its first guests in November 2021. The American Place Casino in Waukegan launched soon after in February 2022.
This year in June, Hard Rock in Rockford and American Place were joined by the Golden Nugget in central Illinois’ Danville. Notably, the Rockford and Waukegan casinos are both located in upstate Illinois and they all commenced operations in temporary facilities.
These new casinos are already attracting a significant number of visitors. In the last month alone, nearly 150,000 people visited these three casinos. according to data from the Illinois Gaming Board, this represented 15.6% of all visitors to the state’s 13 casinos. These visitors contribute millions of dollars to the state and local governments every month.
In July 2023 alone, casinos allocated $38.3 million for taxes on admissions and gambling, with $30.7 million selected for the state and $7.6 million for local governments. The state’s share of the profits is separate from Rebuild Illinois infrastructure spending and covers an array of costs at the gaming board, with any surplus funds being directed towards education in the state.
In the future, 2 more brick-and-mortar casinos are scheduled to debut. Among them is a prominent $1.7 billion Bally’s development in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. Rhode Island-based Bally’s development operates multiple casinos across the United States, including a riverboat casino in the Quad Cities. Before its permanent casino opens, Bally’s is expected to open a temporary location in the Medinah Temple in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.
Final Thoughts
The launch of the Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort represents a huge milestone in Illinois’ gambling expansion and economic development. Beyond offering entertainment and employment for the locals, the casino will also make significant contributions to the state’s infrastructure development through the Rebuild Illinois program.
