Recently, state gaming regulators examined a proposal from the suburb of Matteson for a new casino site. Another proposed site straddles the border between East Hazel Crest and Homewood. The Illinois Gaming Board should make its final decision by early 2022.
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The South Suburb Will Get One New Casino
Two years ago, four casino operators each submitted applications to open a new south suburban casino. Each applicant had a proposed site in a different location, including Lynwood, Calumet City, Matteson, and the site on the border of East Hazel Crest and Homewood.
Recently, state gaming regulators voted 4-0 to eliminate two of those casino sites; now, the race is focused on two sites, the one in Matteson and the other on the border of Homewood and East Hazel Crest. Illinois Gaming Board chairman Charles Schmadeke said that the decision was based on support from the local communities and the quality of the development presentations. By early 2022, the Gaming Board should make its final decision regarding the location.
Who are the Winners?
The Homewood-East Hazel Crest location has been proposed by Wind Creek Hospitality, run by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama. Wind Creek operates ten casinos in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Nevada, Florida, and the Caribbean island of Curacao.
During a public presentation, partners of Wind Creek Hospitality proposed a $300 million, 64,000-square-foot casino, an entertainment complex, and a 21-story hotel, along Halstead Street and 175th Street off Interstate 80.
Wind Creek promises that its casino resort will create jobs, as well as drive economic and community investment. The company has also made a commitment to diversity and inclusion during both construction and operation.
The Matteson location has been proposed by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma along with local businessman Rob Miller.
The Choctaw Nation runs 22 locations across Southeastern Oklahoma. This proposal includes a $300 million casino resort and convention complex at the defunct Lincoln Mall on Cicero Avenue and Lincoln Highway.
Sheila Chalmers-Currin, the Matteson Village President, noted that the Southland Regional Mayoral Black Caucus backs the Matteson casino project. This is due to the project’s commitment to not only the community but also to the principles of diversity and inclusion.
What About the Losers?
Sports legend Bo Jackson and Naperville gambling entrepreneur Dan Fischer were behind the proposed Calumet City location. Fischer is also involved in the development of the new Hard Rock Casino under construction in Rockford.
Jackson was drawn to the project due to its commitment to working with South Suburban College on a hospitality management program. That program could have spelled success for Calumet City’s underserved communities. That project would have built a 150,000 square-foot casino adjacent to the River Oaks shopping center near 159th Street and Torrence Avenue, east of Interstate 94. That would not only have created casino jobs but also help to revitalize the shopping mall.
Project manager Timothy Hughes expressed disappointment that the proposal was rejected, pointing out that within a few months, a temporary casino would have opened. That temporary casino would have immediately begun revitalizing the local economy of Calumet City. Moreover, the project had widespread community support, along with a casino operator with a great track record.
The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin was behind the proposed Lynwood location. Mayor Jada Curry was opposed to the project. However, the Lynwood Board of Trustees supported the project.
Ho-Chunk Gaming operates six locations across Wisconsin. The Ho-Chunk had proposed a $300 million casino resort on land that the tribe owns in Lynwood. The tribe has 120 acres east of State Route 394 and north of Glenwood-Dyer Road. The casino resort would have employed more than 1,100 full-time workers.
A New Casino Coming to the North Suburbs Too
The Illinois Gaming Board is also considering two competing proposals for a new casino for Waukegan. The parties vying for that coveted casino license are Full House Resorts, based in Las Vegas, and local Lakeside Casino LLC, headed by Michael Bond, a former Grayslake state Senator. Bond owned the successful Tap Room Gaming before it was sold to J&J Ventures. The acquisition of Tap Room Gaming gave J&J Ventures control of around 35% of the state’s video gaming machines.
All of these new casinos are part of the gambling expansion bill of 2019 which slated six casinos to be built across Illinois.
A casino is also in the works for Danville, as well as a Chicago mega-casino; however, developers are leery of building in the Windy City, due to complex regulations and high tax rates. Despite the fact that the tax rate was lowered from 72% to 40%, casino giants Caesars, MGM, and Wynn have decided to pass on building in Chicago. It’s unknown at this time if there are any applicants for a Chicago casino.
