Joliet, Illinois, is set to welcome the new Hollywood Casino. This project, owned by Penn Entertainment, estimated the casino is expected to open in late 2024 and create more than 1,000 jobs in the region.
With an investment of $185 million, the new casino complex will feature an array of slot machines, table games, hotels, restaurants and entertainment spaces, including a convention center.
Joliet has a rich history of riverboat casinos, including the well-known Harrah’s casino, owned by Caesars Entertainment. However, a change in legislation allowed for the establishment of land-based casinos in Illinois, prompting Hollywood Casino to make a move. This shift to a higher profile location near the interchange of Interstate 55 and I-80 presents a great opportunity for the casino to attract a significant number of visitors, with approximately 230,000 cars passing by daily.
While the casino industry faces fierce competition from video gaming locations, online platforms and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, the growth in the area provides a promising market for the new Hollywood Casino.
The development of a second downtown area, as proposed by Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy, aims to create a vibrant hub of entertainment, attracting not only casino-goers but also other businesses and restaurants to the area.
While the ceremony was symbolic, construction crews were already hard at work on the actual site, moving dirt and laying the foundations for the casino complex. The construction process is expected to be meticulously planned and executed to ensure the timely completion of this ambitious project.
Doug Pryor, representative of the Will Co. Center for Economic Development, emphasized the importance of creating a destination that caters to all individuals and offers a wide range of entertainment options. The new Hollywood Casino aims to be more than just a gambling venue, he said.
Beyond gambling, the new Hollywood Casino in Joliet plans to offer a variety of options to cater to diverse interests. Some of the amenities include hotels, restaurants, a convention center and entertainment.
