The opening of Wind Creek Hospitality’s $529 million Chicago Southland Casino has been delayed until January 2025, based on redevelopment agreements approved by the East Hazel Crest and Homewood suburbs.
Originally the casino was expected to open later this year or in early 2025. The agreements note the later opening is “approximate” and “may be extended/delayed by the developer.”
Construction on the casino hotel began last September after the Illinois Gaming Board granted a license. At the time, a Wind Creek spokesman would not give a specific timeline for the opening but indicated it likely would be in 2024.
The venue will include a 73,000-square-foot casino on property within East Hazel Crest and parking garages on adjacent land in Homewood. It will feature a gaming floor with 1,350 slots and 56 table games, plus a 75,000-square-foot entertainment venue and a 16-story, 252-room hotel. Wind Creek officials said the project will create 600 construction jobs and 800 permanent jobs.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said the project is “proceeding on course. It would be nice to have it done tomorrow.” His village and East Hazel Crest will share in casino gambling revenue along with 42 other south suburban communities. Also, Illinois law requires new casinos to make an upfront payment of $15 million plus $30,000 per gaming position to Cook County.
In addition, according to the redevelopment agreement, Homewood and East Hazel Crest were asked to support a resolution to the Cook County Board for a tax break for the casino under a Class 8 designation, which would significantly reduce the project’s property tax assessment.
Wind Creek is a subsidiary of PCI Gaming Authority Inc., which manages 10 casinos and other gambling properties for the Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians.
