The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) recently took action on a temporary Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, and also provided an update on the planned casino in Danville.
In Rockford, the board approved a supplier’s license for 815 Beltway Holdings, the owner of the land where the proposed $310 million Hard Rock Casino will be built. This action will allow a temporary casino to open at the former Giovanni’s Restaurant & Convention Center.
In addition, the IGB also approved 52 people and entities of 815 Entertainment, including former Rockford Mayor Charles Box, Karen Nielsen and Rick Nielsen, guitarist with the rock group Cheap Trick.
The IGB denied a temporary casino license to Giovanni’s in April after owner Joseph Castrogiovanni failed to report he had been arrested for shooting at an occupied car in his driveway.
The IGB still is reviewing the license application for the permanent casino project. The recent ruling means 815 Entertainment can now apply for a construction permit for the Hard Rock Casino Rockford.
Hard Rock officials said the venue will create 1,000 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs. The company has committed to building a music production studio and an outdoor amphitheater, make improvements to the Sinnissippi Music Shell and support neighborhood youth programs.
In October 2019, the Rockford city council approved the casino plan from Hard Rock International over proposals from Rock River West Casino Group and Forest City Casino.
Regarding the Danville casino, IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter said the board had spent seven months vetting the first casino license applicant, who subsequently withdrew its application in July 2020. A second applicant, Rochester, New York-based Wilmorite Construction, was selected and submitted an application last November. The company has lined up Golden Nugget branding for the casino, which will include 500 slots, 10 table games, a steakhouse and food court in phase one. Wilmorite officials said the casino is projected to generate $66 million in annual revenue, with $6.2 million going to the city of Danville.
Fruchter added no applications are pending for the Chicago casino.
Six new casinos were authorized as part of the 2019 gambling expansion bill: Danville, Waukegan, Rockford, South Suburbs, Williamson County and downtown Chicago.
