In a unanimous vote, the Illinois Gaming Board recently granted “preliminary suitability” status to 815 Entertainment to develop the $310 million Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, led by Dan Fischer of Naperville, owner of Illinois Café & Service Company, operator of Dotty’s video gambling lounges.
However, Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter cautioned the gaming board’s vote “is not the ultimate step, in that it is not final licensure, nor is it a guarantee of final licensure.” In fact, gaming board investigators have been looking into Illinois Café & Service Company’s attempt to purchase another gambling lounge chain in 2018. Gaming Board Chairman Charles Schmadeke said, “Frankly, I have some questions about some of the former and current relationships of some of the key individuals, but those are questions. They are not evidence.”
Still, a spokesman for Fischer said, “We are pleased and excited to have received preliminary suitability from the Illinois Gaming Board today and we look forward to meeting with the staff to address any questions in the days and weeks ahead.”
Rockford state Senator Dale Syverson stated, “After 20 years of working to make this casino a reality for our state, I am ecstatic for the board’s decision.” He said he gave Fischer “and the phenomenal team at Hard Rock a big round of applause for putting together a comprehensive application.”
Governor J.B. Pritzker acknowledged the efforts of Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara to bring the casino to the city. “There couldn’t be a better time to spur new jobs and economic development for this region, as well as for the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.
In a recent presentation to the gaming board, Fischer said the proposed casino would generate $282 million in annual economic output. The venue, to be located at the closed Clock Tower Resort would feature a 110-foot guitar on the building’s façade. Officials said it would create 1,200 construction jobs and employ 1,000 people. Once completed, the venue would offer a 65,000-square-foot casino and a 1,600-seat auditorium.
With Rockford native and renowned Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen, whose wife is an investor in the project, as the face of 815 Entertainment’s bid, Fischer said, “It creates a powerful combination that will forever ingrain the power of music, entertainment and excitement in this project.”
The Rockford casino license is one of six authorized by state legislators and Governor J.B. Pritzker as part of a comprehensive expanded gambling expansion law passed in 2019; the other sites are downtown Chicago, Danville, Chicago’s south suburbs and Williamson County. The Hard Rock Rockford development would be the state’s 11th commercial casino property.
