Trustees in Homewood, Illinois recently voted to support Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ application to the Illinois Gaming Board to develop a $400 million commercial casino on a 24-acre tract in Homewood and East Hazel Crest, about 26 miles south of downtown Chicago.
Wind Creek Hospitality Chief Operating Officer Brent Pinkston said, “Wind Creek Hospitality has a proven track record of success in developing high quality and successful casino and entertainment projects, and we’re excited about the opportunity to bring one to Illinois.”
He added, “East Hazel Crest and Homewood are two strong and stable communities, with visionary leadership. We believe this partnership and the prime, easy-to-access location creates a solid foundation for the quality casino and entertainment complex we hope to develop–one that will maximize revenue and bring sustained benefits to the entire south suburban region.”
Pinkston noted the Wind Creek project would not cannibalize existing casinos in the region but would attract gamblers who currently travel to casinos in northwestern Indiana.
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said 45 percent of the site is in his community and 55 percent in East Hazel Crest. Those percentages would determine casino tax revenue sharing amounts, he said. The two host communities would keep 2 percent of monthly adjusted gross receipts plus $1 of the $3 admission tax per visitor, or $3 million annually, and 42 other communities would share in 3 percent, about $4 million annually.
Wind Creek Hospitality Vice President of Business Development Arthur Mothershed said, “We wouldn’t be talking about $400 million investment if we didn’t think it would work. We believe that whenever we come into an area that everybody wins.”
Wind Creek officials said the $300 million first phase of the project would include a 64,000-square-foot casino with more than 1,300 slot machines and 56 table games, plus an entertainment center, three restaurants, two bars and a skyline lounge. The $154 million second phase would include a luxury 251-room hotel with an indoor pool and spa. Wind Creek officials estimated when the resort is fully operating, it would provide 800 jobs with an annual payroll of more than $38 million.
The village board of East Hazel Crest is expected to approve the tribe’s casino proposal. Following that, Wind Creek would submit an application to the Illinois Gaming Board by the October 28 deadline. The venue would be one of six suburban Chicago casinos permitted under the state’s new gaming law.
Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which manages 10 gaming properties in Alabama, Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania and the Caribbean. The company recently closed on its $1.3 billion purchase of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where the property is one the state’s top casinos. Wind Creek President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Dorris previously said the company will make Wind Creek Bethlehem the “No. 1 resort destination in the Northeast.” A grand opening is set for October 10.
The Poarch Band isn’t the only tribe pursuing a casino in Illinois. The Forest County Potawatomi Community, owners of the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is seeking to develop a commercial casino in Waukegan. And the Rockford City Council recently certified the Seminole Tribe’s proposed for a Hard Rock Casino & Hotel. In addition, the Ho-Chunk Nation has proposed a $380 million casino resort in Lynwood. The venue would include a 20-story luxury hotel plus restaurants, bars and retail space, located near the Ho-Chunk’s Southland Center sports complex.
Ho-Chunk Nation District 4 Legislator Paul J. Fox said, “This is an important opportunity to spur economic development growth and create jobs in the south suburbs and we have a proven track record of getting it right. Over the last 15 years, we have built strong relationships in the region, as demonstrated by the development and operation of the Southland Center, and we are committed to strengthening those ties and deepening that investment.”
Lynwood Mayor Eugene Williams called the Ho-Chunk proposal “a beautiful plan” for a “family entertainment district.” Neighboring towns of Ford Heights, Glenwood and Sauk Village also support the project. Williams noted, “We’re almost as far south and east as you can go and still be in Cook County. It’s a perfect position to get those dollars that have been driving to Indiana. We think it’s a regional effort that’ll make this a better proposal. On both sides of 394, we’ve been missing out on economic development for years.”
Ho-Chunk officials said following gaming board approval, a temporary casino could open within 11 months, with a permanent structure ready two years later A third phase would include a parking structure, golf simulator, indoor rock wall and courts for racquetball and pickleball. Fox said the project would create more than 1,000 construction jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs.
Lynwood trustees are expected to vote on the Ho-Chunk proposal this week.
