Insurance research company warns of impending crisis in Illinois

[November 09, 2024]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Chicago’s south suburbs may soon be a new gambling destination.

Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino is scheduled to open Monday morning in East Hazel Crest, after the Illinois Gaming Board gave its approval on Friday. Wind Creek is Illinois' 16th casino, the final casino authorized to open following the 2019 gaming expansion law.

State Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, has long supported the opening of a casino in Chicago’s south suburbs.

“It’s a dream come true. You know, you have dreams back when we first started in 2013, negotiating on behalf of the House of Representatives, the House side Democrats,” Rita said.

Rita pushed gambling legislation for years, including the 2019 bill that paved the way for Wind Creek. The facility is located just outside of Rita’s district.

Rita said he expects the casino to recapture entertainment dollars for Illinois.

“Over the years, we’ve heard the testimony and I’ve witnessed it. When you go across the border, which is not too far from here, all the Illinois plates that were in Indiana casinos, spending their entertainment dollars going into Indiana, that’ll all stay here in the south suburbs,” Rita said.

Illinois already has 15 casinos, but Rita said the market is not saturated.

“I think it’s the right thing regionally. Rockford is its own region, up by the Wisconsin border. You have the south suburbs, or you’ve got Lake County,” Rita said.

Rita noted that Illinois casinos are located near the borders with neighboring states.

Wind Creek is located in the district served by state Rep. Will Davis, D-East Hazel Crest, who also expressed support for the project.

“This journey started with our gaming legislation in 2019, creating opportunities not only for this community but for all of Illinois. The casino will bring $200 million in revenue to the state and provide 800 full-time jobs for local residents when fully operational,” Rita posted this week on social media.

Rita testified briefly during the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan last month. Rita’s name was also heard when prosecutors played a phone recording of Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain when they were discussing commitments from lawmakers. Rita is known as a longtime Madigan ally.

Wind Creek Chicago Southland
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The Illinois Gaming Board selected Wind Creek for the Chicago Southland site in 2021. The casino is located just off I-80 near Halsted Street in East Hazel Crest.

Gaming board members visited the casino this week for two mandatory test days. Wind Creek Hospitality received notice of approval on Friday, Nov. 8, to operate on Monday, Nov. 11, at approximately 11:00 a.m. The board says it will receive upfront fees of $45 million from the casino within 30 days. The funds will be deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Fund for infrastructure projects statewide.

Spanning 70,000 square feet, Wind Creek Chicago Southland features over 1,400 slot machines, 56 table games, high-limit slot areas, a high-limit table games salon, a poker room, a sportsbook and more.

An integrated resort experience, including a hotel, is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2025.

“Wind Creek Chicago Southland is more than a casino – it’s a community-driven destination,” said Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair and CEO, Poarch Creek Indians. “The Tribe and Wind Creek will continue to prioritize the Villages of Homewood and East Hazel Crest as we are committed to uplifting our neighbors.”

Wind Creek Hospitality also manages gaming properties in Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania and the Caribbean. Wind Creek is the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

A study released earlier this year ranked Illinois the 15th most gambling-addicted state in the country. The personal finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states across 20 key metrics, including gambling friendliness, and found that Illinois has a high number of individuals with gambling addictions.

Kevin Bessler contributed to this story.

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