Meet Rivers Casinos – First Land Based Venue on Illinois Ground

Rivers Casino Illinois has just been awarded an official gaming license from the Illinois Gaming Board. The license will allow the operator to run its activity on land after a long time of riverboat operation. According to the plans, the Illinois gambling facility wants to introduce 120 additional gaming chances including slot and table games positions. As a result, the operator will record a 10% increase in a number of gaming positions which now includes 1200 unique chances.

More About Land-Based Operators

Illinois state has recently approved the bill which allows gambling expansion throughout the state. The Act was authorized by governor J.B. Pritzker this past June. After the adoption of the bill, all riverboat operators (10) are allowed to move their operation on land as soon as they provide board approval and cover a $250,000 fee.

The current operator of Rivers Casino, Rush Street Gaming, intends to invest about $150 million in upcoming expansion as well as to enhance a number of gaming positions to 2000.

Commenting on the plans, casino spokesman, Patrick Skarr, said:

“We’re incrementally adding these games. By going land-based, we can reconfigure some of our existing footprint not above water, add these games and positions within that, and then move forward with our larger expansion program.”

About the Venue

Rivers Casino was officially launched in 2011. At that time, the venue was built on the water close to Tri-State Tollway. Soon after the establishment, the venue became one of the leading riverboat casinos in the state with more than $400 million generated revenue per annum.

About Illinois Gaming Bill

The Illinois Gaming Bill is a step further in the local legislation. The Act approves not only casinos but also sports betting and racinos activity. Additionally, the Bill grants six new operators with licenses and allows existing providers to increase the number of gaming positions.

The state of Illinois has received 10 applications for six licenses available across the territory. With the exception of the Chicago casino project, which has been stalled due to tax concerns, all other facilities are promising.

Only recently, Rush Street Gaming vended a 61% stake in Rivers operator to Churchill Downs in Louisville. Rivers is going to be one of the applicants for the Illinois Waukegan casino project. The local gaming board should approve another licensee for the venue in the south suburbs (possibly located in Calumet City, Homewood/East Hazel Crest, Lynwood or Matteson) and operators for venues in Rockford, Danville and Williamson County.

The Board announced an official opening of the application process for the first sports betting facilities in the following month. The Illinois Bill allows local casinos, horse tracks and sports facilities to obtain a sports gaming license for a $10 million fee.

Source:

“Rivers becomes Illinois first land-based casino“, yogonet.com, November 12, 2019.