Joe Boozell, reporting live from the National Council of Legislators at the Gaming States for Play Illinois, can be followed for more coverage @Play_Illinois. He is the Editor at Play Illinois.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot addressed the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) conference on Monday, discussing the upcoming Chicago casino and reassuring potential bidders that the bidding process is transparent and accessible.
I have been told that there was a brief discussion regarding this matter. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is open to all, with no favoritism towards local connections. Our goal is to provide top-notch options for individuals across the nation who value the advantages of living in a vibrant city such as Chicago.
Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming has expressed interest in obtaining a license in the city. In 2020, responses to the Request for Information (RFI) were received from Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock, and MGM. Mayor Lightfoot has indicated that there is a strong belief that Rush Street will ultimately secure the license.
MGM has responded to the RFI but expressed that they are not interested in pursuing the Chicago casino license due to the high tax rates.
There has been a lot of media attention recently on Rush Street Gaming.
Churchill Downs is currently reviewing proposals for Arlington International Racecourse, which is jointly owned by Rush Street and Churchill Downs. The Chicago Bears have made a purchase offer for Arlington Park and have chosen BetRivers as their official sports betting partner.
Lightfoot expressed her openness to receiving more bids, reiterating her previous public statements. She also emphasized the potential benefits a Chicago game could offer for both the city and potential operators.
Our city offers a special opportunity for owners and operators interested in establishing an entertainment and game district in well-known American cities. I look forward to reviewing the proposals received.
Let’s review the steps that led us to this point in the Chicago casino process.
Chicago is one of the six Illinois locations to receive a fresh game.
In 2019, after the completion of the gambling expansion, six regions in Illinois were given the chance to submit bids for a gaming license. These regions were:
- Rockford
- Waukegan
- Danville
- County of Williamson
- South cities
- Chicago
Chicago’s size makes it the most significant fresh game venture, surpassing all others in importance.
So far, the procedure has been moving slowly and there is limited information available about the casino.
At first, we were unsure about where the casino would be located, considering the south or west side of the city as possible options to boost economic development. However, it seems that the operators are leaning towards placing the casino-resort in the downtown area.
Additionally, as mentioned earlier, we are unsure which gaming operator will be responsible for managing the casino.
Despite this, the city released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in April. Chicago is anticipated to choose a winning proposal by late 2021 or early 2022, at which point it will grant the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) access to its materials.
The IGB has been slow to process the game’s uses in other regions, and no final approvals for new casino licenses have been given. Only two proposals, the Hard Rock Casino Rockford and Walker’s Bluff Casino in Williamson County, have been deemed “preliminarily suitable.”
The IGB has now received criticism from Lightfoot.
Even though Chicago was the last region to complete the application process, Lightfoot is now expressing criticism towards the IGB.
She stated through the Chicago Sun-Times in April:
Once we present a proposal to IGB, we need to act quickly. I don’t want to make a judgment, but I think we should expedite the process because the game board takes a long time to finish their tasks.
In her speech, Lightfoot emphasized the importance of keeping gambling revenues in Illinois. She highlighted the financial impact of not having gaming options in Chicago, noting that the state loses money to Indiana, which offers a variety of games in northwest Indiana.
I aim to redistribute those funds to Chicago residents who are traveling to Indiana. I don’t intend to disrespect Hoosiers, but I think Chicago is a better place for that money to be spent.
