Danville’s Golden Nuggets is on track to become the next casino to open in Illinois.
Last week, the property developers gave the city a $1 million check as part of the Host Community Agreement that Golden Nugget made with the city.
The funds will be allocated to support the city’s riverfront development project. Wilmorite Construction and the Wilmot Family have pledged $3 million in donations, which will be distributed among the riverfront development, the Boys and Girls Club of Danville, and the Danville Municipal Project.
Approximately 25 people attended a preview of the upcoming casino at 204 Eastgate Drive in Danville, during which the check presentation took place.
Local leaders pleased with Danville casino so far
Commercial-News reported that Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr was very impressed by what he saw. When asked by Danville Development president Jimmy Wilmot for his opinion on the property, Mayor Williams enthusiastically replied, “Jimmy, this is amazing.”
Local Aldermen were also present at the sneak preview.
Golden Nugget Danville is still undergoing construction, with guests needing to navigate around ladders and avoid hanging wires from the ceiling. These are typical signs of a casino project in progress, showing that Danville’s casino is steadily moving towards its grand opening.
Recruitment for the property has been successful as well. The initial dealer school attracted over 40 dealers, and the casino aims to have a total of 100 dealers along with other staff members when it opens.
About Golden Nugget Danville
An official opening date has not been announced for Golden Nugget Danville, but a recent progress update is showing positive signs. Wilmot, during a recent tour, expressed his hope to have the property open within the next few months.
Once the casino is fully operational, it will offer 500 slot machines and 14 table games, such as baccarat, blackjack, three-card poker, craps, and roulette.
The property will also feature a sportsbook, with Golden Nugget aiming to introduce an online sports betting platform in Illinois using its tethered license.
Other Illinois casinos are on the way
The Golden Nugget Danville is the most recent addition to the growing list of new casino projects in Illinois.
The Temporary, a new American Place in Waukegan, officially opened in mid-February to a positive response. Within the first 12 days, over 40,000 guests visited the property. With plans to expand hours to 24/7 and introduce more table games in the coming months, it is expected that these numbers will continue to rise. Exciting new restaurants are also set to open in the near future.
At the same time, Bally’s is preparing to launch a temporary location in Chicago at the Medinah Temple, scheduled to open in June. The company is also concentrating on its permanent River West property. The permanent Bally’s Chicago casino is set to open in 2026, featuring a full casino floor, entertainment venues, and multiple dining options.
Additionally, three additional properties are expected to open in 2025.
- The opening of Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Williamson County is planned for 2025.
- The Hard Rock Rockford casino, which opened its temporary location as the Hard Rock: Opening Act in 2021, is set to unveil its permanent location in late 2025.
- The Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino, located on the border of Homewood and East Hazel Crest, is set to open in late 2025 or early 2025.
