Chris Moneymaker, a Poker Hall of Famer, attended the grand opening of the Grand Victoria Casino Elgin’s expansive new betting area along the Fox River.
Grand Victoria Casino, operated by Caesars Entertainment, has undergone an expansion that includes an additional 6,500 square feet of gaming space at a cost of nearly $4 million. Executives officially opened the new entrance with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 21.
Moneymaker, a champion of the World Series of Poker Main Event, participated in the opening celebration in Elgin by posing for photos and signing autographs.
Rolando Guerrero serves as the senior vice president and general manager of Grand Victoria Casino Elgin.
He stated, “We take great pride in officially unveiling this lavish area for sports and poker enthusiasts who come to our venue.”
About the new space at Grand Victoria Casino
The new entertainment space will feature a 2,100-square-foot Caesars Sportsbook and a 4,400-square-foot WSOP room.
The expansive new poker room boasts 20 poker tables, while the casino offers three sports betting windows and five self-service betting kiosks. Additionally, there are 20 large-screen LED TVs for bettors to watch the games.
According to Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital, the new area at Grand Victoria Casino is a further move towards providing Illinois customers and sports enthusiasts with top-notch treatment.
Additional features that can be found behind the ceremonial red ribbon include:
- The lounge area is the perfect spot for guests to savor delicious food from Crave Deli or The Slice Pizzeria & Pasta.
- A bar that offers a complete range of services, including bartop gaming.
New poker room is big-event ready
Moneymaker participated in a shoot-out poker tournament during the grand opening, which had a $25,000 prize pool and a $5,000 bounty. Despite this, there are larger card events on the horizon.
The Grand Victoria Casino Elgin is holding a WSOP Circuit Event from Nov. 10-21. Registration is open until 7 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, with play starting at 9 a.m. on the same day as per the casino’s event schedule.
The gaming venue, located on the Fox River, boasts approximately 675 slot machines. In addition to the Vegas-style table games already offered at the preexisting casino, Caesars provides additional perks through its rewards program.
Food options include Buckinghams Steakhouse and Bistro, as well as a selection of pizza and deli items located near the new lounge.
In 1994, Gold Strike Resorts and Hyatt Corp co-founded Elgin’s casino. Over the years, ownership of the casino changed multiple times until Caesars Entertainment acquired it for $328 million, becoming the latest operator.
Please be aware that players attending the WSOP event will need to arrange lodging at a different location as the Grand Victoria Casino does not provide overnight accommodations.
