In July, The Opening Act at Rockford’s Hard Rock Casino had its best month ever, bringing positive news for the casino and the community as a whole.
Hard Rock welcomed a record-breaking 45,000 guests in July, according to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB). This is the highest number of visitors since the temporary casino opened in November 2021. The city of Rockford is using tax revenue from Hard Rock to support community investments.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara is pleased with the success of the Hard Rock, stating that it has met the city’s expectations. He highlighted that the revenue generated is being utilized to benefit the residents in the long run.
The tax revenue generated by Hard Rock is divided among Rockford and its neighboring areas in the following manner:
- Rockford: 70%
- Winnebago County: 20%
- Loves Park: 5%
- Machesney Park: 5%
Hard Rock Rockford’s success good for the city
Before the establishment of Hard Rock, northern Illinois did not have any casinos. However, in just 2022, Hard Rock brought in over $1 million in tax revenue, which was then given back to Rockford by McNamara.
For 30 years, citizens had been eager for a casino to come to their town. Additionally, residents were regularly traveling to neighboring states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa to satisfy their gambling desires. This resulted in a substantial amount of money leaving Illinois, specifically Rockford. The true extent of the financial loss is now becoming clear.
McNamara announced that the city’s first $1.5 million donation from Hard Rock was given to Rockford Promise to support the next 17 years.
Rockford Promise, a non-profit organization, offers full-tuition scholarships to students graduating from Rockford Public School District 205 with the goal of increasing education levels in the city and providing financial advantages to residents and businesses in the community.
Kaylene Goh, the temporary executive director of Rockford Promise, emphasized the importance of the city’s funding in helping to broaden the organization’s reach.
In 2016, we started by offering five full tuition scholarships. Now, only six years later, we anticipate having more than 300 scholars enrolled in college at the same time this year. The remarkable expansion can be attributed to the city’s support and steadfast dedication to our organization, greatly impacting local students.
Construction plan for the permanent casino
McNamara is expecting rapid progress in the construction of Hard Rock’s permanent venue once it commences.
I expect that by the end of this year, you will see the land being cleared and leveled. Additionally, I predict that most of the construction will start in early spring next year.
The permanent gaming site is set to open in 2025, but Hard Rock and Rockford officials have not yet announced a specific date for the casino’s grand opening.
Punters are given the Opening Act while the primary site is still in development and growing.
This facility features 37,000 square feet of gaming space, with 625 slot machines and electronic table games.
You can choose to dine and enjoy drinks at either the Rock River Bar and Grill or the Midway Bar.
