The holidays proved to be the most wonderful time of the year for Illinois casinos, including the state’s newest gambling venues.
Casino revenue hit its high-water mark in December, boosted by the first full month of operations at Wind Creek Chicago Southland and continued growth at the recently opened Hard Rock Rockford permanent casino.
Revenues, however, were roughly flat at Bally’s Chicago, which completed its first full year at the temporary Medinah Temple facility with another tepid month.
The state’s 16 casinos generated $157 million in adjusted gross receipts — up 11% over December 2023 — and drew nearly 1.25 million visitors last month, according to data published Wednesday by the Illinois Gaming Board.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines remained the state’s busiest casino in December with $43 million in adjusted gross receipts and 264,000 visitors, but newcomers are making their mark on the Illinois gambling landscape.
Wind Creek, the new south suburban casino which opened Nov. 11 to long lines and high expectations, ranked fourth in revenue last month with $11.2 million in adjusted gross receipts, and was second in admissions with nearly 136,000 visitors.
Hard Rock Rockford, which moved from a temporary facility to a $300 million permanent casino in late August, ranked second in December with $12.1 million in revenue and 118,000 visitors, according to Gaming Board data.
The glitzy new Rockford casino, which features expanded gaming, seven restaurants and a 1,600-seat concert venue, made a big splash during its first full month in September, generating $13.7 million in revenues.
“We’re still living off the high from our grand opening,” said Geno Iafrate, president of Hard Rock Casino Rockford. “Probably the number one comment when people walk in is that, I can’t believe that this is in Rockford.”
Bally’s Chicago ranked fifth in revenue at $10.3 million in adjusted gross receipts and fourth in admissions with 108,000 visitors, making December one of its weakest months of 2024.
For the year, Illinois casinos generated $1.69 billion in revenue — up 11% over 2023 — with more than 13 million admissions, according to Gaming Board data. Rivers was the state’s top-billing casino in 2024 with $516 million in adjusted gross receipts, followed by Grand Victoria in Elgin at $139 million and Bally’s Chicago at $125 million.
Bally’s was projected to be a much bigger player in 2024 — despite the limitations of its temporary facility at Medinah Temple.
Opened in September 2023, Bally’s has invested $70 million to convert the historic River North facility, once the home of the annual Shrine Circus, into a temporary casino with about 1,000 gaming positions. Bally’s plans to open its $1.7 billion permanent facility at the former Chicago Tribune printing plant site in River West in September 2026.
In its annual budget, the city projected Bally’s would generate nearly $243 million in adjusted gross receipts at the temporary casino in 2024, yielding about $35 million in local gaming taxes.
Bally’s Chicago made it about halfway to the city’s target, generating $125 million in revenue and $16 million in local taxes last year, according to Gaming Board data.
Admissions to Bally’s Chicago ranked second in the state last year with 1.36 million visitors.
“Our guests won more than $71 million in jackpots this year, including $1.1 million between Christmas and New Year’s, and we finished the year on a strong note as December AGR grew 21% year-over-year and 5.8% over the prior month,” a Bally’s spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.
In May 2022, Rhode Island-based Bally’s was selected to build Chicago’s first casino, besting proposals from finalists Rivers Casino and Hard Rock. The Bally’s Chicago proposal includes an exhibition hall, a 500-room hotel, a 3,000-seat theater, 10 restaurants and 4,000 gaming positions, making it the largest casino in the state.
Bally’s and the city are banking on the permanent casino to significantly boost its standing as a tourist magnet and profit center.
A $250 million initial public offering launched last week for minority investors to buy a 25% stake in the permanent Bally’s Chicago Casino projected annual revenues of $800 million to $1.2 billion per year. The city is projecting the permanent casino complex to generate $200 million in annual local tax revenue.
But work at the 30-acre site remains on hold after a demolition mishap last month that spilled debris from a wall into the Chicago River.
Bally’s expects to resume and complete demolition this month, pending approval from the city. Construction will then begin with the installation of caissons as a foundation for the casino by early February.
In addition to doubling its gaming revenue, Iafrate said Hard Rock Rockford has seen significant new revenue from the restaurants, entertainment and other amenities at the new permanent facility. He said one of the most important amenities may be the least glamorous — expanded parking.
Iafrate, who visited the temporary Bally’s Chicago Casino for its grand opening in 2023, said parking may likewise provide a big boost when the permanent facility opens next year.
“Based on my one trip downtown, parking is tough,” Iafrate said.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com